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Cleveland Browns: Ranking the most important players since 1999

By Martin McConnell

CLEVELAND - AUGUST 22: Derek Anderson #3 of the Cleveland Browns calls a play against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter of their NFL game in Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 22, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND - AUGUST 22: Derek Anderson #3 of the Cleveland Browns calls a play against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter of their NFL game in Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 22, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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8 Oct 2000: Dennis Northcutt #86 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Sun Devil Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 29-21.Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport
8 Oct 2000: Dennis Northcutt #86 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Sun Devil Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 29-21.Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport /

9. Dennis Northcutt

Dennis Northcutt has faded a bit from Browns infamy, but his memory still remains in the hearts of some fans. If we go way, way back to 2003, Northcutt’s fingerprints can be found on one of the most heartbreaking Cleveland Browns losses of all time.

Remember January 5th, 2003? The plucky underdog Browns were heading into Heinz Field for a playoff matchup against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Butch Davis was looking more and more like “the guy,” and it seemed as though the Browns were on the right track.

The Browns had gone from 5-27 under Chris Palmer, to now an even 16-16 under Butch Davis. Everything was heading their way, they were going to the playoffs in only their fourth year back in the league! They even had a ten-point going into the fourth quarter of their playoff game.

Then, disaster struck. More specifically, a human disaster in the form of Dennis Northcutt struck. With one dropped pass, Northcutt changed the course of Browns history, and maybe even NFL history.

The Browns were driving down the field to seal the game away. Kelly Holcomb throws a relatively accurate pass to Northcutt, in the endzone, for the (most likely) game-winning touchdown. And, with the world of the Dawg Pound on his shoulders, on the biggest stage of his career, Dennis Northcutt…blew it.

Let’s look at the criteria. Did the player himself have a lasting impact on the franchise? No, not really. Northcutt would leave Cleveland relatively quietly by 2006, and he would be out of the league by 2009.

Did the play have a lasting impact on the franchise? Yes, in a sense. Who knows where the Browns would have gone if they had taken down the Steelers in the playoffs? Finally, did the course of the league and the franchise change due to this player?

Well…not really. Outside of this play, Northcutt had a relatively “meh” career. But, this play defined Northcutt, and would come to damn the Browns in the years since. After all, they still haven’t made the playoffs since this game.

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