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Countdown to 2020: Best Cleveland Browns player to wear No. 90

By Casey Kinnamon

3 Dec 1995: Defensive lineman Rob Burnett of the Cleveland Browns rushes the passer while being blocked by offensive lineman Vaughn Parker #70 of the San Diego Chargers during the Browns 31-13 loss to the Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, Cal
3 Dec 1995: Defensive lineman Rob Burnett of the Cleveland Browns rushes the passer while being blocked by offensive lineman Vaughn Parker #70 of the San Diego Chargers during the Browns 31-13 loss to the Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, Cal /
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The Cleveland Browns have a rich and illustrious history. With only 90 days until the Browns season opener, we look at the best Browns player to ever wear number 90.

The countdown to the 2020 NFL season is upon us. With 90 days remaining until the Browns season opener, we continue the countdown by celebrating the best Cleveland Browns player to ever wear number 90 — Rob Burnett

Rob Burnett was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 1990 NFL draft out of Syracuse University. Burnett was a four-year letterman at Syracuse and was a semi-finalist for the Lombardi Award his senior year.

Burnett spent his first season in Cleveland backing up veteran defensive end Al ‘Bubba’ Baker. When Baker went down for seven games in the 1990 season, Burnett filled in admirably. Then in his second season, he became a rotational piece to the Browns’ defense and started eight games.

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Burnett started every game he appeared in for 10 straight seasons. Unfortunately, only four of those seasons were spent in Cleveland. During those four seasons, the Browns were a formidable defensive unit. The strength of the team was the defensive line.

Burnett was one side of the best defensive end tandem in the NFL during those four years along with Anthony Pleasant. With Michael Dean Perry patrolling the interior defensive line, the unit was flat-out scary.

During his four years as the full-time starter at left defensive end, Burnett recorded 35.5 sacks. He also earned a Pro Bowl nomination in 1994. That season Burnett turned in his best stat line as a member of the Browns. He finished 1994 with 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, 41 solo tackles, and 54 total tackles.

Burnett ended his career as a Brown with 40.5 sacks (which puts him at number three on the All-Time Sack List for the Browns), seven fumbles recovered, and 333 total tackles. Those numbers would all be considerably higher, but after the 1995 season, Art Modell shanghaied the Browns and their fans by relocating the team to Baltimore. He was one of only two players that transitioned from the Browns to still be in Baltimore when the Ravens won their first Super Bowl in 2000.

When it was all said and done, Burnett spent 14 seasons in the NFL. That’s not too shabby for a fifth-round pick. Burnett will always be remembered fondly for the six seasons he spent in Cleveland holding down his side of the field.

Next. Countdown to 2020 — Best Browns player to wear No. 91. dark

Rob Burnett is by far and away the best Cleveland Browns player to ever wear number 90.

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