The Cleveland Browns dynasty was in its dying days in the early 1970s after years of being one of the league’s marquee franchises.
A playoff loss to the Miami Dolphins in 1972 closed out a 27-year run that saw the Browns collect eight league championships and make the postseason 19 times.
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That season also saw the debut of safety Thom Darden, who would spend the next decade as the anchor of the defensive secondary and earn him the selection as the best player to wear No.