BEREA — When Akron native LeBron James led the Cavaliers to the NBA championship in 2016 , Browns Pro Bowl players Joel Bitonio and Denzel Ward were among those who watched history unfold.
Bitonio was in his old Rocky River apartment when the Cavs overcame a 3-1 series deficit by defeating the Golden State Warriors on the road in Game 7. And Ward was in downtown Cleveland when the Cavs ended what had been nearly a 52-year title drought among the city's major professional sports teams.
There are no indications the Browns (11-6) have abandoned the one-game-at-a-time mentality pushed by coach Kevin Stefanski as they prepare for Saturday's wild-card game at the AFC South champion Houston Texans (10-7).
Yet, memories of the Cavs prevailing, the Cleveland fan base's reaction and what all of it could eventually mean for the Browns if they achieve their ultimate goal excite Bitonio and Ward heading into the NFL postseason.
"I didn't go down for the parade, but you see the shots of the parade and the way the fan base — I mean, they've always been loyal fans — but they had a chance to celebrate," Bitonio told the Beacon Journal before practice Wednesday. "And LeBron said, 'Cleveland, this is for you.' You're like, 'Man, it'd be awesome to be a part of that someday.'
"[ James is] from the area, so I think him doing it is even more special. But everyone's told me since that day, 'It's a Browns Town here. If the Browns ever do something like that, it'd be three times as big.'"
At the time of the Cavs' triumph, Bitonio was between his second and third seasons as a standout left guard with the Browns. Now the team's longest-tenured player, Bitonio remembers watching some of those NBA Finals games at local dive bars with Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas and other former Browns offensive linemen.
Ward didn't become a Browns player until 2018, when the franchise drafted him fourth overall out of Ohio State, but the Nordonia High School graduate who grew up in Northfield knows Northeast Ohio well.
"I was here when LeBron , he won the championship, and those guys brought the [NBA title to Cleveland]," Ward said. "I was downtown and [felt] the atmosphere and experience.
"To be able to do that on the football end and bring a championship and everything to the city would be crazy. So we've just got to take things a game at a time and work to get there."
Ward said it was "inspiring" when Browns players and coaches with Super Bowl experience shared playoff advice Monday during a team meeting . Quarterback Joe Flacco , safety Duron Harmon , defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone were among the speakers.
Ventrone is a former Browns player (2009-12) who remembers the Cavs breaking what many Cleveland sports fans considered a curse.
"It's special," he said. "To win a championship is incredible. We're just going to take it game by game and hope for the best.
"I know that this city would go nuts. I'm worried, honestly, about winning this game this week, but everyone wants what you're talking about."
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The possibility is exhilarating. The Cavs' championship was the first by a big-time Cleveland team since the Browns captured the NFL title in 1964. Browns fans are still awaiting the team's first Super Bowl appearance.
"There's some motivation there," Bitonio said. "I mean, it's such the ultimate goal for you as a player to win the Super Bowl, and I know the fan base has been through so much. To give them that would just be the cherry on top of everything you've worked for in your career."
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs championship memories excite Browns before NFL playoffs
