Remembering Trumpy, a commentator for so many big Browns games

For a few seconds, Bob Trumpy didn't sound like a former Cincinnati Bengals tight end.He didn't even sound like a national professional football commentator.For just a few seconds on this chilly day at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Trumpy sounded like a crazed Cleveland Browns fan.It was Jan. 3, 1987, the day of the AFC Divisional playoff game between the Browns and the New York Jets.Cleveland had completed one of the great regular seasons in franchise history. The Browns had finished 12-4 and were the No. 1 seed in the American Football Conference.Trouble was, for about 57 minutes, the Browns didn't play like it.The Jets took a 20-10 lead with 3 ½ minutes left. New York radio announcer Charlie Steiner famously proclaimed "The Jets are gonna win this football game. The Jets are going to the AFC Championship."Trumpy, working the national NBC television broadcast with play-by-play man Don Criqui, didn't go that far.But it wasn't looking good for Cleveland.But quarterback Bernie Kosar and the Browns wouldn't be denied. Kosar led the offense on a quick touchdown drive, then the "Dawg" defense stopped QB Ken O'Brien and the Jets on three straight plays, forcing a punt.Suddenly, down 20-17, the Browns had a chance. And with the ball at the Jets 43-yard line after a penalty, Kosar threw perhaps the greatest pass of his career, to Webster Slaughter.Slaughter brought Kosar's arching, accurate throw down at about the Jets 5.Thirty-five seconds remained. But what Slaughter – and many of his teammates – didn't realize was that the Jets' Russell Carter had tackled the Browns receiver in bounds.As Slaughter and his teammates celebrated, the clock ticked.And about the only person in the stadium who seemed to realize it was Kosar …and Trumpy."Quit celebrating!" Trumpy bellowed in his deep baritone. "Throw the ball out of bounds! Throw the ball out of bounds!"The Browns ended up winning that game in two overtimes.They won a lot in the 1980s.And Trumpy, who died Sunday at age 80, was often on the call.That was how I knew him: as an insightful color commentator who broadcasted big Cleveland games.But before that, Trumpy was a punishing tight end. Through 10 seasons of professional football – all with the Bengals – the 6-6, 228-pound tight end put together some big seasons.You often hear the phrase "throwback." Looking at the stats, Trumpy was practically a throw-forward. In 1969, Trumpy made his second American Football League Pro Bowl by catching 37 passes for 835 yards in 14 games.As Ken Anderson, a superstar quarterback for the Bengals in the 1970s and 80s tweeted Monday: "He was Gronk before Gronk."Trumpy's play would fit in today's era, with big pass catchers like Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce and David Njoku occupying the tight end position.Trumpy retired after the 1977 season, and quickly embarked on a 30-year career in media.He was versatile, calling Ryder Cups, The Olympics and four Super Bowls.And, he was funny.Once, in a retrospective about the Bengals of the 1990s (a decade of general ineptitude for the team) for NFL Network, he talked about one-time coach Dave Shula."He has a 19-52 record as a head coach," Trumpy said. "He has an exit press conference."Trumpy paused."What the hell for?"But I can't think of Trumpy without thinking about the Browns of the '80s.He was on the call for four of the Browns playoff games in the decade. He also announced a number of key regular season contests, usually with Criqui.He also seemed to see what everyone in Cleveland believed at the time:Bernie Kosar was special.In 1986, Trumpy called the Browns showdown with the Bengals in Cincinnati. If the Browns won, they'd clinch the AFC Central Division.On the first play from scrimmage, Kosar dropped back and went deep for Reggie Langhorne. "Wide open!" Trumpy said with excitement.Kosar hit Langhorne perfectly. It was a 67 yard play down to the Bengals 2."Don, one thing about Bernie Kosar," Trumpy said, "he's the youngest quarterback in the NFL, and I don't think there is a more accurate deep thrower playing the position of quarterback."The Browns cruised to a 34-3 win. Deep down, I'm sure Trumpy – as an original Bengal – wanted Cincinnati to win.But you'd have never known it. He seemed to be excited about the Browns team, and Kosar.It was a feeling all of us at the time could relate to.I'd say Bob will be missed, but frankly, he already has been missed.He had intelligence, humor, and a candor that is missing from many of today's football announcers.I miss Trumpy.And I miss how it felt to follow a team that was good enough to have Bob Trumpy on the call.NEXT WEEK: The Browns were on a bye Sunday. They will return this Sunday with a game against the New York Jets in New Jersey.The Jets have just one win on the season under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn.But they are coming off beating the Bengals in Cincinnati, and probably look at Sunday's game as a good chance to win again.Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that he was handing over playcalling duties to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.Rees, a former Notre Dame quarterback, is in his second season with the Browns. He was promoted to offensive coordinator before this year.Personally, I'm not sure playcalling is as big of a deal as many seem to think.For the Browns, the offense will be the same, the players will be the same.So, what's the difference?I'm not sure. But I do think Cleveland is better than the Jets.If they don't beat New York, it might be the end for Dillon Gabriel as the Browns starting quarterback.Not sure that's fair, but that's just how the NFL is.MY PICK:Browns 23, Jets 17.