CLEVELAND, Ohio – On the day of the 1984 NFL project, Brian Brennan sat in his room at Boston College.
In the studios of a new network called ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr. was making his first television appearance. He was 23 years old and was paid $ 400 to work on the project.
“I thought I would be at least a second-round pick,” Brennan said. “Irving Fryar was the best choice in the draft. Kenny Jackson placed fourth. They were the top two receivers. I thought I’d go after them. ”
Brennan had a sensational senior season at Boston College, the favorite receiver for Doug Flutie. He caught 66 passes in 11 games, eight for TD and averaged 17.4 yards per reception. He also averaged 8.1 meters per return.
He was a second-team All-America receiver, but was listed at just 5-pic-9, 175 pounds. Not exactly the size the NFL wants in any position.
“There were two or three NFL combinations that year,” Brennan said. “I took part in everything. I excelled in things like the box drill and other agility drills. I was pretty strong on the bench. ”
Several NFL teams have spoken to him.
As he settled into his room to watch the NFL draft, he thought it wouldn’t be long before his name was called.
“The fourth round,” Brennan said. “I was the 104th player chosen.”
Brennan said most of his peers walked around campus. A few stopped in his room and asked, “Have you already chosen?”
“Not yet,” he said.
Countless times, it was “No … No … No.”
After a while, he would just say “Not yet” when someone passed by.
The project was not covered as now with each selection analyzed. ESPN would break away from other programs for a while.
“You’d see the names of projected boys crawling to the bottom of the screen,” Brennan said. “The project was 12 rounds back then. I was sitting there thinking I was a better player than Kenny Jackson, and he was fourth overall. “
Finally, the Browns took him into the fourth round. Brennan was the 10th recipient chosen in that draft.
Only two of them – Louis Lipps and Fryar – had more career receptions than Brennan. And yes, Brennan was right that he was superior to Kenny Jackson, who received 126 career receptions, compared to 334 for Brennan.
Cleveland Browns rookie receivers Bruce Davis and Brian Brennan at the press conference. Davis was a second-round pick with seven career receptions. Brennan caught 334 passes in the NFL. Dealer Cleveland Plain
“THIS IS PAUL WARFIELD”
When the phone finally rang in Brennan’s room, Paul Warfield rang.
“I just drafted you in the fourth round,” Warfield said. Browns’ former great receiver then worked for the team.
Brennan is from Detroit. He loved football and knew that Warfield was a great receiver. A nervous Brennan said, “Paul, thank you for calling.”
Warfield said he was giving the phone to coach 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 you playing a lot in college. He’s telling 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 was selling his young prospect by comparing Brennan to a pair of great receivers.
But Browns had taken a young man named Bruce Davis in the second round. Apparently, they didn’t even think Brennan was the next Davis, a Baylor receiver whose career lasted a season and seven receptions.
Feeling like the MINNIE mouse
“I’ve never been to Boston College as a way to go to the NFL,” Brennan said. “I went for education. I was a major in finance. I was president of the School of Management. I was trying to get all these resume materials. ”
He also won the Boston College Eagle Award as the school’s top student-athlete. On the night of the project, he received that honor at a banquet.
“What happened was that Doug Flutie showed up and all of a sudden we win, we play on national television and I take all these passes from him,” Brennan said.
And he became an NFL prospect.
His first contract had a $ 100,000 bonus, the only money guaranteed. Then he would pay another $ 300,000 over three years – assuming he formed the team.
“We had a mini-field at Baldwin-Wallace,” Brennan said. “After the morning training, they offered us a lunch. I sat down and saw Clay Matthews and Tom Cousineau. They looked like real football players. ”
And Brennan?
“I looked like Minnie Mouse,” he said. “Part of me was wondering, what am I doing here?”
AFTER ADDITIONAL REVIEW
Brennan had much better hands than Minnie Mouse or anyone else on the team except Ozzie Newsome.
Browns QB was Paul McDonald. Rutigliano was fired eight games that season in 1984, with the Browns holding a 1-7 record.
Brennan appeared as the first starter at the end of the season under the new head coach Marty Schottenheimer. His 35 catches were number 2 in the team behind Newsome.
“Part of me thought I was the best athlete on the team,” he said. “I’m talking about wide receivers, fuses, running backs, defensive backs. Bill Cowher was the coach of the special teams and asked me to return points. ”
When Brennan talks about his athletics, he takes a look at his mentality. He needed that confidence and inner strength to have a meaningful career in the NFL.
Brown’s talent level rose rapidly. In practice, he was covered by Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield, a pair of elite defenders from Cleveland. That made him tougher and smarter.
“Marty was a student of the game,” Brennan said. “He played the game. He appreciated the hard work and knowing your responsibilities. I did well with Marty. ”
Of all the players Brown chose in 1984, only Earnest Byner played more games in Cleveland than Brian Brennan.Dealer Cleveland Plain
EIGHT YEARS IN CLEVELAND
In the late 1980s, Bernie Kosar was the defender. Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner were in the background. Webster Slaughter and Reggie Langhorne joined Brennan as receivers.
“We had such a great team,” Brennan said. “Being from Detroit, I understood Cleveland and the people of Cleveland. It didn’t take me long to feel at home. So many wonderful memories of going to championship games. I liked “.
Brennan played for the Browns for eight years (1984-91). Of the Browns’ 1984 complaints, only Byner, in round 10, played more games for Cleveland than Brennan.
“I was cut in the spring of 1992,” Brennan said. “Bill Belichick was cleaning the house.”
Brennan didn’t see him coming. He was 30 years old and had caught 31 passes.
Brennan said he was called up to coach Belichick’s office. Belichick was behind his desk. He barely looked up and said …
“Brian, I’m looking for a more physical receiver,” said the coach. “You are a player of finesse. You were a good player, but we’re moving forward. ”
Brennan’s voice still reflected the pain as he told the story.
“I was sitting there,” Brennan said. “She was staring at me. I looked at him. Nobody said anything. Then I left. ”
NO TEAM LIKE THE GREAT
Brennan played for 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 boys were like Olympic sprinters. (Linebacker) Junior Seau was such a great athlete; could play any position. ”
Brennan knew he could play another year or two, but was he worth it?
“At that moment, you’re an older guy,” he said. “She is always trying to get younger. They have a selection they want to play. I can cut you at any time. You become a consumable ”.
Brennan also missed Cleveland, the city and team of the 1980s.
“It took me a long time to be cut by Belichick,” he said. “I thought I’d retire like Brown …”
His voice stopped.
“It just took me a long time,” he repeated. “I was so proud to be a Brown and to be part of all those winning teams.”
Brennan is in charge of capital marketing for Key Bank in Cleveland.
“He got home,” he said. “I identified with the city, with the fans, with everything. It was so special to play here. ”
– This is another article in a series of stories about former Browns players and their day-to-day draft experiences.
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