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3 Former Cleveland Browns players fans would love to see play one more time

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 28: Free safety Eric Weddle #32 and cornerback Antoine Cason #20 of the San Diego Chargers try to tackle wide receiver Josh Cribbs #16 of the Cleveland Browns during the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 28, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 28: Free safety Eric Weddle #32 and cornerback Antoine Cason #20 of the San Diego Chargers try to tackle wide receiver Josh Cribbs #16 of the Cleveland Browns during the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 28, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 30: Gary Barnidge #82 of the Cleveland Browns makes a catch in front of Julian Stanford #51 of the New York Jets during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 30: Gary Barnidge #82 of the Cleveland Browns makes a catch in front of Julian Stanford #51 of the New York Jets during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

3. Gary Barnidge, Tight End

There weren’t many players who saw their star rise and fall as quickly as tight end Gary Barnidge. A fifth-round pick out of Louisville in 2008, Barnidge played for the Carolina Panthers for five years — although he did miss all of the 2011 season due to a broken ankle.

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In 2013, he landed with the Cleveland Browns and wasn’t a huge factor at first. In his first two seasons, he had 26 receptions for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Then in 2015, Barnidge broke out as a receiving threat.

That year, he was targeted 125 times and came down with 79 of those passes for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns. Cleveland struggled as a team but his receiving was a bright spot in an otherwise forgetful stretch of football.

At the age of 30, Barnidge made his first — and only — career Pro Bowl and the front office rewarded him with a three-year $12 million extension. Unfortunately, he was unable to play all three seasons as 2016 was the last year Barnidge was in Cleveland.

That year, he had 55 catches for 612 yards and two scores. It was a far cry from the season he had in 2016 but he was still a good player who made some impressive catches. Nonetheless, Barnidge was released after having sports hernia surgery and he hasn’t played in the NFL again.

At 34-years of age, it wouldn’t be unbelievable to see him suit back up. And with the Browns not having a true star at the position — since they apparently don’t like David Njoku — Barnidge could even find a good role with this club.

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