1999 Cleveland Browns season

The 1999 Cleveland Browns season was the Browns 51st season overall and 47th in the NFL. It marked the return of professional football to the city of Cleveland, Ohio for the first time since the 1995 season, when the franchise was temporarily deactivated following the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy, which ultimately established the Baltimore Ravens. Officially, the Browns are considered a continuation of the previous franchise, as the history and colors of the team remained in Cleveland. The franchise was still alive as a legal entity between 1996 and 1998 and its assets kept in a trust managed by the NFL until Al Lerner became the owner in 1998. The Browns, however, in 1999 were treated as an "expansion team" by having an expansion draft and receiving the number one overall draft pick.

1999 Cleveland Browns season
OwnerAl Lerner
Head coachChris Palmer
General managerDwight Clark
Home fieldCleveland Browns Stadium
Local radioWTAM · WMJI
Results
Record2–14
Division place6th AFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The Browns' offense and defense both finished in the bottom of the league. The Browns scored 217 points and gained 3,762 yards of total offense, both last in the NFL. The Browns allowed 437 points and gave up 6,046 yards, ranking 29th and 31st, respectively.[1]

Season information

During the course of the 1995 season, then-Browns owner Art Modell announced his decision to move the Browns to Baltimore. Modell's new team would begin playing in the 1996 season. It would be the first time since 1935 that Cleveland would be left without an existing football team and the first time since 1943 without a team playing, when the Cleveland Rams suspended operation for one year, so the other teams could have enough players during World War II.

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

While the Browns' new stadium was being built on the site of the old Cleveland Stadium, the foundation of the front office was being set in place. Al Lerner won a bidding war for the new team for $750 million. Lerner hired former San Francisco 49ers front office staffers Carmen Policy and Dwight Clark 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 at home; Cleveland native Drew Carey was present and gave a rousing pre-game speech. 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 in week 8 of their inaugural season the "New Browns" got their first ever win over the New Orleans Saints. From the Browns' 42-yard line Tim Couch squared up and threw a Hail Mary pass that was tipped in the endzone by Saints defenders but then caught by the Browns' Kevin Johnson. The dramatic game-winning touchdown play happened in the last two seconds of the game, causing the final score to be 21–16. Two weeks later, the Browns defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh, 16–15, for their second and final win of the year.

The Browns finished the season 2–14—sixth in the AFC Central. It was, at the time, the worst record that the Browns had ever compiled at the end of a season. Since then, the Browns finished with worse records in 2016 and 2017. The Browns did not win a home game throughout the season.

Draft

1999 NFL Draft
Main article: 1999 NFL Draft
1999 Cleveland Browns draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 1 Tim Couch  QB Kentucky
2 32 Kevin Johnson  WR Syracuse
2 45 Rahim Abdullah  LB Clemson Extra selection
3 62 Daylon McCutcheon  CB USC
3 76 Marquis Smith  S California
4 124 Wali Rainer  LB Virginia from San Francisco
5 148 Darrin Chiaverini  WR Colorado Extra selection
6 174 Marcus Spriggs  DT Troy from Chicago
6 187 Kendall Ogle  LB Maryland from Seattle
6 191 James Dearth  LS Tarleton State from New England via Seattle
7 207 Madre Hill  RB Arkansas
      Made roster  

Expansion Draft
Main article: 1999 NFL expansion draft

Players selected from other teams in the Cleveland Expansion Draft, in order of selection.[2]

