CANTON, Ohio — The Dawg Pound descended on Canton Thursday night for the 2023 Hall of Fame Game between the Cleveland Browns and Miami Jets.
“It’s nice that it’s back here," Browns fan Eric Neugebauer said. "The last time we were here was ‘99, so it’s good to see that we’re relevant again.”
The Browns also honored the team's first player to get the "Call from the Hall" in the modern era, Joe Thomas. The left tackle blocked for 18 different quarterbacks, and played in 10,363 consecutive snaps, the first offensive lineman to reach that mark.
“Tremendous from the day they drafted him," Browns fan Joe Stevens said. "I just remember watching the draft, and he was on a fishing boat. You know, it tells you what kind of guy he was. Blue collar guy. Really represents what Cleveland is.”
The Browns honored the team's biggest name, Jim Brown, who died in May at the age of 87. The running back made a name for himself on the field and off the field as an actor and activist. The NFL named its rushing title after him this year.
“When Jim Brown died, I cried like a baby, man," Browns fan Tony Frost said. "I cried like he was a family member because I grew up, even though I didn’t see him play, you know, my grandfather seen him play. My father. My uncles. Everybody, that’s all they talked about was Jim Brown. They didn’t talk about nobody else.”
Just like Jim Brown, Joe Thomas was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Fans told Spectrum News Thomas’ work ethic qualified him to get into Canton as soon as he was eligible.
“It just shows you what kind of person he is," Browns fan Stephanie Swan said. "That just shows you that Joe Thomas is everything. Nice guy. Did his job. Did his job well. We all should have that work ethic.”
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson did not start in the Hall of Fame Game. Fans will have to wait another week before he makes his season debut.