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Interesting question from today's "Hey Tony" column in The Plain Dealer:
Hey, Tony: I need some historical perspective. Game on the line, who do you want under center, Bernie Kosar or Brian Sipe? -- Michael Spitale, Galena, Ohio
Hey, Michael: Wow. Great question. Sipe had all the intangibles but lacked many physical qualities required of a consistent winner. Kosar had the same intangibles but more physical qualities. I would vote for Kosar, but I know players on the Sipe teams would run through walls for him. Sipe never won a playoff game, but few remember that.
-- Tony
I have to agree with Grossi's assessment ... before the elbow injury Kosar could throw the intermediate and deep pass very well. He also took care of the ball, rarely throwing interceptions. Sipe may have been more nimble in the pocket, a better passer on the run, and more adept at improvisation (when a play broke down). Both were gutsy, inspirational leaders from what I've read and heard, but Sipe may have been the more charismatic and eloquent of the two. Still and all, I'd have to go with Kosar, based on skills, defensive recognition, keeping the ball out of opponents hands, and overall production - 3 AFC title games in his time here. I'd be interested in hearing what some of the older fans thought on this ... people who saw both QBs play.
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Kosar pre-injury, no question. The guy went the longest in league history without an INT...he protects the ball.
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Bernie was my hero growing up so I'm a little biased.
I don't know much about Sipe, but one thing I've learned over the past few years that I didn't know when Kosar was playing or was too young to realize was that Kosar was apparently an intensely competitive person. But I don't think it showed much. On the sidelines, he seemed much more mild mannered.
Case in point, when they show the replay of the Browns - Jets '86 playoff game on ESPN Classic or NFL Network and they cut to the interviews with the players, Kosar's competitiveness really comes out. He talks about the Jets defenders taunting him when it looked like they had the game wrapped up, and you could still see how fired up that made him even at the time of the interview.
Classic stuff.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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I can recall a game on TV when there was a close-up of Kosar under center, perusing the defense, and the commentator, Bob Trumpy (who had no lost love for Cleveland) said "look at those eyes - he's scary.". Bernie used to get the sense of a defensive scheme in a quick snapshot ... he still does that in his analyst role on Browns' pre-season games - its one of the reasons I like having him in the booth for games.
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Legend
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Quote:
I can recall a game on TV when there was a close-up of Kosar under center, perusing the defense, and the commentator, Bob Trumpy (who had no lost love for Cleveland) said "look at those eyes - he's scary.". Bernie used to get the sense of a defensive scheme in a quick snapshot ... he still does that in his analyst role on Browns' pre-season games - its one of the reasons I like having him in the booth for games.
I love him as an analyst too. It's really educational.
I didn't grow up in Ohio and since Bernie's heyday was prior to NFL Sunday ticket, I didn't have the privilege of watching all of the games. In fact, we only got a very few. My whole Sunday revolved around NFL Primetime so I could see the highlights.  So I'm sure there were times when he really showed that competitiveness on the field. But overall, he seemed mild mannered and had kind of a quiet competitiveness.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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GOOD STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Browns!!!
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Bernie Kosar, my all-time favorite Cleveland Brown!!!!!!
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nice videos.....brings back alot of memories...
diminshed skills my a**
Attitude is everything....FEAR THE ELF!!!
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Quote:
"look at those eyes - he's scary."
Speaking of eyes, I remember a Plain Dealer article from Sipe's heyday, quoting a local eye specialist, that said Sipe's eye-speed was something like 3 times faster than normal. I am gonna guess that that might also be true of Kosar, or maybe its a common factor for all great athletes ...
One more advantage to the Brian Sipe side that I just thought of - he was great at play-action fakes ... much better than Bernie. Just adding for the sake of debate and discussion ...
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I still have the Sports Illustrated with Bernie on the cover where the headline read 'Last of the Great Quarterbacks?'.
In that article they talk about him throwing the ball through the tire at that function that they mention in the Part I of the youtube videos.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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Wow Dave , I remember that article  ... For me it's a toss up  .. Loved them both .
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I liked Sipe more but I would have to go with Kosar. My heart could not take another Sipe last second game
Joe Thomas #73
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Awesome video!!
I'd say "either qb". But in thinking about it, and if I HAD to picker one or the other, I'd have to say Kosar.
Assuming, "game on the line" to mean 1 possession, Bernie had the smarts to know who would be open, when, and where. He may have looked goofy, but he did it.
And, as I read and think about what I just said, I think back to Sipe, with the game on the line. And geez, he did it too, hence the Kardiak Kids tag hung on those teams.
So, to paraphrase and/or summarize, I can't pick. They both had "it".
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I'd have to say Kosar and reiterate what an offense today's team would have with him at the helm.
The only weak point to his game was his lack of mobility. On days where the pass rush was neutralized, he was unstoppable. When they had to blitz to get pressure, he'd kill em. But when a team had a great edge rush or a bull in the middle Kosar would struggle, especially with his release when the pocket collapsed.
With Joe Thomas on his blindside with Edwards, Winslow, Stallworth and Lewis oh dear. It might be the best offense in the NFL.
