Brownstown

For the first episode, Chris Long breaks down Super Bowl Champion & All-Pro DT Aaron Donald's football journey; from the days in the dungeon with his dad, to being a breakout DT at Pittsburgh, to playing with the Rams and creating the top defensive moves in his arsenal, and more. 

Listen to new episodes of American Prodigy: Becoming Great every Thursday. Listen and subscribe here. 

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In a year where fans were barred from stadiums, where the team had fired another head coach after just one season, where players and coaching staff alike were randomly held out of games due to sickness...the Browns finally- FINALLY - started to turn this thing around. But before they could make history they had to beat the rival Steelers. Twice.

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After the Hue Jackson and Sashi Brown debacle, the Browns were finally starting to work their way up from rock bottom. They had solid talent throughout the team, and a young quarterback they could believe in. Unfortunately there was one last mistake the Browns had to make and it was hiring Freddie Kitchens to be their head coach. He seemed like he'd be fun to have a beer with though.

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Justin Gilbert, Josh Gordon, Johnny Manziel. Separately they had their own demons off the field, but together in one locker room? It was too much for any team to handle. Marijuana suspensions, benchings, arrests, rehabs, rolled up $100 bills and inflatable swans - the Browns wanted to make headlines for winning but what they got was back page blowouts. 

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Randy Lerner never wanted to own the Browns, so 10 years after his father's death he sold the team for the tidy sum of $1 Billion. The new owner Jimmy Halsam was supposed to be Cleveland's very own Jerry Jones...until his Pilot Flying J company was raided by the FBI. It probably won't affect the team on the field though...right?

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Going into the 2012 Draft the Browns had lots of picks and high expectations. Would they go QB and take Luck, Griffin III or Tannehill? Perhaps draft defense and get a stud like Luke Kuechly or Chandler Jones. Or just maybe the "bustproof" RB and a quarterback who was older than most of the team's veterans. Cleveland is on the clock. 

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It was 2009 and Browns owner Randy Lerner was once again looking for the head coach to lead the team to the promised land. What he got was a Jets castoff with a huge micromanagement problem in Eric Mangini. Then for good measure he hired Super Bowl winning coach Mike Holmgren...to not coach. This would go well... said nobody.

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The 2007 season started with the Browns trading their opening day starting QB after the first week. It ended as one of the most memorable Browns seasons of all time. A potent offense and solid defense made the team something it had never really been: good. But it wouldn't be the Browns if there wasn't something that ruined the party. 

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After Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia and Trent Dilfer, the Browns were desperate for a new franchise QB. Lucky for them Brady Quinn, a local kid who loved the Browns growing up, was at the top of QB draft boards. Just not at No.3. Bust out your Browns pajamas and join us at the 2007 NFL Draft.

Get Ready for Brownstown Live!

Calling all Browns fans! In honor of Brownstown, Blue Wire is hosting a party by Browns fans FOR browns fans. Join host @AndreKnott and guests Josh Cribbs, Zak Jackson and go inside the unbelievable, and often hilarious, story of how the Browns stayed bad while a city and fanbase loved them anyways.

Grab your tickets here!

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