Today’s Flashback Friday takes a look back at the very first time the Ravens traveled to Cleveland to take on the expansion Cleveland Browns. Just three years prior, Art Modell had moved the franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore. Needless to say, this was a highly anticipated game around the NFL. Ravens’ head coach Brian Billick, who was never shy about speaking his mind, was wary about whether the Ravens would get unbiased and fair treatment from the league and the referees during the game.
During his weekly news conference prior to the game, Billick discussed those apprehensions: “I know darn well we’re not going to get a call in Cleveland, no way, no shape, no form, no how. The league would really like to see Cleveland beat us.”
Yup. Billick actually said that. Out loud. Talk about reverse psychology.
While the NFL was obviously unhappy with Coach Billick’s remarks, his thought process was certainly appreciated around Baltimore: The Colts snuck away in the middle of the night to Indianapolis in March, 1984. It remains the only relocation in NFL history that was not league-approved. Baltimore waited the better part of a decade for an expansion draft and put together the best financial package in hopes of getting a new team. Instead, the NFL gave the state of Florida the Jaguars, giving Florida approximately 18 of the then-30 NFL teams. Baltimore might still be without an NFL team to this day if Mr. Modell didn’t move the team from Cleveland to Baltimore.
Within three years of the Browns moving to Baltimore, Cleveland got a new stadium, a new team, and got to keep their team history.
How ridiculous is it that Johnny Unitas’ plaque in the Hall of Fame says he played for a team in Indianapolis? Brian Billick was not only standing up for his team when he made those remarks; he was standing up for the city of Baltimore while driving a proverbial stake through the black heart of the NFL.
The Ravens entered the game with a 2-5 record, and were greeted with an expected chorus of boos prior to game time. Unfortunately for the Browns and the NFL, the Ravens never gave the referees a chance to matter as Baltimore pummeled the Browns 41-9.
Rookie QB Tim Couch finished the game on 9-21 passing for 57 yards for the hapless Browns. After the game, both Couch and head coach Chris Palmer blamed Couch’s pathetic performance on a stomach virus.
Oh, cool story, coach. Please tell it again, and start from the very beginning. I suppose Couch’s tummy ache also helped the Ravens run for 203 yards on the day, behind 117 yards and two TDs from Errict Rhett. Tony Banks had a fairly pedestrian outing overall, going 14-25 for 129 yards and a single passing TD. Rod Woodson also had a 66-yard interception returned for a touchdown in the 3rd Quarter. Backup QB Stoney Case added a 20-yard TD run late in the 4th Quarter.
Speaking of Case, while he didn’t last long in the Ravens organization, he provided some stupendously heroic moments, some of which will be looked at in future Flashback Friday episodes.
The 32-point pounding the Ravens delivered way back in November of 1999 would certainly set the tone for the Ravens/Browns rivalry going forward. The game also pushed the Browns to 1-8 on the season, similarly setting a tone for future years of Browns mediocrity – that franchise has only two winning seasons since re-joining the league 16 years ago. Go team.
