Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
07 Oct 2001: Jamir Miller #95 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates with teammate Wali Rainer #58 during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns won 20-16. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Tom Pidgeon/Allsport
07 Oct 2001: Jamir Miller #95 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates with teammate Wali Rainer #58 during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns won 20-16. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Tom Pidgeon/Allsport /

Jamir Miller

The Cleveland Browns found a gem in Jamir Miller, the biggest free agent signing in Cleveland Browns’ history, well New Cleveland Browns history. He came into Cleveland off the heels of the team’s expansion draft and instantly gave them a sure-tackling linebacker with some pass-rushing talents. He wasn’t Joey Porter or Khalil Mack, but he was a pretty good player.

He instantly became the best player on the Browns from the moment he joined the team, regardless of position or side of the ball, and he actively became a leader for the club. In 2001, he not only had his best pro season ever, but he became the first Browns player to be elected to the Pro Bowl since the club returned to the league.

He had 101 tackles, 13 sacks, and four forced fumbles, while also getting an All-Pro selection, and was fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. At 28, on a defense that included Orpheus Roye, Dayleon McClutchoen and Dwayne Rudd, Anthony Henry, and would soon include Earl Holmes, Robert Griffith, and Kenard Lang, this was a team that was set to dominate the league on defense.

Had Miller been healthy, that probably would’ve happened. The team was a Top 10 defense in 2002 and his pass-rushing skills would’ve only made them more impactful. An Achilles injury would end not only Millers’ 2002 campaign in the pre-season, but his career as well. Had he stayed healthy, he would’ve lived up to his lofty draft position by the Arizona Cardinals and probably would’ve been an outlier to make the Hall of Fame when it was all said and done.

Next. 5 Cleveland Browns who could be gone after 2023 if they don’t step up. dark

Home/Cleveland Browns