Two rival NFL franchises with a different coaching history

A couple of weeks ago my wife, son and I went to B-Dubs for dinner. Hanging on the wall at the local eatery is a Cleveland Browns jersey of one Brian Sipe. When I saw it, I immediately informed my family members: "I bet I'm the only one in this restaurant that was in attendance when the Browns worked out Brian Sipe who was a free agent out of San Diego State."My wife and son were suitably unimpressed. Now whether that was because they had heard the story a time or two before, or that they did not see why my being there was important is hard to say. Perhaps a little of both.The story however is true. I was a senior at Hiram College (where the Browns trained in those days) when Head Coach Nick Skorich and team doctor Vic Ippolito showed up at the field house on a chilly day. A friend of mine who played wide receiver for the Terriers was enlisted to catch Sipe's throws. I watched with interest, but was not impressed. He seemed to throw more wobbly ducks than anything else, but somebody with the Browns saw something I did not pick up on.He was signed and had a great career as the Browns starting signal caller.A couple of days ago my son Brian and I stopped for a bite at Napoli's (and yes, I do eat at home… occasionally). I was telling him about Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh competing against each other recently for the 34th time. That is the second most times two NFL coaches have been paired in a game. The record belongs to Curly Lambeau and George Halas at 49 contests.Lambeau coached at Green Bay for 29 seasons and Halas was the head man of the Chicago Bears for 40. Will Tomlin and Harbaugh ever catch them? Who knows, but they have both been with their respective teams for an awfully long time.I pointed out to my son that the Pittsburgh Steelers have only had three head coaches in the last 54 years! Of course that is not the case for the Browns. When it comes to coaching longevity for the Browns and Steelers franchises, there is a vast difference. Brian got his phone out so we could check on the number of Browns coaches since the days of Chuck Noll. He was the Steelers head coach between 1969-1991. He was replaced by Bill Cowher who served from 1992-2006. Mike Tomlin has been the coach since then.Just for fun I thought I'd list all of the Cleveland coaches since Chuck Noll's rookie season in 1969. Blanton Collier was the head man that year and was replaced by the previously aforementioned Nick Skorich. OK, are you ready for the rest of the list?Forrest Gregg, Dick Modzelewski, Sam Rutigliano, Marty Schottenheimer, Bud Carson, Jim Shofner, Bill Belichick, Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, Terry Robiskie, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Mike Pettine, Hue Jackson, Gregg Williams, Freddie Kitchens and Kevin Stefanski have prowled the sidelines as head man for the Browns. For those of you keeping score at home, it's Cleveland 21 Pittsburgh 3.Some of the Browns coaches had more success elsewhere as Belichick and Schottenheimer come to mind. Others are a distant memory for most football fans, even if the Browns are your team. If you remember them all – you are a true fan. It might be worth noting that prior to Blanton Collier the Browns only had one coach from 1946-1962.Do I need to tell you that was Paul Brown?Our conversation soon turned to quarterbacks. Because if you think the list of Browns head coaches is a long one… Brian went to his phone and we chuckled as he listed the guys who had started a game at quarterback for the Browns since 1999, the year Cleveland got its franchise back after the Art Modell flight.Here we go again. Tim Couch, Ty Detmer, Doug Peterson, Spurgeon Wynn, Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia, Luke McKown, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey, Bruce Gradkowski, Colt McCoy, Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Brandon Weeden, Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel, Conner Shaw, Austin Davis, Cody Kessler, Robert Griffin III, DeShone Kizer, Kevin Hogan, Baker Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor, Case Keenum, Nick Mullens, Jacoby Brissett, Deshaun Watson, P.J. Walker and Darien Thompson-Robinson. I'll let you count 'em.I wouldn't do that to you. There have been 34 different starters at the quarterback position for the Browns since 1999. Some have been successful, but only to a degree. Had there been more success, the list wouldn't be so long. I have actually met one of these guys.Bruce Gradkowski married the daughter of one of my former students. He and his wife came into T.J. Willie's as my wife and I were leaving. My wife had taught Bruce's wife and they stopped to chat. Gradkowski stuck out his hand and introduced himself. He didn't need to do that as he was very recognizable. I chose not to mention who I was as he surely would have already known me. I was after all, the famed bowling columnist for the A-T at the time!All kidding aside, we talked for a short time and he was a very nice young man. I wonder if he remembers me…Brian was still on his phone and was going back to my youth while looking at Cleveland quarterbacks. His question surprised me. "Who was Otto Graham?" If he did not know Graham he was not going to know the next couple of names he mentioned.From 1958-1961 Milt Plum started all but one game for the Brownies. Do you know the name of the guy that had that one start? If you knew it was Len Dawson, you are on top of your game. In 1962 the Browns signed Frank Ryan to back up starter Jim Ninowski.Halfway through the season Ninowski broke his collarbone after a tackle by the Steelers Eugene Lipscomb. You might know him better as "Big Daddy." Ryan became the starter and the next year led Cleveland to the NFL Championship game. The Browns won 27-0 over the Colts as Ryan threw three touchdown passes to Gary Collins. I do remember that game very well.It was fun to stroll down memory lane. The Steelers are always going to have the title for fewest head coaches, but the two teams have been evenly matched the last couple of years. And that has not always been the case.