The 1999

1999 NFL season

The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...

 Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

 season marked the team's return to the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 after a three-year absence. The 1999 season also marked the return of football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 to the city of Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...

 for the first time since the 1995 season

1995 NFL season

The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...

.

Season information

During the course of the 1995 season, then-Browns owner Art Modell

Art Modell

Arthur B. Modell is an American businessman, entrepreneur and former National Football League team owner. He owned the Cleveland Browns franchise from 1961–1995 and the Baltimore Ravens franchise from 1996–2004. Modell is the grandson of the late Morris Modell who founded the northeast...

 announced his decision to move the Browns to Baltimore. Modell's new team would begin playing in the 1996 season

1996 NFL season

The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...

. It would be the first time since 1945

1945 in sports

1945 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II-American football:...

 that Cleveland would be left without a football team.

However, many Browns fans and Cleveland city officials were determined to keep the team in Cleveland, and orchestrated a grassroots

Grassroots

A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...

 movement to keep the team in Cleveland. The NFL responded by working with city officials, and the two parties came to a unique agreement which would provide the city with a brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium and would promise the return of professional football to Cleveland by the beginning of the 1999 season. Modell also agreed to relinquish the Browns' name, colors and team history to the new owner of the Browns. Modell's new team would begin playing in the 1996 season as the Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...

, and was regarded as a new franchise expansion team. The Browns were then considered to have suspended operations from 1996 to 1998.

While the Browns' new stadium

Cleveland Browns Stadium

-See also:* List of current National Football League stadiums* Chronology of home stadiums for current National Football League teams* List of American football stadiums by capacity* List of U.S. stadiums by capacity* List of North American stadiums by capacity...

 was being built on the site of the old Cleveland Stadium

Cleveland Stadium

Cleveland Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in Cleveland, Ohio. In its final years, the stadium seated 74,438, for baseball and 81,000, for football. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football...

, the foundation of the front office was being set in place. Al Lerner

Al Lerner

Alfred "Al" Lerner was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was best known as the Chairman of the Board of credit card giant MBNA and the owner of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League...

 won a bidding war for the new team for $750 million. Lerner hired former San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

 front office staffers Carmen Policy

Carmen Policy

Carmen Policy is an attorney and American football executive who is best known for his front office work for the San Francisco 49ers during the 1980s and 1990s. Policy, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1983 as vice president and counsel...

 and Dwight Clark

Dwight Clark

Dwight Edward Clark is a former American Pro Bowl wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987...

 as the Browns' president and vice president.

Football finally returned to Cleveland on September 12 when the Browns opened the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...

 at home. However, the fans were sorely disappointed as the Browns were defeated by the Steelers 43–0. The team would go on to lose their first seven games, but finally won their first game against the New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....

 when rookie and overall number one pick in the draft

1999 NFL Draft

The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...

 quarterback

Quarterback

Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...

 Tim Couch

Tim Couch

Timothy Scott "Tim" Couch is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Kentucky...

 threw up a Hail Mary pass

Hail Mary pass

A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....

 with three seconds left. The pass was caught by rookie wide receiver

Wide receiver

A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...

 Kevin Johnson

Kevin Johnson (football player)

Kevin L. Johnson is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver in college for Syracuse University , then for seven seasons for the Cleveland Browns, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Baltimore Ravens, and the...

 and the Browns won the game 21–16. Two weeks later, the Browns defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...

, 16–15, for their second and final win of the year.

The Browns ended the season badly, finishing 2–14—sixth in the AFC Central. It was the worst record that any Cleveland team ever compiled at the end of a season. They did not win a home game throughout the season.

Staff

1999 Cleveland Browns staff
	Head Coaches Head Coach – Chris Palmer Offensive Coaches Quarterbacks – John Hufnagel John Hufnagel John Coleman Hufnagel is a Canadian football coach and former pro quarterback. He is currently the head coach of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League... Running Backs – Dick Portee Wide Receivers – Jerry Butler Jerry Butler (American football) Jerry O'Dell Butler is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played his entire career with the Buffalo Bills . Butler was a Pro Bowl selection in 1980. In his career, he caught 278 receptions for 4,301 yards and 29 touchdowns... Tight Ends – Ray Perkins Offensive Line – Bob Palcic Offensive Quality Control – Tony Sparano Tony Sparano Anthony "Tony" Sparano III is an American Football head coach of the Miami Dolphins. At age 17, Sparano had an incident which burnt his eyes, which is why he always wears his signature sunglasses even at night...			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Bob Slowik Bob Slowik Bob Slowik is the current defensive backs coach for the Washington Redskins, under head coach Mike Shanahan. He is a former defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears. Prior to his stint with the Bears he was a defensive assistant with the... Defensive Line – Clarence Brooks Linebackers – Keith Butler Keith Butler (American football) Keith Butler is an American football linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks for 10 years and retired after the 1987 NFL season.-College career:... Defensive Backfield – Jerry Holmes Jerry Holmes Jerry Holmes is an American football coach and former defensive back. He played ten seasons in the National Football League, mainly for New York Jets but also with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. He also played in the USFL for the New Jersey Generals and the Pittsburgh Maulers... Defensive Quality Control – Billy Davis Billy Davis (American football) Billy Davis is an American football coach in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns. He is the linebackers coach. He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. He was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers from 2005 through 2006.-Early life:Billy Davis was... Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Ken Whisenhunt Ken Whisenhunt Kenneth "Ken" Moore Whisenhunt is the current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team, leading them to the first Super Bowl in franchise history during the 2008 season... Special Teams Quality Control – Mark Michaels Strength and Conditioning Strength – Tim Jorgensen Assistant Strength – Aril Smith

