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Out of East Carolina, Earnest Byner made the Cleveland Browns as a Tenth Round Pick, showing dual skills as a rusher and receiver throughout his career.
Byner cracked 1,000 Rushing Yards as s sophomore (1,005), and though that was his best rushing year, he was still productive, not just statistically but also as a blocker. Byner helped Cleveland reach the AFC Championship Game in 1987, but it would be a tragic event for him.
Byner will, however, remain synonymous with that the game, as he was stripped of the ball at the Denver 8-yard line with a minute left to go and the Browns down by seven. "The Fumble" haunts Browns fans to this day.
Byner played another season for Cleveland before he was traded to Washington, but he did come back in 1994. He played four more seasons, the first two with the Browns and the next two in Baltimore when the franchise relocated.
As a Brown, Byner had 5,994 Yards From Scrimmage with 37 Touchdowns. He was also welcomed back in 2006 as one of their Legends.
William “Dub” Jones was a top athlete in Louisiana at LSU and then Tulane before being drafted second overall by Chicago Cardinals in 1946. The Cards never saw Jones, as he opted for Miami of the new All-American Football Conference. Jones was traded during the season to Brooklyn, who later was traded to the shrewd Paul Brown and his Cleveland Browns, who knew that Jones was a player that he wanted to have.
Cleveland won the AAFC Championship in both 1948 and 1949, with Jones providing a supporting role. When Cleveland and other AAFC teams merged with the NFL, the Louisianan had a more prominent role, and the Browns won the NFL Championship.
As the 1950s moved on, Jones had his best years, going to the Pro Bowl and 1951 and 1952, with the latter year seeing the Halfback exceed over 1,000 Yards From Scrimmage. He played for Cleveland until 1955, retiring with two more NFL Championships and 4,784 YFS with 40 Touchdowns. The Browns would honor Jones as a Legend in their 2004 group.
Drafted 13th Overall from the University of Texas in 1989, Eric Metcalf would become one of the most versatile offensive weapons in Browns' history.
Listed as a Running Back, rushed for only 2,229 Yards in is six years in Cleveland, but he was also a threat in the air, catching 297 passes for 2,732 Yards over the same timeframe. Metcalf truly shined in the return game, and he would lead the NFL in Kick Return Yards in 1990 and was a Pro Bowl Selection in 1993 and 1994. A First Team All-Pro in 1993, Metcalf led the league in All-Purpose Yards (1,932). He left Cleveland for Atlanta after the 1994 Season.
As a Brown, Metcalf had 31 Touchdowns with 9,108 All-Purpose Yards. Cleveland would also induct Metcalf as a Legend in 2008.
After his college career ended, Warren Lahr signed with the Cleveland Browns as a backup Quarterback in 1948. Injuries kept him from playing, but he was ready to suit up in 1949, where he would become a Safety and help the Browns win the last AAFC Title of the league's existence.
Lahr, who was almost cut at one point, would become a top defender for Paul Brown's squad, and he became a certifiable ball hawk who nabbed 44 Interceptions over his 11-year career, all with Cleveland. He was an essential part of the Browns NFL Championships in 1950, 1954 and 1955, and went to the Pro Bowl in 1953. Cleveland named Lahr as an honored Legend in 2008.