Regarded as the laughing stock of the NFL for so long – The Cleveland Browns now have the whole league talking, says our guest writer Owain Jones.
There is a hype train forming. Are you jumping on?
The Browns have been considered the least likely team to contend since their return to football in 1999. After all, they haven’t made the playoffs since 2002!
The Hue Jackson era ended last season, where the Browns went on to finish 7-8-1.
A vast improvement to the 3-36-1 under Jackson’s tenure. Cleveland are no longer a joke and their fans are now experiencing something they haven’t felt in a generation – Hope.
Have they woke up feeling dangerous?
Two words that have rarely been associated with the Browns – charisma and personality. They have bags full of it and it’s something their divisional rivals desire.
Who can blame the Cleveland faithful for being excited about it! The Browns offence is absolutely loaded, Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, David Njoku and now Odell Beckham JR. Dangerous!
Cleveland will be expecting an instant impact from OBJ.
He is now playing with his best friend Jarvis Landry and we can expect him to play a free and fluid game. This Browns attack is now threateningly lethal.
The Browns also have foundational pieces on defence. Vernon, Richardson, Garrett and Ward are players to build your defence around.
If they can persistently rush the passer and be fatal in the back field then there is no reason this defence cannot be top 10 in 2019.
There is a new sheriff in town
There is no doubt Cleveland now have Super Bowl worthy talent. They have an exciting long term future filled with star power.
They also now have a head coach, in Freddie Kitchens, who has a strong relationship with Mayfield. Browns supporters will hope this will yield results and that they can challenge for that first Super Bowl ring.
Cleveland now have to negotiate something they haven’t had to before. Expectation.
We may be getting carried away, but the Browns will be excellent entertainment value in 2019. Now, Who is joining me on the bandwagon!?
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