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 12, 1999	Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...	L 43–0	73,138
2	September 19, 1999	at Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...	L 26–9	65,904
3	September 26, 1999	at Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...	L 17–10	68,803
4	October 3, 1999	New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...	L 19–7	72,368
5	October 10, 1999	Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...	L 18–17	73,048
6	October 17, 1999	at Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 24–7	62,047
7	October 24, 1999	at St. Louis Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...	L 34–3	65,866
8	October 31, 1999	at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....	W 21–16	48,817
9	November 7, 1999	Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...	L 41–9	72,898
10	November 14, 1999	at Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...	W 16–15	58,213
11	November 21, 1999	Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...	L 31–17	72,818
12	November 28, 1999	Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...	L 33–21	72,008
13	December 5, 1999	at San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 23–10	53,147
14	December 12, 1999	at Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...	L 44–28	59,972
15	December 19, 1999	Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 24–14	72,038
16	December 26, 1999	Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....	L 29–28	72,618

1999 NFL Draft

1999 NFL Draft

The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...

Draft order		Player name	Position	College
Round	Pick
1	1	Tim Couch Tim Couch Timothy Scott "Tim" Couch is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Kentucky...	Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...	Kentucky University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
2	32	Kevin Johnson Kevin Johnson (football player) Kevin L. Johnson is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver in college for Syracuse University , then for seven seasons for the Cleveland Browns, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Baltimore Ravens, and the...	Wide receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...	Syracuse Syracuse University Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
	45	Rahim Abdullah Rahim Abdullah Rahim Fahim Abdullah is a former American football player from Clemson University. He was a second round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1999, the year of their return to the NFL...	Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...	Clemson Clemson University Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
3	62	Daylon McCutcheon Daylon McCutcheon Daylon McCutcheon is a retired National Football League cornerback who played his entire career with the Cleveland Browns-High school career:...	Cornerback Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...	USC University of Southern California The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
	78	Marquis Smith Marquis Smith Marquis Trinnell Smith is a former American football safety and linebacker of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-References:...	Defensive back Defensive back In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...	California University of California The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
4	124	Wali Rainer Wali Rainer Wali Rainer is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...	Linebacker	Virginia University of Virginia The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
5	148	Darrin Chiaverini Darrin Chiaverini Darrin Chiaverini is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, and the Atlanta Falcons. Chiaverini ranked 5th among NFL rookies in 1999 with 44 catches for the Cleveland Browns...	Wide receiver	Colorado University of Colorado at Boulder The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
6	174	Marcus Spriggs	Defensive tackle	Troy State
	187	Kendall Ogle	Linebacker	Maryland University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
	191	James Dearth James Dearth James Dearth is an American football long snapper / tight end who is currently a free agent. Dearth, who attended Tarleton State University, was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft....	Tight end Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...	Tarleton State Tarleton State University Tarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas. It is the largest non-land-grant university primarily devoted to agriculture in the United States....
7	207	Madre Hill Madre Hill Madre Hill is a former American football running back, playing last for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. Considered one of the greatest running backs to come out of the University of Arkansas, Hill was named 1st Team All-SEC in 1995 and was named to the Razorbacks' All-time...	Running back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...	Arkansas University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...

Expansion Draft

Players selected from other teams in the Cleveland Expansion Draft, in order of selection.

1. C Jim Pyne, Detroit

2. DE Hurvin McCormack Hurvin McCormack Hurvin Michael McCormack is a former professional American football player who played defensive tackle for six seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns.... , Dallas

3. T Scott Rehberg Scott Rehberg Scott Joseph Rehberg is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for seven seasons for the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals.... , New England

4. WR Damon Gibson, Cincinnati

5. C Steve Gordon, San Francisco

6. LB Tarek Saleh Tarek Saleh Tarek Muhammad Saleh is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played for the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns . He was born in Woodbridge, Connecticut; he attended Notre Dame High School , and the University of Wisconsin.- External links :*... , Carolina

7. G Jeff Buckey, Miami

8. LB Jason Kyle, Seattle

9. DE Rod Manuel, Pittsburgh

10. LB Lenoy Jones, Tennessee

11. CB Tim McTyer, Philadelphia

12. LB Elijah Alexander, Indianapolis

13. T Pete Swanson, Kansas City

14. S Gerome Williams, San Diego

15. S Marlon Forbes Marlon Forbes Marlon Darryl Forbes is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played four seasons for the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns .... , Chicago

16. WR Justin Armour, Denver

17. T Paul Wiggins, Washington

18. S Duane Butler, Minnesota

19. WR Fred Brock, Arizona

20. CB Kory Blackwell, N.Y. Giants

21. CB Kevin Devine, Jacksonville

22. CB Ray Jackson, Buffalo

23. G Jim Bundren, N.Y. Jets

24. G Ben Cavil, Baltimore

25. RB Michael Blair, Green Bay

26. DT Antonio Anderson, Dallas

27. G Orlando Bobo, Minnesota

28. LB James Williams, San Francisco

29. QB Scott Milanovich, Tampa Bay

30. S Eric Stokes, Seattle

31. RB Ronald Moore, Miami

32. RB Clarence Williams, Buffalo

33. WR Freddie Solomon, Philadelphia

34. S Brandon Sanders, N.Y. Giants

35. DT Mike Thompson, Cincinnati

36. RB Jerris McPhail Jerris McPhail Jerris Cornelius McPhail is a former professional American football player who played running back for three seasons for the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions.... , Detroit

37. CB Antonio Langham, San Francisco