CLEVELAND, Ohio – On the day of the NFL in 1984, Brian Brennan was in his dorm room at Boston College.
In the studios of a new network called ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr. his first TV concept appearance. He was 23 years old and was paid $ 400 to edit the design.
“I thought I would be at least a second round pick,” said Brennan. Irving Fryar was the best choice in the tour. Kenny Jackson came fourth. They were the two best receivers. I thought I was going to go after them. “
Brennan had a sensational senior season at Boston College, Doug Flutie’s favorite receiver. He caught 66 passes in 11 games, eight for TDs, and averaged 17.4 yards per reception. He also averaged 8.1 yards per punt return.
He was a second-team All-America receiver, but he was listed at just 5 feet-9,175 pounds. Not exactly the size the NFL wants in any positions.
“There were two or three NFL combines that year,” said Brennan. “I participated in all of them. I excelled at things like the box drill and other dexterity drills. I was pretty strong in the bench press. “
Several NFL teams spoke to him.
As he settled into his room to watch the NFL draw, he thought it wouldn’t be long before his name was called.
“Fourth round,” said Brennan. “I was the 104th player chosen.”
Brennan said most of his older classmates were wandering the campus. A few stopped at his room and asked, “Have you been chosen yet?”
“Not yet,” he said.
Over and over it was “No … No … No.”
After a while he just said, “Not yet” when someone came by.
The design was not covered as it is now with every choice analyzed. ESPN would break away from the concept to other programming for a while.
“You’d see the names of the men summoned crawling to the bottom of the screen,” Brennan said. “The design was 12 rounds then. I sat there thinking I was a better player than Kenny Jackson, and he came fourth overall. “
Ultimately, the Browns took him in the fourth round. Brennan was the 10th recipient chosen in that design.
Only two of them – Louis Lipps and Fryar – had more career receptions than Brennan. And yes, Brennan was right to be superior to Kenny Jackson, who had 126 career receipts compared to 334 for Brennan.
Cleveland Browns rookie recipients Bruce Davis and Brian Brennan at their press conference. Davis was a second-round pick with seven career receptions. Brennan caught 334 passes in the NFL. Cleveland Plain Dealer
“THIS IS PAUL WARFIELD”
When the phone finally rang in Brennan’s room, it was Paul Warfield who called.
“We just called you up in the fourth round,” Warfield said. The former great Browns receiver was working for the team at the time.
Brennan is from Detroit. He loved football and knew Warfield was a great receiver. A nervous Brennan said, “Paul, thanks for calling.”
Warfield said he handed the phone over 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 play a lot in college. He tells me you are my next Steve Largent, my next Fred Biletnikoff. We need a player like you. I can not wait to meet you. “
Rutigliano sold his young prospect by comparing Brennan to some great recipients.
But the Browns had brought in a young man named Bruce Davis in the second round. Apparently, they didn’t even think Brennan was the next Davis, a Baylor recipient whose career spanned one season and seven receptions.
FEEL LIKE MINNIE MOUSE
“I never went to Boston College to go to the NFL,” said Brennan. “I went for education. I was a finance major. I was president of the School of Management. I tried to get all those resume fillers. “
He was also a winner of the Boston College Eagle Award as the school’s best student athlete. He received that honor at a banquet on the night of the design.
“What happened was Doug Flutie showed up and suddenly we win, play on national TV and I catch all these passes from him,” said Brennan.
And he became an NFL prospect.
His first contract had a $ 100,000 bonus, the only money guaranteed. Then he’d get another $ 300,000 in three years – assuming he made the team.
“We had a mini camp at Baldwin-Wallace,” said Brennan. “After the morning training, they gave us a packed lunch. I sat down and saw Clay Matthews and Tom Cousineau. They looked like real soccer players. “
And Brennan?
“I looked like Minnie Mouse,” he said. “Part of me was wondering, what am I doing here?”
AFTER FURTHER EVALUATION
Brennan had much better hands than Minnie Mouse or anyone else on the team, with the exception of star tight end Ozzie Newsome.
The Browns QB was Paul McDonald. Rutigliano was fired eight games in that 1984 season, the Browns had a 1-7 record.
Brennan emerged as a starting receiver towards the end of the season under new head coach Marty Schottenheimer. His 35 catches were No. 2 on the team behind Newsome.
“Part of me believed I was the best athlete on the team,” he said. I’m talking wide receivers, protections, running backs, defensive backs. Bill Cowher coached the special teams and he had me return kicks. “
When talking about his athleticism, Brennan gives a glimpse into his thinking. He needed that confidence and inner strength to have a significant NFL career.
The Browns’ talent level rose rapidly. In practice, he was mated to Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield, a pair of elite Cleveland cornerbacks. That 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 picked by the Browns in 1984, only Earnest Byner played more games in Cleveland than Brian Brennan.Cleveland Plain Dealer
EIGHT YEARS IN CLEVELAND
In the late 1980s, Bernie Kosar was the quarterback. Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner were in the backfield. Webster Slaughter and Reggie Langhorne joined Brennan as curators.
“We had such a great team,” said Brennan. ‘Being from Detroit, I understood Cleveland and the people of Cleveland. It didn’t take long for me to feel at home. So many great memories of going to championship games. I loved it. “
Brennan played with the Browns for eight years (1984-91). Of the 1984 Browns conscripts, only 10th-rounder Byner played more games for Cleveland than Brennan.
“I was cut in the spring of 1992,” said Brennan. “Bill Belichick was cleaning the house.”
Brennan didn’t see it coming. He was 30 years old and had caught 31 passes.
Brennan said he was called to Coach Belichick’s office. Belichick was at his desk. He barely looked up and said …
“Brian, I’m looking for a more physical receiver,” said the coach. “You are a finesse player. You’ve been a good player, but we’re moving forward. “
Brennan’s voice still reflected pain as he told the story.
“I was standing there,” Brennan said. He stared at me. I looked at him. Nobody said anything. Then I left. “
NO TEAM LIKE THE BROWNS
Brennan played with Cincinnati the following season. Then he went to San Diego.
“When I was with the Chargers, they had Shawn Jefferson and Anthony Martin as receivers,” said Brennan. “Those guys were like Olympic sprinters. (Linebacker) Junior Seau was such a great athlete; he could play any position. “
Brennan knew he could play for another year or two, but was it worth it?
“At that point you’re an older man,” he said. “They are always trying to get younger. They have a design choice they want to play. They can cut you off at any time. You become expendable. “
Brennan also missed Cleveland, the city and the 1980s team.
“Getting cut by Belichick cost me a lot,” he said. “I thought I was going to retire as a Brown …”
His voice trailed off.
“It just cost me a lot,” he repeated. “I was so proud to be a Brown and to be part of all those winning teams.”
Brennan is responsible for capital marketing for Key Bank in Cleveland.
“This became my home,” he said. “I identified with the city, the fan base, everything. It was so special to play here. “
– This is another story from a series of stories about former Browns players and their Draft Day experiences.
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