Here is my contrarian post of the month: I am a little bit sad to see Dennis Northcutt go.
I don’t disagree with any of that, nor with the decision to let him go. But neither do I hate him with that peculiar venom stored in the hearts of so many Browns fans. Maybe it’s something about this area and guys named Dennis.
Here are the quick counter-arguments to the above. He missed only 13 out of 113 games due to injury — not bad for a guy listed at 171 pounds. He was frequently misused as an X receiver (out wide and on the line of scrimmage, rather than backed off and in the slot). Yes, he dropped that crucial pass, but he also led the team in receptions and scored two touchdowns in that game. Some of his comments were questionable, but as a distraction, he’s not even in the same league as the Detroit Diva or Wheelie. Fact is, after his agent botched his chance to hit the open market in ’04, ‘Cutt settled down and came to terms that gave him three more years in Cleveland. He never made the Pro Bowl, but neither have any of the many other highly-drafted receivers in the perennially poor Browns offense.
Let’s put the arc of his Browns career into perspective. He was shaky his first two years, with plenty of rumblings that he might not even make the team in 2002. But he emerged as a key contributor during that wild ride of a season, leading the team in touchdowns with nine, including a pair of punt returns. Three particular plays, among others, stand out in memory: a crucial onsides kick recovery along the sideline and a shifty late touchdown catch during a comeback win in Nashville, and a bizarre Tim Couch lob in the Meadowlands, with ‘Cutt snaring the tying two-point conversion. In short, the Browns would not have sniffed the playoffs in ’02 without the mutidimensional threat Northcutt provided.
He led the Browns in receiving each of the next two years, despite starting only about half the time. On that dreadful 2004 team, he had seven pass plays of at least 40 yards (second in the league). Then in 2005, the Mo Carthon offense did him no favors, nor did his penalty-plagued special teams blockers. His star headed south, and it was no surprise whatsoever that the Browns made no attempt to retain him when his contract finally expired.
Still, he ended his Browns career shattering Ice Cube McNeil’s records for punt returns (by 25%) and punt return yards (by 39%). His average of 10.6 is tied with Metcalf, trailing only Greg Pruitt and Bobby Mitchell. He’s tied with Ernest Byner for 10th in career receptions.
In terms of the new Browns, he has the most combined yardage and ranks second to Kevin Johnson in receiving and overall touchdowns. He’s also the 11th leading rusher, with 330 yards (7.3 average), including 13 first downs.
So it’s been a mixed bag for Northcutt, but such is often the nature of excitement. He may very well go down in Browns history as the most productive player mistreated and/or maligned by his agent, two coaching regimes, and his own fans.
Is it because he was a great wide receiver? No. Because he still has untapped potential? No. Because he deserved to be a lifelong Brown? No.
The answer is simply this: ‘Cutt was the most exciting Browns player since Eric Metcalf. And why do I watch football anyway? It’s the excitement, stupid.
Yes, yes, I know all the knocks on him. Couldn’t break a tackle to save his life. Easily knocked off his routes and unable to get open consistently. Too quick to fair catch a punt or prance out of bounds. Questionable hands, no more so than when he dropped the playoff game-clinching third-down conversion in Pittsburgh.
Disloyal comments during his flubbed first attempt at free agency and on his way out of town this time. Never lived up to his draft position (32nd overall, ahead of Jerry Porter and Laveranues Coles).I don’t disagree with any of that, nor with the decision to let him go. But neither do I hate him with that peculiar venom stored in the hearts of so many Browns fans. Maybe it’s something about this area and guys named Dennis.
Here are the quick counter-arguments to the above. He missed only 13 out of 113 games due to injury — not bad for a guy listed at 171 pounds. He was frequently misused as an X receiver (out wide and on the line of scrimmage, rather than backed off and in the slot). Yes, he dropped that crucial pass, but he also led the team in receptions and scored two touchdowns in that game. Some of his comments were questionable, but as a distraction, he’s not even in the same league as the Detroit Diva or Wheelie. Fact is, after his agent botched his chance to hit the open market in ’04, ‘Cutt settled down and came to terms that gave him three more years in Cleveland. He never made the Pro Bowl, but neither have any of the many other highly-drafted receivers in the perennially poor Browns offense.
Let’s put the arc of his Browns career into perspective. He was shaky his first two years, with plenty of rumblings that he might not even make the team in 2002. But he emerged as a key contributor during that wild ride of a season, leading the team in touchdowns with nine, including a pair of punt returns. Three particular plays, among others, stand out in memory: a crucial onsides kick recovery along the sideline and a shifty late touchdown catch during a comeback win in Nashville, and a bizarre Tim Couch lob in the Meadowlands, with ‘Cutt snaring the tying two-point conversion. In short, the Browns would not have sniffed the playoffs in ’02 without the mutidimensional threat Northcutt provided.
He led the Browns in receiving each of the next two years, despite starting only about half the time. On that dreadful 2004 team, he had seven pass plays of at least 40 yards (second in the league). Then in 2005, the Mo Carthon offense did him no favors, nor did his penalty-plagued special teams blockers. His star headed south, and it was no surprise whatsoever that the Browns made no attempt to retain him when his contract finally expired.
Still, he ended his Browns career shattering Ice Cube McNeil’s records for punt returns (by 25%) and punt return yards (by 39%). His average of 10.6 is tied with Metcalf, trailing only Greg Pruitt and Bobby Mitchell. He’s tied with Ernest Byner for 10th in career receptions.
In terms of the new Browns, he has the most combined yardage and ranks second to Kevin Johnson in receiving and overall touchdowns. He’s also the 11th leading rusher, with 330 yards (7.3 average), including 13 first downs.
So it’s been a mixed bag for Northcutt, but such is often the nature of excitement. He may very well go down in Browns history as the most productive player mistreated and/or maligned by his agent, two coaching regimes, and his own fans.
