During the month of July, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will determine which three players deserve to be considered the faces of each franchise. For this series, we will only consider active players. In this edition, the Cleveland Browns are the focus.
Faces of the Cleveland Browns
Johnny Manziel
The Browns drafted quarterback Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, hoping his winning ways and athleticism would translate to the next level. The NFL is a quarterback driven league so it was a nice thought, but so far Johnny Football has not been worth a first-round pick. In 2014, he played in five games and completed 18 of 35 pass attempts for 175 yards, while throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions. The former Texas A&M quarterback’s poor numbers in 2014 were good for a rating of 42.0. That all being said, the former Heisman Trophy winner is probably still the most recognizable player on the Browns.
Manziel has said he will retire the “money sign” he used to flash after touchdowns and that alone made headlines, proving Manziel’s celebrity status. Earlier this year he entered Caron, Pennsylvania, an alcohol and drug treatment center, in hopes of getting both his on-field and off-field lives in order so he could stop being a distraction to his team. Hopefully his rehab stint worked and he is ready to focus on football in 2015 and beyond, but he will have to prove his dedication through his actions going forward. It’s unclear exactly what the future holds for Manziel, but whether you have loved his cockiness and brashness, or you have loathed it, you know who Manziel is. Even non-football fans know who Johnny Football is and you can’t say that about many, or possibly any, other players on the Browns.
Joe Haden
Joe Haden is one of the better defensive backs in the NFL and he probably doesn’t get enough recognition from NFL fans for what he brings to the field. The former first-round draft pick of the 2010 NFL Draft had 73 tackles, three interceptions and 20 passes defended (second-most in the league) in 2014. Haden, a serious sneaker enthusiast, recently announced his new partnership with the Jordan Brand, joining the likes of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Andre Johnson and Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree, among other NFL athletes.
The former Florida Gator has led the NFL in jersey sales over the past month at Dick’s Sporting Goods. He also ranked No. 23 on the NFL Network’s list of the top 100 players, which was good enough to be the highest ranked member of the Browns and the fourth-highest rated defensive bank. Fans should expect another really productive year out of Haden in 2015.
Joe Thomas
Some NFL fans, in particular those who root for the Browns, might be wondering how in the world wide receiver Josh Gordon failed to make this list. The reason he is not listed here is because he has been suspended for a minimum of one year for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. This is Gordon’s third suspension and if he can’t at least participate with the Browns in 2015, then he can’t be on this list.
That brings us to offensive lineman Joe Thomas, who the Browns drafted with the third overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft. The NFL Network ranked the stellar left tackle at No. 25 on their list of the top 100 players, making him the second-highest ranked Browns player (trailing only the aforementioned Joe Haden). The former Wisconsin Badger has been in the league (all with Cleveland) for nine seasons and is an eight-time Pro Bowler and a surefire future Hall of Famer. Casual NFL fans may not know the 6-foot-6, 312-pound lineman’s name, but those who watch games on a regular basis understand just how good Thomas is and his talent and reliability are why he has to make this list.
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