1994 Cleveland Browns Team Season Highlights "Back To The Playoffs"

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we're going to start with a review of the 1994 Browns season a highlight package we call back to the playoffs that's just where they were Mike for the first time in five years last year I want to take you back to another point in recent Browns history the wooing of Reggie White two and a half years ago they were falling all over themselves trying to recruit Reggie White as a free agent the first big-name free agent turns out to be the best move they never made because with the money they would have had to spend on Reggie White the three and a half million dollars a year if they had landed him they'd have spent on a crop of free agents who've helped them collectively farm or Don Griffin solidified him at cornerback pepper Johnson has turned into a Pro Bowl inside linebacker even though he was unjustifiably not picked last year Carl banks another linebacker Bennie Thompson a great special teams player and Vinny Testaverde satisfactory quarterback I think you add all those guys up and you have an 11 win team now they take the next step and go for Andre Rison how do you think reisen's gonna fit in like money well spent this time I know it was expensive but when you have a chance to get a big-name big-time receiver like Rison I think you've got to go for it he's a guy who gets into the end zone a lot he wants the ball he wanted to be the man he's gonna get his chance and now we're gonna find out if Vinny Testaverde wid the talent can finally take a team to the Super Bowl these are just some of the things we're about to see for in addition to 1994 highlights we've also got a preview of the 1995 Browns season as well as a special trip down memory lane in our Browns classic segment that segment will feature profiles of three Hall of Fame running backs marion motley Leroy Kelly and the great Jim Brown so without further ado Sports Illustrated proudly presents the 1995 Cleveland Browns video yearbook [Music] [Applause] in 1994 the Cleveland Browns returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years a visit to Pittsburgh their second in four games ended their season he's going to throw it down the right side by the passes Carver though it's trapped by Derrick Alexander he [Music] and he steps forward and he throws the ball to the near sideline on the comeback it's complicated now it's henna two times in a row holy smokes his Eric Alexander dorky he seems to have a bad case of player batter fly balls just stick dear did their keep playing are good some good things in a rug game I keep the perfect and we're gonna convert all right just keep your poise now they faked the end around again and they're going to true it down the fielders are very funny but he's not open the Browns were soundly beaten in all phases of the GU and decisively demonstrated the third time was definitely not the charm [Music] it's been all Pittsburgh here today ugly here today Mary the tough to take defeat didn't detract from what had been the finest season of the Bill Belichick era a year of major improvements in many areas of the team it was a year in which a young offensive line allowed a league low fourteen sacks [Music] it was a year what a pair of number-one draft picks became budding stars it was a year a hard-hitting defense gave up the fewest points in the NFL nine opponents scored only a single touchdown as the defense permitted just 22 all season it was a year Cleveland special teams were ranked the best in pro football they blocked beautifully covered well and scored four touchdowns [Music] was a year the team rediscovered the running game it was a year the bronze won 12 games and returned to the NFL postseason playoffs [Music] [Applause] [Music] Cincinnati was the site of the opener where Leroy hoard scored the first touchdown of the new season for Cleveland [Music] then Bill Belichick became the first coach to call from the hall the top and Tom supa the first player to score a two-point conversion Cleveland special teams continue to pile up points with two touchdown returns in a span of three and a half minutes it included the longest punt return in Browns history we got to get the Bengals that kick as often as possible today here does Baldwin takes it into 16 thumbs to the right 3035 now back up midfield breaks clear 50 45 40 [Music] there was a jitterbug in there Cleveland's first win of the new season was special indeed unfortunately the home opener was a penalty plagued affair with Pittsburgh capped by a picture-perfect pass from Vinny Testaverde that could have won the game [Music] a question of a holding call wiped out the play and the Steelers won seven days later the stadium on the shores of Lake Erie was the site for throwback Sunday a Sun splashed old-timers game with the Phoenix Cardinals hey what better place afloat and game Cleveland stadium it's a lot of tradition on this field [Applause] from opening kickoff to final gun defense ruled the day as Cleveland picked off free passes then broke the game open with a pair of the longest plays in club history then he straight back in the pocket three-step drop rose to complete Alexander 25 30 40 45 50 he's gone touchdown Cleveland Browns an 81 yard touchdown pass to the rookie derrick alexander who gets his first taste of the dog pound Derick Alexander's 81 yards sideline Street was a