CLEVELAND, Ohio – On the 1984 NFL Draft Day, Brian Brennan sat in his dorm room at Boston College.
In the studios of a new network called ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr. made his first draft appearance on television. He was 23 years old and he is paid $ 400 for the concept.
“I thought I would be at least a second round,” Brennan said. ‘Irving Fryar was the best choice in the concept. Kenny Jackson took fourth place. They were the two best recipients. I thought I would go after them. ”
Brennan had a sensational senior season at Boston College, the favorite receiver for Doug Flutie. He got 66 passes in 11 games, eight for TDs, and averaged 17.4 yards per reception. He also averaged 8.1 yards per point yield.
He was a second-team All-America receiver, but he was only £ 175, £ 175. Not exactly the size the NFL wants at any positions.
“There were two or three NFL combinations that year,” Brennan said. “I participated in all of them. I excelled in things like boxing and other agility exercises. I was pretty strong in the banking press. ”
Several NFL teams chatted with him.
When he went to live in his room to watch the NFL draft, he believed it would not be long before his name was mentioned.
“Fourth round,” Brennan said. “I was the 104th player to be selected.”
Brennan said most of his senior classmates wander around campus. A couple stops by his room and asks, “Are you still being chosen?”
“Not yet,” he said.
Over and over it was “No … No … No.”
After a while he would just say “Not yet” if someone stopped there.
The concept is not as now discussed with every analysis of the choice. ESPN will break away from the concept to other programs for a while.
“You would see names of guys crawling on the bottom of the screen,” Brennan said. ‘The concept was 12 rounds at the time. I sat there thinking I was a better player than Kenny Jackson, and he finished fourth overall. ”
Eventually, the Browns take him into the fourth round. Brennan was the 10th receiver selected in the draft.
Only two of them – Louis Lipps and Fryar – had more career receptions than Brennan. And yes, Brennan looked like he was better than Kenny Jackson, who had 126 career receptions compared to 334 for Brennan.
Bruce Davis and Brian Brennan, rookie recipients of Cleveland Browns, during their press conference. Davis was a second-round pick with seven careers. Brennan got 334 passes in the NFL. Cleveland Plain Dealer
“THIS IS PAULUS WARFIELD”
When the phone finally rang in Brennan’s room, Paul Warfield called.
“We just drafted you in the fourth round,” Warfield said. The former Browns good receiver then worked for the team.
Brennan is from Detroit. He loved football and knew Warfield was an excellent receiver. A nervous Brennan said, ‘Paul, thank you for calling. ‘
Warfield said he will hand over the coach to Sam Rutigliano.
“Oh,” said Brennan. ‘OK. Sam … Sure … ”
“Brian,” said Rutigliano. “Will McDonough (former Boston Globe sports writer) is a good friend of mine. He saw that you play a lot at university. He tells me you’re my next Steve Largent, my next Fred Biletnikoff. We need a player like you. I can not wait to meet you. ”
Rutigliano sells his young prospect by comparing Brennan to some excellent receivers.
But the Browns took a young man named Bruce Davis in the second round. Apparently they did not even think Brennan was the next Davis, a Baylor receiver whose career lasted one season and seven receptions.
FEELS LIKE MINNIE MOUSE
“I never went to Boston College as a way to go to the NFL,” Brennan said. “I went to study. I was a financial major. I was president of the School of Management. I tried to get all the resume fillers. ”
He was also the winner of the Boston College Eagle Award as the school’s best student athlete. On the evening of the draft, he receives the honor at a banquet.
“What happened was that Doug Flutie showed up and suddenly we win on national TV, and I take all these passes off of him,” Brennan said.
And he became an NFL prospect.
His first contract had a $ 100,000 bonus, the only money guaranteed. Then he will be paid another $ 300,000 in three years – if he makes the team.
“We had a mini-camp at Baldwin-Wallace,” Brennan said. ‘After the morning workout, they gave us lunch. I sit down and watch Clay Matthews and Tom Cousineau. They looked like real football players. ”
And Brennan?
“I looked like Minnie Mouse,” he said. ‘Part of me wondered, what am I doing here? ‘
ON FURTHER OVERVIEW
Brennan had much better hands than Minnie Mouse or over anyone else on the team, with the exception of the ozzie Newsome, a star end.
The Browns QB was Paul McDonald. Rutigliano was sacked eight games in the 1984 season, and the Browns had a 1-7 record.
Brennan appeared at the end of the season under new head coach Marty Schottenheimer as a starting receiver. His 35 catches were number 2 in the team behind Newsome.
“Part of me believed I was the best athlete on the team,” he said. ‘I talk to wide receivers, safety, running rugby, defensive rugby. Bill Cowher was the coach of the special teams and he brought my points back. ”
When Brennan talks about his athletics, he gives a glimpse into his mindset. He needed that confidence and inner strength to have a significant NFL career.
The Browns’ talent level has risen rapidly. In practice, he is covered by Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield, some elite cornerbacks from Cleveland. It made him tougher and smarter.
“Marty was a student of the game,” Brennan said. “He played the game. He appreciated hard work and knew your responsibilities. I did well with Marty. ‘
Of all the players the Browns selected in 1984, only Earnest Byner played more games in Cleveland than Brian Brennan.Cleveland Plain Dealer
EIGHT YEARS IN CLEVELAND
By the late eighties, Bernie Kosar was the fullback. Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner were in the backfield. Webster Slaughter and Reggie Langhorne joined Brennan as recipients.
“We had such a great team,” Brennan said. “Because I’m from Detroit, I understand Cleveland and the people of Cleveland. It did not take long to feel at home. So many great memories of championship games. I loved it. “
Brennan played with the Browns for eight years (1984-91). Of the Browns’ 1984 players, only 10th player Byner played more games for Cleveland than Brennan.
“I was cut in the spring of 1992,” Brennan said. “Bill Belichick was cleaning the house.”
Brennan does not see it coming. He was 30 years old and got 31 passes.
Brennan said he was called to Coach Belichick’s office. Belichick was behind his desk. He barely looks up and says …
“Brian, I’m looking for a more physical receiver,” said the coach. “You are a fine player. You were a good player, but we’re moving forward. ‘
Brennan’s voice still reflects pain as he tells the story.
“I was standing there,” Brennan said. He stared at me. I look at him. Nobody said anything. Then I left. ‘
NO team like the browns
Brennan played with Cincinnati next season. Then he went to San Diego.
“When I was with the Chargers, they had Shawn Jefferson and Anthony Martin as receivers,” Brennan said. ‘Those guys were like Olympic sprinters. (Linebacker) Junior Seau was such a great athlete; he could play any position. ”
Brennan knew he could play another year or two, but was it worth it?
“At that point, you’re an older guy,” he said. “They’re always trying to get younger. They have a concept choice they want to play. They can cut you at any time. You become consumable. ”
Brennan also misses Cleveland, the city and team of the 1980s.
“Getting me cut by Belichick took me a lot,” he said. “I thought I would retire as a brown …”
His voice backs away.
“It just took me a long time,” he repeated. “I was so proud to be a brown and to be part of all the winning teams.”
Brennan is head of capital marketing for Key Bank in Cleveland.
“It became home,” he said. “I identified with the city, the fan base and everything. It was so special to play here. ”
– This is another series of stories about former Browns players and their draft day experiences.
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