The Cleveland Browns All-Decade Team (2000-2009)

This decade was one of constant rebuilding for the Cleveland Browns who became an NFL once again in 1999, after the team was relocated.

Rebuilding is only one of several words that can describe this decade of football for the team and its' fans.

The Browns were just good old fashioned drama from 2000-2009.

With only two winning seasons in 2002 when they were 9-7 and made it to the playoffs only to get eliminated by their rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round and in 2007 when they were the cinderella team going 10-7 with an extremely potent and explosive offensive attack.

Their record for the decade is 54 wins, 103 loses for a 52.4-percent winning percentage.

Now that the decade is coming to a close, here is the "All-Browns Team of the Decade" which was very difficult to choose.

When a team struggles for the majority of a decade the position-by-position selections were not easy at all.

(Note: All stats provided by pro-football-reference.com)

And now.....the following Cleveland Browns players are this journalists' "All-Browns Team of the Decade."

Tim Couch, Quarterback

Couch was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft as the newborn Cleveland Browns' franchise quarterback of the future.

Unfortunately, Couch was not surrounded with enough talent at the skill positions and on the offensive line. He was the Browns starting quarterback from 2000-2003.

The quarterback position was one of a constant revolving door throughout the decade until recently, but Couch was the starter for more seasons than any other Browns quarterback in the decade.

Career Browns stats (1999-2003): 1025 comp., 59.8-percent comp., 11,131 yards, 64 touchdowns, 67 interceptions

Others considered: Kelly Holcomb and Derek Anderson

Jamal Lewis, Running Back

Lewis has been the Browns' starting running back for three straight years, including 2009, before he was injured and put onto Injured Reserve.

Announcing his retirement midway through the 2009 season, Lewis' skills were diminishing rapidly, but in 2007 he ran with power and he was hungry to redeem himself as not being another running back who was "running out of gas" when the Baltimore Ravens cut him the year prior.

Lewis ran with reckless abandon and amassed over 1,300 yards.

Unfortunately, his tank began to run on empty during the 2008 season, but still just barely managed to break the 1,000 yard mark in the final game of the season.

2009 caught up to Lewis and his injury brought retirement a month earlier than expected.

Sad to say, but Lewis was the longest mainstay and most productive running back of the decade for the Browns since, similar to the quarterback position, was a constant revolving door of players.

Career Browns stats (2007-2009): Rushing: 2,806 yards with a 3.89 yard per carry average and 13 touchdowns

Receiving: 61 receptions for 514 yards and two touchdowns

Others considered: William Green and Ruben Droughns

Lawrence Vickers, Fullback

Vickers was drafted by the Browns in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft and after a year of playing the backup, he became the full time starter in 2007 and still is.

An under the radar player, Vickers is stuck with the dirty work of clearing a path for the running back and has not seen much in the terms of statistics during his short career, but he has been the key to a successful running game.

Career stats: Rushing: 76 yards with a 2.7 yard per carry average

Receiving: 37 receptions for 256 yards and two touchdowns

Others considered: Terrell Smith

Braylon Edwards, Wide Receiver

Even though the end of Edwards' time with the Browns ended in a scuffle with one of LeBron James' friends outside of a Downtown Cleveland club, Edwards was the most effective weapon the Browns had downfield—when he caught the ball.

Plagued by the "dropsies" since college, Edwards could not break the habit, which also helped in his departure from Cleveland.

With potential sky high coming into the league, and being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Edwards seemed to be more fond of the idea of being a star athlete, then the actual athlete part of it.

Nevertheless, he was an offensive weapon when he was focused and in the right mindset, but useless when he wasn't.

Edwards is still worthy of his place on the All-Browns Team of the Decade because of the moments when he could take over a game and dominate defenses with his mere presence on the field.

Career Browns stats: 238 receptions for 4,100 yards and 28 touchdowns

Others considered: Antonio Bryant

Kevin Johnson, Wide Receiver

Johnson was the Browns' second round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft and he was their most effective weapon at receiver for the first three years of the new Browns' existence.

Small and shifty, but very fast and with reliable hands, Johnson never materialized into a top tier receiver in the NFL, possibly due to the lack of enough talent around him.