prelude to Eric Turner's 93-yard touchdown interception straight back under pressure throws a little looper and Eric Turner intercept pit cave twenty-five thirty forty pickle 40 45 30 35 20 10 5 touchdown Cleveland Brown at 90 yard interception return for Eric Turner and yes they're going to get their shutout the 32 - nothing victory was the first shutout ever of a buddy Ryan team demo and put the bronze record at 2 & 1 appreciate it we want to take this win and enjoy it and comeback wins - get ready for in Annapolis we haven't had muscle six against ended in the last two years and hey Leroy Horne 65-yard touchdown was the decisive school [Music] play offense and a satisfying win for the visitors who had the habit of struggling in the Hoosier dome with three victories and four games the Browns at first place in the AFC central all to themselves the Browns had precisely that against the Jets paced by Eric Turner's fourth interception in five games up in the pocket throwing deep middle intercepted Turner 4045 touches the sideline 50 down the right sideline and not about three turnovers on defense plus three rushing touchdowns on offense combined to throttle the Jets Testaverde a delay to mechtap he's got it turns the corner 30 20 [Applause] a 37-yard streak by Eric Metcalfe and Eric goes up to the dog pound and here's the play of the day came from Leroy hoard who broke four tackles on his way to the endzone and a 24 to nothing lead [Applause] on a day dominated by defense and the ground game the tightest spiral was thrown to the deserving denizens of the dog pound [Music] the next game against Houston in the Astrodome the offense could manage merely a single touchdown [Music] but it held up thanks again to a smothering defensive unit under constant pressure the Oilers were sacked three times and gave up a pair of turnovers [Music] Houston didn't score until 28 seconds remained in a game that brought the Browns to five and won their best start in 30 years that's a big buck kicking contest today and the cinetic supplying the black [Music] [Applause] while the defense ransacked the Bengals line for four sacks the offense chipped in with a pair of touchdowns on the way to a fifth consecutive win number one we got him on the road a little bit i they're starting to play a little bit more man coverage so let's get out to their ass stay after him just stay up for me let's keep making plays on it [Applause] the Horde blockers out the front pan to the five still on finally [Music] [Applause] drawing interview [Applause] Cleveland's energy was electricity provided as usual by the special teams [Applause] [Applause] a13 all tie was broken open big time courtesy of two seven-point gems from the punt return team [Music] [Applause] today Eric Metcalf and the Cleveland plan special teams not only asked that question what they have an answer for we came in this year thinking we had a good team thought we could make a big improvement over where we'd been and right now there's signs of us doing that the season's second half began with a wind-whipped game against New England in which the Browns elected to keep the ball on the ground Leroy hoard powered for a career-high 123 yards and scored the game's only touchdown on a short pass from Mark Griffith [Applause] the wind brought Cleveland's record to an AFC best seven and two with the equally high-flying Eagles next on our schedule we take our what does next week I think that the inspiration that we know that we have the support that we have here is gonna carry over we're in a position right now at 7 and 2 to take on the Eagles who are also seven - and one of the better teams probably the NFC at this point this is a big game coming up and that's the way I hold organizations looking at it we haven't fare too well get NFC so that's none of you that's a big game it's a big game certainly puts us at 18 to put us in a great position in our division and the AFC in Philadelphia a team on a mission to earn respect pounded bud Carson's normally stingy defense for 140 yards on the ground [Music] the third play of the day set the tone on defense as Cleveland's dogs muzzled a confused Randall Cunningham was glittering twenty game home winning streak soon lay in tatters on the Veterans Stadium astroturf this total domination over the team with the best record in the NFC sent a clear message to skeptics Cleveland was an AFC team that played like an NFC team and its agent to record now the best in the entire NFL was no Mirage I'm certainly excited about the great start that we've had it's a new experience for me and I'm looking forward to some bigger and better things throughout this year the better things did not occur in Kansas City we're in a rain-soaked matchup with the Chiefs the bronze played hardwood took themselves out of the game with 142 yards in penalties [Music] in spite of this they lead going into the fourth quarter ripping straight back in the pocket they flesh picked up throws complete to Jackson five hit spins put it down down what an effort by Michael Jackson [Music] [Music] but the spate of penalties and missed opportunities took its toll in the final minute the Browns were driving for what could have been the winning touchdown [Applause] the disheartening defeat dropped Cleveland into a first-place tie with Pittsburgh in the AFC Central Division the next Sunday Vinny Testaverde started for the first time since mid-october