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- Feb 13, 2009
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Whenever I would tweet about how the Browns will be a surprising team this season, the responses would go something like this:
1. We stink. We will always stink.
2. Shut up.
3. You are aware of our history, aren't you?
4. We stink. We will always stink.
5. Shut up.
The Browns have been mired in a tar pit of muck and sadness for so long that their fans don't know how to see a good team right in front of their eyes.
There's no "yeah, but" here with the Browns. No ceiling to fall. No escape hatch. No impending doom. Browns fans have to get used to this important fact: You have a good team. You do. You really do.
It's OK. It's OK to breathe. To relax and enjoy without thinking an asteroid is crashing into the complex.
The Browns are in first place in the AFC North…alone. And it's not Week 1. The last time the Browns were in first place in the division after 10 weeks was 1994. Bill Belichick was the coach. That year, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by Tonya Harding's bodyguard, Lawrence Taylor announced his retirement and on Jan. 19 the minus-20 degree temperature was the coldest day ever recorded in Cleveland. Though Browns fans would say their title drought is even more chilly.
The last time the Browns were in sole possession of first at any point during the season was Sept. 25, 1995.
Safety Tashaun Gipson tweeted his excitement:
View: https://twitter.com/Gipson_duos24/status/531553244641001472
None of this is to say the Browns are going to the Super Bowl. But this is to say this team is good—and beyond that: This organization knows what its doing, from the general manager on down.
That's been my point all along on the Browns. The incompetent Browns are gone. They're dead. RIP, The Fumble and The Drive. And whatever else.
The reason for optimism in Cleveland centers on two things: quarterback Brian Hoyer and that defense.
For months now, a number of team officials from across the sport were telling me that Hoyer was more than capable of leading the Browns to a new era. Over and over, they told me this. I bought in, but whenever I'd write or state something positive about Hoyer, I'd hear from Browns fans that he was terrible.
Now, I know I once called Hoyer a bum, but that was before people I trust started to tell me how wrong I was. And I was wrong. So I adjusted my thoughts. It's time for Browns fans to do the same.
Hoyer, to me, has elevated his play to the point where he's a top 20 quarterback, if not top 10 to 15. Some of you are rolling your eyes. But I'd take Hoyer over Jay Cutler, Nick Foles, Derek Carr, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, Andy Freaking Dalton and maybe even Matthew Stafford.
Hoyer has played so well, I believe he's surprised even the coaches and front office people on the team. They clearly didn't believe in Hoyer or the team wouldn't have drafted Johnny Manziel.
Now, the Browns have a good problem. They've stumbled upon their quarterback of the future and it's Hoyer. Not Manziel. He'll have to eventually get traded.
The Browns defense is also huge. What the Browns did to Dalton is a misdemeanor in some states. The Browns forced Dalton to tie a career low in completions (just 10). Dalton also had his worst completion percentage at 30 percent and his passer rating was 2.0.
Two. Point. Oh my.
So here we are, the Browns in first place in their division. This isn't to say they won't go through growing pains. Or Josh Gordon won't break their hearts again. There will be bumps.
But look up, Browns fans. Look up. Now.
See the sky?
It won't fall. It will stay right where it is.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2261993-get-used-to-it-browns-fans-your-team-is-finally-good
1. We stink. We will always stink.
2. Shut up.
3. You are aware of our history, aren't you?
4. We stink. We will always stink.
5. Shut up.
The Browns have been mired in a tar pit of muck and sadness for so long that their fans don't know how to see a good team right in front of their eyes.
There's no "yeah, but" here with the Browns. No ceiling to fall. No escape hatch. No impending doom. Browns fans have to get used to this important fact: You have a good team. You do. You really do.
It's OK. It's OK to breathe. To relax and enjoy without thinking an asteroid is crashing into the complex.
The Browns are in first place in the AFC North…alone. And it's not Week 1. The last time the Browns were in first place in the division after 10 weeks was 1994. Bill Belichick was the coach. That year, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by Tonya Harding's bodyguard, Lawrence Taylor announced his retirement and on Jan. 19 the minus-20 degree temperature was the coldest day ever recorded in Cleveland. Though Browns fans would say their title drought is even more chilly.
The last time the Browns were in sole possession of first at any point during the season was Sept. 25, 1995.
Safety Tashaun Gipson tweeted his excitement:
View: https://twitter.com/Gipson_duos24/status/531553244641001472
None of this is to say the Browns are going to the Super Bowl. But this is to say this team is good—and beyond that: This organization knows what its doing, from the general manager on down.
That's been my point all along on the Browns. The incompetent Browns are gone. They're dead. RIP, The Fumble and The Drive. And whatever else.
The reason for optimism in Cleveland centers on two things: quarterback Brian Hoyer and that defense.
For months now, a number of team officials from across the sport were telling me that Hoyer was more than capable of leading the Browns to a new era. Over and over, they told me this. I bought in, but whenever I'd write or state something positive about Hoyer, I'd hear from Browns fans that he was terrible.
Now, I know I once called Hoyer a bum, but that was before people I trust started to tell me how wrong I was. And I was wrong. So I adjusted my thoughts. It's time for Browns fans to do the same.
Hoyer, to me, has elevated his play to the point where he's a top 20 quarterback, if not top 10 to 15. Some of you are rolling your eyes. But I'd take Hoyer over Jay Cutler, Nick Foles, Derek Carr, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, Andy Freaking Dalton and maybe even Matthew Stafford.
Hoyer has played so well, I believe he's surprised even the coaches and front office people on the team. They clearly didn't believe in Hoyer or the team wouldn't have drafted Johnny Manziel.
Now, the Browns have a good problem. They've stumbled upon their quarterback of the future and it's Hoyer. Not Manziel. He'll have to eventually get traded.
The Browns defense is also huge. What the Browns did to Dalton is a misdemeanor in some states. The Browns forced Dalton to tie a career low in completions (just 10). Dalton also had his worst completion percentage at 30 percent and his passer rating was 2.0.
Two. Point. Oh my.
So here we are, the Browns in first place in their division. This isn't to say they won't go through growing pains. Or Josh Gordon won't break their hearts again. There will be bumps.
But look up, Browns fans. Look up. Now.
See the sky?
It won't fall. It will stay right where it is.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2261993-get-used-to-it-browns-fans-your-team-is-finally-good
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