7 Players you forgot spent time on the Cleveland Browns roster
By Randy Gurzi
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Tight End. 1992. MarkBavaro. 3. player. 53
Long-time Giants tight end had a cup of coffee with the Browns
During the late 1980s, Mark Bavaro was a starting tight end for the New York Giants. He became a household name due to the success the G-Men had during his tenure with the team. This was during the Bill Parcells era and the Giants won two Super Bowls — taking the crown in Super Bowl XXI and again in Super Bowl XXV.
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A fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame, Bavaro was a starter early in his career and did a great job in both the passing game and as a run blocker — but it was his receiving that stood out early in his career.
In his second campaign in the NFL, Bavaro recorded 1,001 yards on 66 receptions. He followed that up with another 867 in his third season, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in each o those campaigns. From 1985 through 1990, he played in 82 games for New York and had 266 catches for 3,722 yards and 28 touchdowns.
By his final season in New York, a degenerative knee condition had started to slow Bavaro down. He missed the entire 1991 season as he had surgery and was advised by his doctor to retire. He was asked to go into coaching but he still had the itch to play and in 1992, the Cleveland Browns gave him a shot.
At the time, Bill Belichick was the coach in Cleveland and his time as a defensive coordinator in New York surely helped him in his evaluation of what Bavaro would bring to the table.
Bavaro played one year in Cleveland and had 25 catches for 315 yards and two touchdowns. He played two more seasons after that, but they were with the Philadelphia Eagles. His comeback season with the Browns was great for him but it’s not something that stands out.