Cleveland Browns: 12 best UDFAs since 1999

Cleveland Browns UDFA No. 9: Jamie Meder, defensive tackle, Class of 2014

Jamie Meder doesn’t get nearly as much recognition as he should have. He made the greatest play of the 2016 season that saved the team from a historically poor winless season. Jamie Meder, let it never be forgotten, blocked the kick from Chargers kicker Josh Lambo, preserving a 16-13 Browns victory, which allowed the 2016 Browns to finish 1-15.

His feat did not go unnoticed by the rest of the league. He was selected as the NFL Special Teams Player of the Week, and rightly so.

Jamie Meder, the kid from Ashland University, played in 44 games for the Browns in a four-year career, starting a total of 16 games, and accumulated 95 tackles in that span. He did not make the cut in 2018 and resurfaced briefly with the Detroit Lions for just 13 plays in 2019.

Nowadays, Meder is keeping a low profile. As far as we know, he was sworn in as a Police Officer in Brooklyn Heights in January 2021. He doesn’t post very much on social media, although recently Joe Thomas jerked his chain for some advice on pierogies. In his playing days, Meder was renowned as a world authority on pierogies and was given the unofficial title of the Pierogi Prince of Parma, which is a title that carries immense power.

Meder had the reputation of being a very tough, hard-nosed-run defender. Most of us fans loved the guy for being a true Brown, and it felt like a punch in the gut when he was cut and worse when no other team picked him up.

What took the edge off from Meder’s feat, and really his career, was the fact that the 2017 Browns were more talented than the 2016 team, but nevertheless turned around and dropped 16 in a row in 2017. Worse than that, as an organization, the Browns were not afraid to go 0-16 and didn’t seem to realize what a historical disgrace it was.

They were happy to get good draft position. However, even though they were rebuilding and a losing season was not unexpected, there should be an unwritten rule of football that goes like this:

Unwritten Rule of NFL Football: “Everyone in authority must be fired if the team is winless for the season.”

The finger-pointing exercise between the head coach and general manager trying to blame each other was shameful, like sibling brats trying to blame the other for a disaster.

It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. The coaching staff and front office should equally fear for their jobs if they go winless and thus have no choice but to work together. As the great American philosopher Bill Parcells said, “You are what your record says you are.”

If your team is winless, you are nothing. Don’t even bother to show up for work on Monday if your team fails to post a win. Just pack up and leave.

However, it’s too late and the 2017 Browns failed to build upon what Meder had given them in 2016. That hurts, but it is part of the team’s horrific legacy.

In any case, if you happen to see Officer Meder, don’t forget to thank him. He at least tried to lead the horse to water. Just don’t anybody speed in Brooklyn Heights, because our guy is on the job there, okay?