PickPlayerPositionOriginal NFL team
1Jim Pyne^CDetroit Lions
2Hurvin McCormack^DEDallas Cowboys
3Scott Rehberg^OTNew England Patriots
4Damon Gibson^WRCincinnati Bengals
5Steve GordonCSan Francisco 49ers
6Tarek Saleh^LBCarolina Panthers
7Jeff BuckeyGMiami Dolphins
8Jason KyleLSSeattle Seahawks
9Rod ManuelDEPittsburgh Steelers
10Lenoy Jones^LBTennessee Titans
11Tim McTyer^CBPhiladelphia Eagles
12Elijah AlexanderLBIndianapolis Colts
13Pete SwansonOTKansas City Chiefs
14Gerome WilliamsSSan Diego Chargers
15Marlon Forbes^SChicago Bears
16Justin ArmourWRDenver Broncos
17Paul WigginsOTWashington Redskins
18Duane ButlerSMinnesota Vikings
19Fred BrockWRArizona Cardinals
20Kory Blackwell^CBNew York Giants
21Kevin DevineCBJacksonville Jaguars
22Raymond Jackson^CBBuffalo Bills
23Jim Bundren^GNew York Jets
24Ben CavilGBaltimore Ravens
25Michael BlairRBGreen Bay Packers
26Antonio AndersonDTDallas Cowboys
27Orlando BoboGMinnesota Vikings
28James Williams^LBSan Francisco 49ers
29Scott MilanovichQBTampa Bay Buccaneers
30Eric Stokes^SSeattle Seahawks
31Ronald MooreRBMiami Dolphins
32Clarence WilliamsRBBuffalo Bills
33Freddie SolomonWRPhiladelphia Eagles
34Brandon SandersSNew York Giants
35Mike Thompson^NTCincinnati Bengals
36Jerris McPhailRBDetroit Lions
37Antonio Langham^CBSan Francisco 49ers

^ Made roster.

Personnel

Staff
1999 Cleveland Browns staff
Front office
  • Owner and chairman – Alfred Lerner
  • President and chief executive officer – Carmen Policy
  • Executive vice president/director of football operations – Dwight Clark
  • Executive director of player personnel – Joe Collins
  • Director of college personnel – Phil Neri
  • Director of pro personnel – Keith Kidd

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Ken Whisenhunt
  • Special teams quality control – Mark Michaels

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Tim Jorgensen
  • Assistant strength/pass rush consultant – Joe Kim
  • Assistant strength – Aril Smith

Final roster
1999 Cleveland Browns final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Preseason

Hall of Fame Game
  • Cleveland Browns 20, Dallas Cowboys 17 (Overtime)[3]

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 12 Pittsburgh Steelers L 0–43 0–1 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
2 September 19 at Tennessee Titans L 9–26 0–2 Adelphia Coliseum Recap
3 September 26 at Baltimore Ravens L 10–17 0–3 PSINet Stadium Recap
4 October 3 New England Patriots L 7–19 0–4 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
5 October 10 Cincinnati Bengals L 17–18 0–5 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
6 October 17 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 7–24 0–6 Alltel Stadium Recap
7 October 24 at St. Louis Rams L 3–34 0–7 Trans World Dome Recap
8 October 31 at New Orleans Saints W 21–16 1–7 Louisiana Superdome Recap
9 November 7 Baltimore Ravens L 9–41 1–8 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
10 November 14 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 16–15 2–8 Three Rivers Stadium Recap
11 November 21 Carolina Panthers L 17–31 2–9 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
12 November 28 Tennessee Titans L 21–33 2–10 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
13 December 5 at San Diego Chargers L 10–23 2–11 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
14 December 12 at Cincinnati Bengals L 28–44 2–12 Cinergy Field Recap
15 December 19 Jacksonville Jaguars L 14–24 2–13 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
16 December 26 Indianapolis Colts L 28–29 2–14 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
17 Bye

Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week One: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 13 61743
Browns 0 0 000

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

After being deactivated for three seasons, the Cleveland Browns returned to the NFL, playing their first game since December 24, 1995 and first home game since December 17, 1995. The game was featured on ESPN Sunday Night Football and a pre-game speech was given by comedian Drew Carey, a Cleveland native. The celebration would be short-lived as the Steelers would shutout the Browns 43–0. The Browns would finish the game with only 40 yards of total offense and committed four turnovers and had a time of possession of just 12:11.