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<sarcasm>
What....no Spergon Wynn?
</sarcasm>
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Psydeffect, thanks for the memories of a favorite childhood hero. It sent shivers down my back when he looked over at me for an autograph in Lakeland training camp.
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He signed a rookie card for me when I was 14 years old. 
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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I just got JT two days ago on my old Thomas jersey. My guess is that we both felt the same when it happened.  My brother says I was shaking and slurring my words but I don't believe him. 
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Would you take Boomer or Brian in play action? Boomer was left-handed also and I think that's also what made him (Boomer) good at play action. Never saw Brian play.
Go Browns!
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that article, dated 8-29-88, can be found on eBay. I think.
Dr. Z said the Browns would win the '88 SB over the '9ers, 27-24. They got one team right...the 49ers.
Go Browns!
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You mean a team with good natural pressure...teams with great athletes don't have to blitz.
There was a time where Kosar got sacked 8 times in a game. It was KC, and we got hammered 34-0 or something like that. They didn't blitz much, IIRC, but they were always sacking him. Derrick Thomas was on that team IIRC.
Go Browns!
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WOW,, memories,, amazing memories. I loved both Kosar and Sipe.. but if I had to chose right now, who would I want with the game on the line....... Kosar.. PE,, Thanks for those vids..
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Quote:
nice videos.....brings back alot of memories...
diminshed skills my a**
totally agree, i will never forgive that A-hole Belicrap for that.
Ruining QB's since 1999.
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Whats worse is that idiot Modell let him cut Bernie.. And Modell always said that Bernie was like a son to him.. Yikes what a way to treat your son..
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Quote:
Whats worse is that idiot Modell let him cut Bernie.. And Modell always said that Bernie was like a son to him.. Yikes what a way to treat your son..
Art did let his son take over the Ravens  Not exactley father of the year.
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And sold it out from under his son to Biscotti.
Even worse. hahahaha
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Kosar. Just had more "shifty" feel to him. Unfortunately, are you7 considering the head coach with him? I really liked Rutigliano, especially much of what he did behind scenes for us and NFL. Not much sideline leash for Kosar tho.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
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I would have to say Phipps or McDonald...Just joking...SIPE....
"There's a gleam men..."
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Sipe! Without any hesitation. Better athlete, better arm, great under fire, took more chances, never out of a game, great leader, loved the pressure great mind, wanted the ball and used all his weapons as well as any QB... That and he is a Cali Boy... Which automatically makes him better...
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Slight edge to Sipe. He won games despite having Rucker, Feacher and Logan as primary receivers....and JoeD and Dieken getting called for holding every other play. The Pruitts were no Mack&Byner. Bernie was blessed with Slaughter, Langhorn and Brennan with a better Oline. Ozzie was a common denominator.
It was fun watching either Sipe or Kosar come in with the game on the line. They both seemed to love being in that situation.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
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what do you mean not much sideline leash? Marty and Bud let him do more, but Belichick not so much.
Go Browns!
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I think you downplay Logan and Rucker (especially Logan) I have got the opportunity to a view a few games and a lot of highlights from the Kardiac kids era and Dave logan made Brian Sipe look good on a lot of plays because he made some spectacular catches. From a talent perspective he was probably just as good as Brennan, Langhorne, Slaughter. Also the Pruitts Mike in particular had more 1000 yards seasons than Mack. Mack was awesome but Pruitts had some good seasons too
But Kosar would be better with game on the line
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As much as I liked watching Brian Sipe and I really believe the Kardiac Kids overacheived and they were definitely fun to watch (except for red right 88) I'd still have to go with KOSAR!
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I would go with Kosar, but I want Sipe on the Bench in case Bernie gets hurt
I AM ALWAYS RIGHT... except when I am wrong.
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Quote:
I would go with Kosar, but I want Sipe on the Bench in case Bernie gets hurt
If you're saying Sipe is the backup, then all of the people who said Bernie above are going to want to change their opinion.... 
yebat' Putin
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Well at least I didn't say Holcomb
I AM ALWAYS RIGHT... except when I am wrong.
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Quote:
Dave logan made Brian Sipe look good on a lot of plays because he made some spectacular catches. From a talent perspective he was probably just as good as Brennan, Langhorne, Slaughter.
I loved Logan, but he was slow as molasses. I agree, few could grab any ball thrown in their vicinity like he could. I just think Sipe was able to pull games out of his arse with less talent around him.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
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Kosar, baby. as other have pointed out, Sipe never won a playoff game, and Kosar took great care of the ball. that, and i could sing Bernie, Bernie! if he were in.
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Sipe-saw them both play, Kosar had a better football mind (although Sipe was slick, too), Sipe was an "on the fly" QB, but i think Sipe was a better leader, ala say Farve or Elway-just like Elway, Sipe could score anywhere, anytime, and that's what made guys play their hearts out for him. Sipe in my opinion was a better long ball passer. I rarely remember him just "flinging it up"-even though it might have seemed like that in the highlights, he was very accurate.
But dont get me wrong, it's close!
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Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Game On The Line: Sipe or Kosar?
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