Cleveland Browns players who spent the spring months over in Europe continue
to receive plaudits, as this month's Pro Football Weekly had a slightly
different spin on NFL Europe's most valuable players.
PFW named Cleveland's Mason Unck, rather than lineman Corey Jackson, as NFL
Europe's most valuable defensive player. Unck and Jackson were both mainstays of
the Frankfurt Galaxy squad which lost in the World Bowl. While Jackson led the
league in sacks, Unck racked up impressive tackle numbers in the middle of the
Galaxy's tough defense.
While denied the Defensive MVP award from Pro Football Weekly, Jackson was
still named to the All-Europe First Team by the magazine. Along with Unck and
Jackson, Felipe Claybrooks was named the other defensive end for the honorary
squad. Special teams players were also placed on the squad, with the Browns
Derek Schrejs named the league's best place-kicker.
A number of ex-Browns from the expansion era were also on the All-NFL Europe
team. Although these players made little mark in Cleveland, they're still being
developed by other teams. Ex-Browns named to the All-NFL Europe team were Ben Claxton (C), Troy Andrew (OG), Damian Gregory (DT), and Jason Perry (S).
For those willing to venture further into the "where are they now" files, the
same issue of Pro Football Weekly offers the magazine's All-Arena League team.
Two ex-Browns made that particular list: Jay Taylor (P/PK) who was with the
Browns last year, and Tony Graziani, a quarterback who was added to the roster
after injuries to Tim Couch and Doug Pederson during the ill-fated 2000
campaign.
- BDMc