and prospered behind perfect protection from a line that thoroughly whipped the Oilers up front play-action looking for Hartley open end zone Frank Hartley and Brian kitchen caught touchdowns in the two tight end attack that rolled up 343 yards [Music] the thirty four to ten route improved the bronze record to nine and three still tied for first with the Steelers but not for long the next week due to five turnovers Cleveland suffered an unexpected and costly three-point loss to the Giants and for the first time dropped behind Pittsburgh in the standings one trademark of this team was its resiliency its ability to bounce back after a loss but the next opponent was Dallas on the road not a pretty prospect for keeping their streak intact ominously the Browns bus was involved in a serious collision on the way to Texas Stadium the man squarely on the spot was Vinny Testaverde who was about to play the most important game of his professional career on the Browns first series then he appeared equal to the challenge Testaverde straight back in the pocket dumps it off to horde has Dawson in front five boards fumble on the brink of a score was exactly what this team did not need and it easily could have deflated Cleveland's confidence but these frogs refuse to be intimidated by the caliber of their opponent throw it any better Browns backers were treated to similar determination on defense Troy Aikman was founded all afternoon as Cleveland forced to sacks and four turnovers taken in pressure throwing corner for Harper endzone and intercepted Aaron 10 from the 30-day controls intercepted by Donny Griffith in cowboy turnovers led directly to three of Matt Stover's for field goals the last of which gave Cleveland a five-point lead with over a minute left to play with a minute 49 left in the contest but soon Dallas was poised for the go-ahead score it all came down to one final dramatic play here we go Harper goes wide to the left Irvin why the right Novacek in motion to the right Aikman straight back in the pocket looks in zone [Applause] [Music] beat the Cowboys 1914 the final Novacek didn't get into the end zone and the Browns come down a big can come up with a w-2 hood at ten and four and with a little help tomorrow have clinched a playoff spot but it does get bustle Susan ban at the one-yard line here we said the Browns had to have a hero and it was Eric Turner who else did did let him into the end zone and the Browns have beaten the Cowboys 1914 [Music] after their eye-opening victory over the two-time Super Bowl champions and the second of three defeats to the Steelers Cleveland finished the regular season at home against Seattle he rolls right steps up throws for carrier and zone wide open touchdown 35 [Applause] Benny turns bootleg rolls right he can take it in if he wants to and does touchdown brown Vinny Testaverde rolled it in and now he's walking over to the stand and he'll give a early Christmas present to the st. Ignatius Wildcat football team in the stand the lopsided 35 to 9 win gave Cleveland 11 victories the second most in franchise history and promised to provide much welcomed impetus going into the NFL playoffs a New Year's Day Cleveland made its first postseason appearance since 1989 for most of the youngsters on the team it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity [Applause] against New England Testaverde playoff debut was vindication for Vinnie who performed with exceptional composure at one point he completed it 11 straight and all afternoon played error-free football Vinnie looking endzone now rushed right has a man open in the end zone Testaverde and the Browns have regained the lead they made it happen with his beat they could cover and long as Benny was scrambling back there Mark carrier coming across the field to find an open spot Benny located him for the touchdown first one that the Patriots have given up in seven quarters [Music] the first half ended in a 10-10 tie the second half belong to the bride mr. Leroy he cuts it five [Applause] I'm 16 to 10 [Applause] good flagging on the right side of the bronze offensive line Leroy able to bounce it off the pond delayed and poured it in [Applause] offensively the bronze had the ball nearly 22 minutes of the second half defensively the dogs cooled the league's hottest passer with cleverly disguised coverages [Music] [Applause] let's go back in the pocket throws ball his tip ball is intercepted by Turner Eric Turner comes up big again a rattle drew bledsoe suffered three picks and a sack as the Pat 7 game win streak came crashing down after intercepting Bledsoe seven times in two games the dark defense deservedly took its balls [Music] [Applause] [Music] as the team start off towards the middle of the field of the browns have won at 20 to 13 over 78,000 fans had witnessed a classic matchup between a respected teacher and several of his prized students on this first day of the new year the pupils had prevailed [Applause] unfortunately for the triumphant bronze their road to the Super Bowl had to travel through Pittsburgh but the 1994 season was one of dramatic progress and immense achievement it was the season the Cleveland Browns returned to the playoffs [Applause] [Music] the Cleveland Browns put the bite back into their bark last season and in 1995 they'll come out hungry for a Super Bowl clown the chances improved greatly with the signing of the most sought-after