Factory Of Sadness
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3 Cleveland Browns who could’ve been in the Hall of Fame before Joe Thomas

By Chad Porto

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 18: Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball against Jerraud Powers #25 of the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 18, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 18: Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball against Jerraud Powers #25 of the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 18, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY – AUGUST 15: Eric Steinbach #65 of the Cleveland Browns talks with a teammate during warmups prior to an NFL preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, August 15, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY – AUGUST 15: Eric Steinbach #65 of the Cleveland Browns talks with a teammate during warmups prior to an NFL preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, August 15, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images) /

Eric Steinbach

Erich Steinbach, like Kevin Johnson before him, didn’t have the off-field awards, but like Johnson, was seen as one of the best at his position for a long time. So much so that many considered Steinbach the biggest free agent acquisition ever when the club signed him away from the Cincinnati Bengals in 2007.

Steinbach played four years in Cleveland, missing just two games during his tenure, and only missed three games in his eight seasons between Cincinnati and Cleveland. He earned himself an alternate spot for the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl game but was not called into duty due to the players ahead of him being healthy.

During his four years in Cleveland, Steinbach was never once called for a holding penalty and was constantly seen as one of, if not the best, guards in the NFL. Yet, his lack of post-season awards and his frankly short career didn’t help him out any. After his first year with the Browns, it looked like Steinbach would be heading to the Hall, alongside his line-mate, Joe Thomas. The two made the best blind-side duo in the league, but

Yet a back injury forced Steinbach, just 31, to miss all of the 2011 season and after becoming a cap casualty by the Browns, found that he wasn’t the same player anymore. He spent some time with the Miami Dolphins before hanging up his pads for good.

Had the Browns been winners during his tenure, and he had a few more top-flight years in his career, there’s no doubt that Steinbach would be joining Thomas in the Hall.

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