Cleveland Browns: 5 best second-round picks of all-time
By Thomas Moore
Walter Johnson joined the Browns the year after their NFL title win, and after seeing playing time as a rookie took over a starting role on the defensive line in 1966, where he would remain until the end of the 1976 season, a streak of 161 consecutive games that included seven playoff appearances. (Yes, the Browns were once a perennial playoff contender.)
Johnson also possessed the type of attitude needed to survive in the trenches back in those days, according to teammate Jerry Sherk, who lined up next to Johnson for seven years:
"When I came (to) the Browns, Walter Johnson … was not only the guy I teamed up with at tackle, but he was the alpha male of the Browns. Guys were in awe of him, because of his strength – he could actually hurt people in practice and in the games. My first game was the first Monday Night Game ever. Each player got four free tickets, and I was only going to use two. Walter knew it and asked if he could buy my other two. I said yes and gave him the tickets. He didn’t give me the money, and I was so intimidated by him that I never asked."
"His strength was legendary on the team. There was a story going around that once Jim Brown called a team meeting, and he was chastising the team for their poor play. During the meeting he said, “And if you don’t like what I’m saying I’ll kick your ass, and I can kick anyone’s ass on the team.” Then he looked over at Walter and said in a lower voice, “Except maybe for you, Walter!”"
A three-time Pro Bowl selection (1967, 1968 and 1969), Johnson spent his final NFL season in 1977 with the Cincinnati Bengals He sadly passed away in the summer of 1999 at the age of 56.
Next: Defensive tackle Jerry Sherk (1970 to 1981)