Career Browns stats (1999-2003): 315 receptions for 3,836 yards and 23 touchdowns

Others considered: Joe Jurevicius

Kellen Winslow Jr., Tight End

Winslow's career began with a terrible motorcycle accident that kept him out of the entire 2005 season, but once he got onto the 2006 lineup his job was to dominate working the inside of the football field and became a go-to outlet pass for the Browns' quarterbacks.

Having perhaps the softest hands in the NFL as a tight end, Winslow wore gloves, but often played entire games without even strapping on the velcro to tighten them.

Winslow considers himself a warrior, which he needs to be week in and week out, since his motorcycle accident virtually destroyed his knees and those injuries will quickly catch up with him.

Often a hothead on and off of the field, Winslow had no issue speaking his mind to the media, which often got him fined and/or suspended by the Browns.

With the unfortunate incident to begin his career, Winslow's potential would never be able to fully materialize. He could have easily been one of the best tight ends to ever play the game just like his father before him.

Career Browns stats: 2004-2008) : 219 receptions for 2,459 yards and 11 touchdowns

Others considered: Steve Heiden

Joe Thomas, Left Tackle

Thomas was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft and he has quickly become one of the best left tackles in the entire league.

Not too much needs to be said about Thomas. He has played in two full seasons so far and has been to two Pro Bowls in those two years.

Eric Steinbach, Left Guard

Steinbach came to the Browns before the 2007 season from fellow Ohio divisional rivals the Bengals and since his arrival, has helped solidify the left side of the Browns' offensive line with left tackle Thomas to create one of the best left sides of any offensive line in the NFL.

Jeff Faine, Center

Faine was only with the Browns for three years after being drafted by them in 2003 as the No. 21 overall pick in the draft.

Faine quickly became a starter, but at times he struggled like any other rookie center would in the NFL.

After Faine left the Browns for the Saints, he quickly became one of the premier centers in the league.

Faine left due to the Browns signing Pro Bowler and Cleveland native LeCharles Bentley, but Bentley blew out both of his knees on the first day of training camp, causing Bentley to never play in a single game for the Browns. The Browns regret ever letting Faine go.

Cosey Coleman, Right Guard

Coleman only played for the Browns for two seasons as the right guard position, easily one of the hardest to choose from a list of virtual unknown players.

Another possible candidate here was Seth McKinney.

Ryan Tucker, Right Tackle

Tucker was the most consistent offensive lineman for the Browns before Thomas and Steinbach came to the team in 2007, but with many off the field issues clouding his career, Tucker could never reach his full potential.

He played with a nasty attitude and he was your typical AFC North grunt who controlled the trenches for the Browns.

Orpheus Roye, Defensive End/Defensive Tackle

Chosen for two positions on the line since he played defensive tackle when the Browns ran a 4-3 defense, and for defensive end when the Browns changed to 3-4 defense.

Roye played on the Browns' defense from 2000-2007 and he easily was the longest defensive lineman to play for the Browns during the decade.

Roye was a very physically talented big man who could also play all of the positions on the defensive line.

Career Browns stats (2000-2007): 286 tackles, 9.5 sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles, one safety

Shaun Rogers, Defensive Tackle

Rogers is one of the most dominate interior lineman in the NFL and even though he is a big guy, he is still one of the fastest and most agile players in the NFL at his size.

Constantly double-teamed throughout games, Roger still has the ability to get to the ball carrier and/or opposing quarterbacks with relative ease.

Also, Rogers has great leaping ability and has blocked 11 total kicks during his career.

Career Browns stats : 88 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 5 blocked kicks

Robaire Smith, Defensive End

Smith has been a mainstay on the defensive line since arriving in 2007, and with his size, can cause offenses some problems in the running game.

Despite playing at over 300 pounds, Smith is quick off the line and sometimes demands a double-team by opposing offensive lines.

Career Browns stats: 88 tackles, five sacks

Jamir Miller, Outside Linebacker

Miller makes this list mainly for his performance in 2001 when he made the Pro Bowl and was the only Browns Pro Bowl player until the 2007 season.

In 2001, Miller dominated opposing offenses and played one of the best seasons any Browns fan has ever seen at linebacker.

Career Browns stats (1999-2001): 240 tackles, 22.5 sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles

Others considered: Willie McGinest

Andra Davis, Inside Linebacker

Davis was with the Browns from 2002-2008 and he was a permanent fixture as the leader and captain of the defense.

