Ozzie Newsome

By Chad Hollingsworth
Love of NFL Correspondent

Is there anyone named Ozzie who hasn’t been described by the phrase “The Wizard of Oz” in some fashion?

Ozzie Smith definitely earned the nickname with his defensive skills at shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ozzy Osbourne named an album “The Blizzard of Oz,” and Ozzie Guillen has been called many things, and I’m sure variations of the phrase have been invented on his behalf that can’t be printed here.

Coincidentally, Ozzie Newsome also earned the nickname while playing football at the University of Alabama. A four-year starter, he helped the Crimson Tide win 42 of their 47 games while he was there, racking up 102 catches for 2,070 yards. His 20.3 yards per catch career average is currently second all-time in the SEC record book.

So, it’s no surprise the Cleveland Browns took Newsome in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft. However, what’s surprising is the fact he lasted until the 23rd pick. His rookie year with the Browns saw him catch 38 balls for 589 yards and two touchdowns. Even those are modest numbers, they were good enough to be named the Browns’ Offensive Player of the Year.

1979 was one of Newsome’s best statistical seasons, as he found the end zone nine times and amassed 781 receiving yards. The Browns improved to a 9-7 record, finished third in their division and it was obvious he’d become an offensive piece who was going to help the Browns succeed.

Newsome’s production slipped a little in 1980, but the Browns won their division with an 11-5 record and there’s little doubt his 594 yards and three touchdowns were definitely huge. Unfortunately, the Browns dropped the divisional round game to the Oakland Raiders.

Perhaps worse than that is the fact the Browns failed to build on their successful 1980 season, going 5-11 in 1981. Yet through the gloom and doom of the season, Newsome managed to rack up 1,002 receiving yards and six touchdowns, which earned the first of his three Pro Bowl selections.

For the next few seasons, the Browns didn’t have too much to be happy about in terms of winning. Newsome had a very respectable 1984 with 89 catches for 1,001 yards and five touchdowns. However, help was on the way in 1985 when Cleveland drafted Bernie Kosar.

Kosar led the Browns to playoff berths from 1985-89 with help from the two-headed running attack of Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack. And while his receiving yards and TDs weren’t out of this world, his blocking helped the success of the two backs and he was still a reliable target for Kosar. In those seasons, he tallied 2,170 yards with 11 touchdowns.

After a 3-13 season, the Browns’ success took a nosedive in 1990. Coincidentally, Newsome’s last year with the Browns was in 1990. He retired with 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns while also being named to the 1980s All-Decade team. To cap everything off, Newsome was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1999.

Currently, Newsome’s the general manager for the Baltimore Ravens and is also rumored to eventually return to his alma mater in some capacity, perhaps as the athletic director. Considering his success in the NFL, he’d surely help Nick Saban make the Crimson Tide even more powerful than they already are.

All of the reasons above are why Newsome gets a dose of Old School Love. As a player and a general manager, he’s contributed to the success of every team’s he been a part of, and there’s no doubt that no matter where he goes in the future, he’ll bring his winning ways with him.