Cleveland Browns: 30 greatest players in franchise history
By Dan Justik
player. 53. . Cornerback. (1984-1992). Frank Minnifield. 18
Greatest players in Cleveland Browns history: 18. Frank Minnifield
Hanford Dixon is followed by his former teammate Frank Minnifield, who came to the Browns in 1984 after a brief stint in the USFL. The league that didn’t last long was able to boast a few good players, with Minnifield being one of the better ones among them.
He began his career in 1983 with the Chicago Blitz, who would up being the Arizona Wranglers the following season. Once the Browns brought him to Cleveland, he immediately became a starter for them. He played his entire career with Cleveland which spanned nine seasons.
Undersized at 5-foot-9 and 180-pounds, he never let that be an issue and made four Pro Bowls from 1986 through 1989. After his career Minnifield was named to the 1980s All-Decade Team as well as being inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Lexington native went to Louisville and makes his home in the state he starred as a high school and collegiate athlete.
To this day, the Browns have yet to field a secondary with the star power that Minnifield and Dixon brought to the table. They helped Cleveland stay in contention during what was some of more entertaining seasons in their history.