Frank Minnifield outlined the basis for the Browns' success in the 1980s and early 90s in this week's Throwback Thursday.
The legendary cornerback said it started long before the team would take the field Sunday afternoons.
"When I look back I think it all started at practice, it all started with the type of relationship we had with the wide receivers and Bernie and the running backs, that they knew, in practice, that we weren't going to go through the motions … we brought that same attitude into Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday," he said.
Minnifield, who played nine seasons in Cleveland (1984-92), was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and first-team All Pro in 1988. He was also part of the NFL's 1980s All-Decade team and inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Minnifield said that approach at practice translated to all aspects of the team.
"I think leading in those areas of football really permeated our whole organization," he said, "so everybody understood this is how we're going to get ready for football games."
The current Browns, who hit the field Thursday afternoon, travel to Washington for their third road trip of the season on Sunday.
