You have everybody talking about how the Dawg Pound got started, but my story is the true story. Me being from down South, I remember that old dog chasing that cat, and that dog used to really, really get after that cat.
At the time, we had the two great linebackers, Chip Banks and Clay Matthews, and we had two Pro Bowl corners in Frank [Minnifield] and myself, but we never truly had that great, great pass rusher. So I was thinking of something to try and motivate those guys and get them going. I told them to think of that old dog. The quarterback is the cat and you guys are the dog, so we're gonna bark at you and let's get it going.
We were having training camp at Lakeland Community College, and the fans were so close to the field. We started barking and they just took over the whole damn thing. The fans, obviously, they caught on right away.
It's a tribute to the Cleveland Browns fans and the city. I remember when I was coming out of college and I was watching the AFC Championship game when the Browns were playing the Raiders. It was cold, and I was watching in the stands and people had their shirts off, and I thought those people were crazy. Look where I ended up. Once I got here, I became a part of it. I realized how special the people are.
— as told to Justin Williams
Beta