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- Cleveland Browns running back Earnest Byner's costly error in the 1987-88 AFC Championship Game has gone down in history as "The Fumble."
www.profootballnetwork.com › remembering-the-fumble-game-the-1987-browns-vs-broncos-afc-championship-gameRemembering ‘The Fumble’: The 1987 Browns vs. Broncos AFC ...
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Sep 8, 2022 · Cleveland Browns running back Earnest Byner's costly error in the 1987-88 AFC Championship Game has gone down in history as "The Fumble." The Cleveland Browns are among the most cursed franchises in all of professional sports, and perhaps no moment defines that status more than “The Fumble.”.
- Early Life and College
- Rookie Year
- Byner Is Paired with Mack in 1985
- 1986
- 1987 and “The Fumble”
- 1988
- Byner Leaves For Washington
- 1991 and The Super Bowl
- 1992 & 1993
- Return to Cleveland
Earnest Alexander Byner was born on September 15, 1962 in Milledgeville, Georgia. He was raised by his grandmother, a teacher, who encouraged Byner to go above and beyond in everything he did. Byner became a small town sports hero growing up in Milledgeville. He played football well enough in high school that he was offered a scholarship to play fo...
As a small school and late round draft pick, Byner didn’t have good odds to survive his rookie training camp. However, he believedthat he would shine once he got on the field. Byner made the team and ended up starting in three games during the 1984 season. He ended the year with 426 yards on 72 carries and two touchdowns. Byner also had 11 catches ...
After the ‘84 season, the Browns brought in running back Kevin Mackwho had played ball that season with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL. It looked like it was going to be a crowded running backs room, but Byner and Mack made the most of it. Emphasizing a ground-and-pound attack, Byner and Mack combined to rush for over 2,000 yards. Byner himsel...
Before 1986, the last time the Browns made it to the AFC Championship game was in 1969. That streak ended with the assemblage of talent Cleveland had in the locker room. Byner and Mack, quarterback Bernie Kosar, receivers Reggie Langhorne and Webster Slaughter, tight end Ozzie Newsome, linebackers Clay Matthews Jr. and Chip Banks, and defensive bac...
Byner recovered from his injury the year before to improve his numbers to 432 rushing yards and 552 passing yards with 10 scores. Meanwhile, the Browns finished the year 10-5 and first in the AFC Central. In the Divisional round, Byner scored on both a run and a pass to help led Cleveland to a 38-21 victory over the Colts. On January 17, 1988, Clev...
In 1988, Byner worked to put the pain of his gaffe behind him. He rushed for both 576 rushing and 576 receiving yards to pair with five touchdowns on the season. Cleveland went 10-6 and returned to the playoffs to face the Oilers in the Wild Card round. During the game, Byner had a combined 67 rushing and receiving yards but was held scoreless. Hou...
Byner was five years into his career and a valued member of the Cleveland organization. He had fumbled during a crucial situation in a playoff game, but other than that, he looked to be a solid Browns contributor for years to come. That was, until, late April of 1989. Needing a serious upgrade to their running back position, the Redskins offered to...
Byner had another productive season in 1991 rushing for 1,048 yards along with 308 yards receiving and five touchdowns. He was also voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl and was named a Second-team All-Pro. Washington was a juggernaut that year, winning their first 11 games on the way to a 14-2 season. In the Divisional round, the ‘Skins dispatc...
1992 saw the ‘Skins take a step back at 9-7, although their record was enough to get them into the playoffs for the third year in a row. Byner was two yards from cracking the 1,000-yard rushing mark, ending the year with 998 rushing yards, 338 receiving yards, and seven total scores. In the Wild Card round against Minnesota, Byner had a three-yard ...
Byner became a free agent after the 1993 season. After getting interest from the Jets and the Browns, Byner chose to re-up with Cleveland. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect. After four straight losing seasons, Cleveland returned to the postseason under coach Bill Belichick. Byner started only one game during the year and his season totals ...
Jun 18, 2010 · Byner was talking about that horrible moment in Browns' history on Jan. 17, 1988, in Denver. Byner was 2 yards from scoring the touchdown -- one more step -- that would have tied the AFC...
Feb 26, 2015 · BEREA, Ohio -- Earnest Byner saw Brandon Bostick fumble an onside kick that helped cost his team a trip to the Super Bowl. If anyone watching the NFC Championship Game last month could relate...
May 18, 2020 · Earnest Byner was having himself quite a game. His Cleveland Browns were trailing the Denver Broncos 38-31 with less than two minutes to go and his team was driving for a game-tying score. Byner had rushed for only 67 yards to that point but he did have a touchdown. Where Byner was dominating was in the passing game.
- Staff Writer, Producer-NBA
Nov 30, 1997 · “I’m in the hunt for perfection. Every little mistake hurts me. “Looking at it that from perspective, I don’t know if I’ll ever get over it,” Byner said. Pub Date: 11/30/97. It should have been...
Jan 17, 2018 · Former NFL running back and World Champion, Earnest Byner, reflects on the 30th Anniversary of the 1988 AFC Championship Game, otherwise known as "The Fumble...
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