Daily Dawg Tags: Remembering a special No. 54
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns will open the 2017 NFL season in 54 days, which was also the uniform number of the late Tom DeLeone.
In 54 days, the Cleveland Browns will open the 2017 NFL season as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Fifty-four is also the uniform number of the late Tom DeLeone, who is a close second to Alex Mack as the best center in franchise history.
DeLeone was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 1972 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He spent two years in Cincinnati before being traded to the Atlanta Falcons, who put DeLeone on waivers after he was injured. The Houston Oilers claimed him only to release him a few days later. He finally returned home to Northeast Ohio when the Browns signed him midway through the 1974 season.
Over the next 11 years in Cleveland, DeLeone played in 149 games, making 104 starts, and became one of just three centers in franchise history to make multiple Pro Bowls, joining Alex Mack and John Morrow.
In 2011, the team inducted DeLeone into the Cleveland Browns Legends club
Following his retirement after the 1984 season, DeLeone spent 22 years in law enforcement, working with the U.S. Treasury Department and with an anti-terrorism unit.
Sadly, DeLeone passed away on May 22, 2016, at the age of 65.
Cleveland Browns news:
Is the 53-man roster already established?
The Cleveland Browns will open training camp in 10 days, but is the final roster already set in the minds of the coaching staff and front office?
No chance Browns would be interested in a Manziel comeback
The Cleveland Browns may not have an elite quarterback room, but there is no chance that head coach Hue Jackson would be open to a return of Johnny Manziel.
Browns D will play with ‘attitude’ under Gregg Williams (clevelandbrowns.com)
"Former NFL linebacker and Ohio State star James Laurinaitis says the Browns have plenty to be optimistic about with new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams."
NFL news:
Why did the Panthers fire Dave Gettleman as GM? (Charlotte Observer)
"The Carolina Panthers are cheating on their fans with this one. The Panthers owe their fans a real explanation for owner Jerry Richardson’s latest foray into the unexplained and unbelievable – this one the firing of Dave Gettleman, the most successful general manager the team has ever had, on the eve of the Panthers’ 2017 training camp. And “Because I said so” is not an explanation."
Time to trade Kirk Cousins? (ESPN)
"It’s not really a surprise that Washington and Kirk Cousins failed to come toterms on a long-term extension before Monday’s deadline for franchise players. What is a surprise, however, is what happened next. Team president Bruce Allen released a statement detailing the offer Washington made to keep Cousins in the organization while revealing that Cousins’ representation failed to ever respond to the proposal. While teams often leak information to try to negotiate through various media channels, this sort of public revelation is virtually unprecedented. It also says a lot about Cousins’ future in D.C."
Patience a virtue Bears will need with Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky (Chicago Tribune)
"When the Bears roll into Bourbonnais on July 26, the convoy will be without a certain conversion van. In its absence, the space at Olivet Nazarene University will be filled with fresh air. Breathe it in, Chicago. The Bears sure will."
Le’Veon Bell: ‘Worth more’ than what Steelers offered (NFL.com)
"Le’Veon Bell didn’t sign the multi-year contract offer the Pittsburgh Steelers placed on the table ahead of Monday’s deadline for franchise tag players to sign long-term deals."