Back to the Cleveland Browns Newsfeed

Big Ben and the Browns: An almost history

They were on the clock with the sixth overall pick of the 2004 draft, and an in-state quarterback who is likely headed to the Hall of Fame was hoping to hear his name.

But instead of picking Ben Roethlisberger, the Cleveland Browns picked tight end Kellen Winslow II out of Miami, and today the Browns' most famous quarterback jersey mockingly features 24 names.

What happened? Jeremy Fowler talked to several people involved in the process who discussed that fateful decision.

Here are couple of the highlights:

Roethlisberger: "When Cleveland passed on me, technically my hometown team, that was it.