free agent in football wide receiver Andre Rison one of the most accomplished pass catchers in the game today the former Falcon and Colt hauled in 486 passes and 61 touchdowns despite playing for four teams and a host of mediocre quarterbacks they view now that they were one weapon away he's gonna give Vinny Testaverde the chance to be big-time successful ricin brings the speed to go deep and the deceptive moves of a great receiver the bottom line is he's one of the most exciting and potent receivers in the game not only is he a guy who will get the ball a lot but he wants at every play firing Bisons got it rising dives in the endzone touchdown throw floats it in the left corner of the endzone horizon he's there does he have it Miller throws faith quarter in the end zone risin [Applause] next year he plays for Cleveland he is going to take a lot of attention away from a very young group of receivers one of those young targets is Derrick Alexander number 85 with size and speed the rookie frustrated defenses all season long he led the team in receiving and with the addition of Rison could have a breakout here in 95 Testaverde rolls right outside protection under pressure throws deep down the sideline and he has a lot of abilities a lot of talent he's a guy that listens and picks up things real quick and you know just another weapon that we have on offense to utilize Rison is going to be drawing double teams Rison is going to be a big part of other defensive game plans Derrick Alexander has a chance to really emerge as a as a threat like Alexander fellow first rounder Antonio Langham immediately made his presence felt in Cleveland the 9th pick overall he injected competitive fire and speed in a position that had long been lacking those characteristics [Music] the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year was sensational and with Don Griffin helped give Cleveland its best corner play since the days of Frank Minnifield in hanford Dixon I think a Antonio Langham has the type of gunslinger mentality that a corner has to have thanks to Langham blanket coverages only one opposing receivers have past 100 yards in a game all year Langham led the rejuvenated secondary by always going to the ball in one-on-one coverage Langham was seldom beat [Music] but the middle of the man was tested on opening day after he was burned early on [Applause] instead of getting discouraged Langham got even in that situations the game was tight and we needed a play to try to get out of it watch moving minute and a half wingler Enzo [Music] [Applause] they said he could make the big play he had the great instinct I thought come on me my guy real big light in the wind where I'm gonna drop this one he doesn't get down on himself I think his athletic skills are good enough to make him one of the 5 10 best corners in football Langham is just one Talent in a backfield at boasts Eric Turner and Steve on more perhaps the best safety tandem in football aren't two safeties I like to call them both strong safeties because they come up and they play to run so hard more delivered punishment two backs and receivers who came his way and is one of the prize free agent signed by coach Bill Belichick but it's Bella checks first ever draft choice Turner was moved into the realm of superstardom oh what a lake fly Aaron what a shot he took already known as a hard hitter number 29 tied to the NFL's interception title with nine and made his first Pro Bowl as a starter Turner became a complete player in 94 and is sure to be the defensive catalyst in 95 I think Eric Turner as far as being a hitter and Intimidator it's to the late 90s what ronnie Lott was to the mid 80s [Music] while the secondary was the most improved area on defense in 94 the line was the most improved unit on offense one statistic alone tells their story they allowed just 14 sacks all season tops in the entire NFL they provided plenty of pocket time for quarterback Vinny Testaverde [Music] the enormous but finely tuned machine was engineered by position coach Kirk Firenze a lot of a lot of young guys we got a great add to it off of the line we're trying to get better each week and try to be one among the best offers finally senator Steve Everett was a Profile in Courage playing with a pinched nerve in his nap yet persevering to be the best Steve Everett's everything they hoped he'd be when they got him out of Michigan and probably more he's a guy that you can run behind up the middle and when you have a team that likes to do that that's that's an invaluable asset [Music] he has become a tremendous leader by example a very gutsy player this guy is probably gonna take over in two or three years from mark step Nastya the best center in football while ever it is Cleveland's hard running diesel at center left tackle number 66 Tony Jones will be the team's Mack truck for years to come I'm good I think I'm more than one of the top office left tackle in the league and people are starting to realize that I think he's probably the best pass protecting left tackle Alegre and I haven't seen buddy better I don't think anybody in America outside of his neighborhood in Cleveland would know what this guy looks like but he's become one of the five six seven best left tackles in football Everett and Jones will continue to open holes for running back Leroy hoard in 94 Ford went from role player to playmaker scoring nine touchdowns he carried