Odds are you’ve seen Brandon Stephens at some point over the past few months. He was just wearing a different uniform.
Stephens’ image looms large in downtown Cleveland. Wearing Cleveland Gladiators red and black, the Browns defensive back can be seen on a banner draped along the outside of The Q on the side that can be seen from Progressive Field’s home run porch.
The significance isn’t lost on Stephens, a Strongsville native who signed with the Browns after an impressive showing at May’s rookie camp. The Gladiators were there for Stephens when he looked to extend his fledgling football career in 2014, and the Browns were there to scoop him up for OTAs when he proved, at 27, he was worthy of one last shot at the NFL.