Week 2: at Tennessee Titans
Week Two: Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 0 3 609
Titans 2 14 3726

at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Kicker Phil Dawson made a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter, scoring the Browns' first points of the season. Cleveland would score its first touchdown of the season in the third quarter, with a 39-yard pass from Tim Couch to Kevin Johnson. Despite this, the Titans thrashed the Browns 26–9.

Week 3: at Baltimore Ravens
Week Three: Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 0 0 3710
Ravens 3 7 7017

at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Date: September 26
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT / 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 68,803
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • Box score
Game information

This was the first meeting between the reactivated Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens, the latter of which previously played in Cleveland as the Browns from 1946 to 1995 before a controversial relocation. As a compromise by the NFL, the Browns were officially deactivated in 1996 while the team in Baltimore was considered an expansion team. The game would be a defensive battle with poor offensive performance, as both teams committed three turnovers. The Browns, down by seven with 2:34 to go, had the ball and were looking to tie the game, but Tim Couch threw an interception to Chris McAlister. The Ravens would run out the clock to win the game.

Week 8: at New Orleans Saints
Week Eight: Cleveland Browns at New Orleans – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 0 7 7721
Saints 7 3 3316

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 48,817
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui & Steve Tasker
  • Box score
Game information

The 0–7 Browns headed to New Orleans to take on the 1–6 Saints. The Saints would score first, with quarterback Billy Joe Hobert throwing a five yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keith Poole. The Browns would respond midway through the second quarter with fullback Marc Edwards on a 27-yard catch-and-run from Tim Couch to tie the game at 7–7. New Orleans kicker Doug Brien made a 49-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the first half to put the Saints up 10–7. Cleveland would take its first lead of the game with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Couch to wide receiver Kevin Johnson in the third quarter. Brien would make two more field goals, giving the Saints a 16–14 lead with just 0:21 left in the game. Cleveland started the final drive at its own 25-yard line, needing to score a touchdown in under 15 seconds to win the game. On the first play, Couch's pass to wide receiver Darrin Chiaverini fell incomplete, being broken up by Willie Clay. The next play, Couch completed a 19-yard pass to Leslie Shepherd to the Cleveland 44-yard line. Head coach Chris Palmer would immediately call a timeout with just 0:02 left. Down to the Browns' last chance for a win, Couch would heave up a 56-yard Hail Mary that was caught by Johnson in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. With the last-second win, the Browns got their first victory since being reactivated and was the franchise's first win since December 17, 1995.

The Browns had 243 yards of total offense and maintained possession of the ball for only 19:10; the Saints had 351 total yards and possessed the ball for 40:50. However, Cleveland only turned the ball over once while New Orleans had five turnovers.

Week 13: at San Diego Chargers
Week Thirteen: Cleveland Browns at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 3 7 0010
Chargers 3 10 3723

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 5
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST / 10:00 a.m. PST
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), wind 7 MPH
  • Game attendance: 53,147
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • Box score
Game information

The Browns faced the 4–7 Chargers in San Diego. The first quarter started low-key as both teams both notched field goals, respectively from Phil Dawson (33 yards) and John Carney (44 yards). However, by the second quarter, San Diego dominated the rest of the game, with touchdowns from Kenny Bynum and Jermaine Fazande, leading the Chargers to victory.

Week 16: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week Sixteen: Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Colts 0 13 61029
Browns 7 7 14028

at Cleveland Browns Stadium,Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

On a cold and windy afternoon, the 2–13 Browns hosted the 12–2 Colts, looking to end the season on a high note. The Browns led for most of the game and were up 28–19 at the beginning of the fourth, but were shutout in the final quarter as the Colts scored ten unanswered points to win 29–28.

Standings
AFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) Jacksonville Jaguars 1420.875396217W1
(4) Tennessee Titans 1330.813392324W4
Baltimore Ravens 880.500324277L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 6100.375317320L1
Cincinnati Bengals 4120.250283460L2
Cleveland Browns 2140.125217437L6

[4]

References
  1. "1999 Cleveland Browns Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  2. 1999 Cleveland Expansion Draft
  3. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 978-0-7611-2480-1, p. 369
  4. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 978-0-7611-2480-1
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