the load at fullback after injury ended Tommy Bardell season and gave the Browns the ferocious Runner they haven't had since Kevin Mack retired Leroy horn he shook off Marcus Robertson back in the five and bruised and such the thundering horde will get some help this fall with the addition of Lorenzo white a familiar sight to bronze fans the former oiler has had some of his biggest games in the stadium and unlike horde is a sure handed ball carrier who almost never fumbles the orders featured back in 92 when he gained 1200 yards white played part-time for most of the past two years like the rest of the Browns he's rested and ready for primetime in 95 I think Cleveland got better in the offseason simply by virtue of adding Andre Rison that right there makes them a much better team but surely they have a chance to contend that AFC Championship and a better chance than they had last year they're a young team they're rapidly maturing team if horde can have the same type of year as he had last year if Vinnie can be significantly helped by Andre Rison and if they don't get a lot of defensive injuries I think that they have as good a chance as any team in the AFC to get to the Super Bowl [Music] Varian muddly 1946 to 1953 Jim Brown 1957 to 1965 Leroy Kelly 1964 to the present I'm Lou Groza in my 21 years of the Cleveland Browns I've played with all three of these runners three of the greatest in the history of pro football the tradition of great backs of the Cleveland Browns began since inception in 1946 first team that Paul Brown had put together professional football is composed of football players that either played against her had coached previously Marian motley had played against Paul Browns high school coach teams at Massillon when he formed his pro football team he wanted Marian for his number one boy Marian wore my old number number 76 those days I was wearing number 46 he had big thighs and hips and Paul Brown would tell him don't be so fancy just run over him and that's what Marion motley did he used to punish people by running into him and he was really a brute and there was his brute strength and speed that really helped make him a great fullback incidentally during Marion Motley's career in the Navy he was supposedly faster than the world record holder than 400 40-yard dash I can remember best that Pittsburgh game where he how many guys did he run over I think about four or five guys had a shot at him the 1953 Marion motley retired the Browns continued their winning ways with strong runners such as Curley Morrison ed modulus key Maurice Bassett Billy Reynolds and then in 1957 we drafted a runner out of Syracuse and just after two dazzling exhibition games Paul Brown told him you're my fullback Jim Brown was the Browns fullback football we'll probably never see another one like them [Music] during Jim Brown's career he led the league every year except for one [Music] Jim had a knack of hitting for a hole if we closed to react from where the hole may come open and his sweep did start out there and if they had his predetermined course covered he would make a cutback on his own and had the necessary reaction and speed to take advantage of it as an offensive tackle blocking for these men it gave me a great thrill to see them run how was it the tackling let's ask Chuck Bednarik former all-pro with the Philadelphia Eagles he had to tackle both of them tough attack oh well the wider of the to the broader of the true to wrap your arms around was Marion motley if Mary Ann motley ever picked up steam once he got past the front line and the linebackers goodbye look it was like a locomotive I hate it to tackle him when he had full speed cuz he could break into two Jimmy Brown at the same time and a beautiful waistline 28 inches 230 pounds really built you prep your arms around him is pretty tough too you gang tackled people like that how do you replace a Jim Brown with the Leroy Kelly Kelly who'd been operating on our specialty teams and doing a fine job was a natural selection he has proved himself and he is a great runner Leroy's real true assets as a runner his his ability getting a hole quickly you know those holes don't stay open too long the Pro Football Jim Brown was very quick for a big man but I think Leroy gets to the hole somewhat quicker than Jim [Music] so he was a very fine receiver Leroy is not as big a man as Jim Brown but he is he has good balance and he's not a lot knocked off his feet very easily and avoids a lot of direct hits and they don't get a clean shot at him Kelly of course led the National Football League statistically in running last year we expect Leroy to be great for a long time I have retired as an active player and have been retained on the coaching staff the Cleveland Browns it just might be part of my job to help find that next great runner [Music] [Applause] [Music]

Channel: Sports Odyssey

Views: 4,754

Rating: 4.8461537 out of 5

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Id: Mr_0WTCJH84

Length: 44min 24sec (2664 seconds)

Published: Sat Apr 27 2019

Reddit Comments

[u/kybrowns]

Love the Andre Rison predictions.

[u/heylooknewpillows]

Big dick energy including the fbi warning at the beginning

/s

[u/Tyking]

This is fascinating, thanks for sharing! Really interesting to see how the sport has evolved from the 90s through the 00s and 10s. Not just the play style but the attire and equipment as well.