After the 2008 season, the Browns did not want to resign Davis due to his age and supposedly diminishing skills, but the Broncos scooped him up in free agency and he is having a solid season with them in 2009.

Career Browns stats (2002-2008) : 450 tackles, 8.5 sacks, eight interceptions, four forced fumbles

D'Qwell Jackson, Inside Linebacker

Jackson was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft and quickly broke into the starting lineup.

One of the most productive linebackers in the NFL since he entered the league, Jackson quietly goes about his business game in and game out and has developed into a defensive captain with his leadership, formation recognition, and adjustments prior to the snap of the ball.

Career Brows stats: 274 tackles, three sacks, four interceptions, one forced fumble

Kamerion Wimbley, Outside Linebacker

Wimbley was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and has been a starter since day one.

With an outstanding rookie year which saw Wimbley sack opponents 11 times, he has been on a slide up until this year where new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has found ways to line Wimbley up at different positions to unlock his potential and so far it appears to be working. He is once again leading the Browns in sacks with 6.5.

With great size and ability, Wimbley was supposed to become a premier pass rusher in the NFL, but instead it looks like he will be more of a versatile player moving forward.

Career Browns stats: 173 tackles, 26.5 sacks, one interceptions, six forced fumbles

Eric Wright, Cornerback

Wright was the Browns' second round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, but his value dropped due to off field issues, when he could have been a first round pick.

A starter since being drafted, Wright has quietly turned into one of the better lock down man-to-man cover corners in the NFL.

If you ever ask him what is his biggest asset he brings to the football field is, he will tell you, "it's my speed."

With fast recovery speed, even if a receiver can get open out of a break, Wright will turn on the juice and catch up to break up the pass and make a play.

Career Browns stats: 169 tackles, one sack, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, one touchdown

Daylon McCutcheon, Cornerback

After being drafted in 1999 in the third round for the expansion Browns, McCutcheon was a starter immediately and stayed a starter until the end of the 2005 season.

A very dependable corner with good speed and terrific tackling ability, McCutcheon was the heart and soul of the defensive backfield for seven straight years.

Career Browns stats: 396 tackles, seven sacks, 12 interceptions, seven forced fumbles, two touchdowns

Robert Griffith, Safety

Griffith was only with the Browns for three seasons as a starter, but in those three years he commanded the defensive backfield and not only was he a heavy hitter, but was a great tackler if anyone came his way.

Even though Griffith was with the team for a short time, he made an impact on defense and opposing offenses always had to account for where he was lining up.

Career Browns stats (2002-2004): 228 tackles, one sack, six interceptions, one forced fumble

Others considered: Brodney Pool

Sean Jones, Safety

Jones was a second round pick by the Browns in the 2004 NFL Draft, but did not become a full time starter until 2006.

He was a very quiet player who was not known by many people outside of the Cleveland area, but his game helped elevate the rest of the defensive backfield.

Career Browns stats (2004-2008): 204 tackles, one sack, 14 interceptions, two forced fumbles

Others considered: Brian Russell

Phil Dawson, Kicker

Dawson is the only current member of the Browns that was with the team when they came back into the NFL in 1999.

Very few other kickers in the NFL can even come close to Dawson when it comes to his ability to kick in any kind of weather.

He's like the United States Postal Service and their original slogan, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night..."

Plus, how can anyone ever forget the field goals made in blizzards, the ball bouncing back through the uprights against the Ravens (kick was good), and he even kicked an onside kick to himself which was successful.

Career Browns stats: 221 field goals made, 83.1-percent accuracy, 264 extra point made, 97.1-percent accuracy

Dave Zastudil, Punter

A hometown guy from the Cleveland suburbs of Bay Village, Zastudil came to the Browns in 2006 and he has seen his best years as a punter with the Browns.

He has the ability to nail the opposing team inside their own 20-yard line on almost every punt.

Career Browns stats (2006-2009): 44.1 yards per punt average

Others considered: Chris Gardocki

Josh Cribbs, Kick Returner/Punt Returner

This one is going to be short and sweet.

Cribbs is the best returner in the NFL since he became the Browns' full time kick returner in 2005, and since he became the punt returner in 2007.

Career Browns stats: 26.2 kick return average, 11.6 punt return average, eight total touchdown returns

Honorable mention: Dennis Northcut