Daily Dawg Tags: Remembering a special No. 31 for the Browns

The Cleveland Browns hold the top selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, which is just 31 days away. That also happens to be the number of former cornerback Frank Minnifield.

The Cleveland Browns have an opportunity to be the talk of the 2018 NFL Draft as the team holds the first- and fourth-overall selections, along with three selections in the second round.

The draft will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with the first round being held on April 26.

That is just 31 days away, which also happens to be the number of one of the best cornerbacks in franchise history in Frank Minnifield.

The Browns picked up Minnifield prior to the 1984 season after he fled the failing USFL. He would go on to play 122 games in nine years with the Browns, teaming with cornerback Hanford Dixon to create one of the toughest cornerback combinations in the league. They were also the originators of the Dawg Pound, barking at fans in the end zone at Cleveland Municipal Stadium prior to games.

Minnifield went to four consecutive Pro Bowls starting in 1986, and was a first team All-Pro selection in 1988. He was also a second team selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-1980s Team.

While he had many memorable games, his best may have been his first playoff appearance, which came against the Miami Dolphins in the divisional round on Jan. 4, 1986.

Minnifield and Dixon combined that day to hold Miami wide receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper to one reception for 15 yards as the Browns almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets in team history.

That wouldn’t be the only season that ended in heartbreak for Minnifield and Browns fans, however, as the team would go on to appear in three AFC Championship Games, but walk off the field on the wrong side of the scoreboard each time.

Minnifield also remains, to this day, the greatest No. 31 to ever play for the Browns.

Cleveland Browns news:

John Dorsey is just toying with the NFL

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey is busy making headlines at the NFL owners meeting, but the joke might finally be on the rest of the NFL.

Browns draft profile: Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson

The Cleveland Browns head into the draft looking to take the best available player. Could that player be Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson?

Browns should be cautious about pursuing Odell Beckham Jr.

The Cleveland Browns are looking for real football players, so will they be in the mix if wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. hits the trade market?

What type of Browns fan are you?

A short quiz designed to determine what type of Cleveland Browns fan you are — we all may be a part of the problem with the culture.

Drew Stanton a bad signing by the Browns

The Cleveland Browns made a blunder over the weekend in signing Drew Stanton, who has been less than ideal at playing quarterback in the NFL.

Passing on top passers is a skill the Browns have down to a science (The Chronicle)

"The last time the Browns drafted a franchise quarterback, they didn’t even know it. In the 13th round of the 1972 Draft, the Browns used the 330th overall pick to select an undersized (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) relatively unknown quarterback from San Diego State named Brian Sipe."

Browns re-sign Tank Carder (clevelandbrowns.com)

"The Cleveland Browns re-signed unrestricted free agent LB Tank Carder. Carder is 6-2, 235 pounds and entering his seventh NFL season out of Texas Christian."

NFL news:

Ndamukong Suh a strong addition for the Rams’, but questions still remain (si.com)

"Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh playing together on the same defensive line—It’s as scary as it sounds, for reasons both obvious and subtle. The obvious: Donald is the best gap-shooting interior D-lineman in football—a label previously owned by the now-31-year-old Suh."

It’s a ‘high price tag’ for Eagles to consider trading Nick Foles (The Inquirer)

"Nick Foles is still on the Eagles, but to hear top executive Howie Roseman explain it, that’s not due to a lack of interest elsewhere."

NFL teams with most, least 2018 draft capital, and why Browns are in control (ESPN)

"In a league in which no franchise has shown any ability to beat the draft, the best way to find young talent is to amass as many picks as possible. Not all picks are created equal, but we can track which teams have the most capital to work with in the 2018 NFL draft."