The Forgotten Decade

CONTENDERS? NO. COMPELLING? YES. The Cleveland Browns in the 1970s were, for the most part, an average team. Their 72-70-2 overall record during that period proves that. They qualified for the postseason just twice and had no playoff wins. The low point came in 1974 and 1975 when they posted 4-10 and 3-11 records, respectively. The 1970s Browns, however, still managed to draw the attention of their fans. They still attracted large crowds to their home games. Their rivalries with AFC Central Division cohorts Pittsburgh and Cincinnati were as strong as ever. The '70s Browns had some intriguing players such as Brian Sipe, Doug Dieken, and Joe "Turkey" Jones. They also had memorable head coaches like Sam Rutigliano and Forrest Gregg. Despite being a so-so team in this timespan, the Browns nonetheless provided many moments that will live forever such as Billy Andrews's interception return for a touchdown off a Joe Namath pass that clinched the win in the first Monday Night Football game, Mike Phipps's touchdown pass to Fair Hooker that had Browns fans thinking upset in a Christmas Eve playoff against the undefeated Dolphins, and Thom Darden's pick-six off a Roger Staubach pass that helped lead to a shocking rout of the Cowboys on Monday Night Football that impressed even Howard Cosell. The Forgotten Decade is a collection of tales from the 1970s that will bring back memories -good and bad-for longtime Browns fans and will give younger fans a glimpse into what the 1970s Browns were all about.