My fantasy football team directly relates to the Denver Broncos. I haven’t won many game, I don’t have much hope so I’ve completely turned my team over to Tim Tebow and while I’ll still probably lose every week, at least it’ll be entertaining.
Why do I tell you this? Certainly I don’t want to talk any more than I have to about what has been by far my worst fantasy football team ever assembled in my ten years of playing. I only bring up my team because it has forced me to fully rely on the Browns to deliver an enjoyable football Sunday. Yikes. As any Browns fan can attest, if you’re depending on the Browns to make you happy, in the words of T.O. “get your prozac ready” er well something like that.
Let’s face it. Browns fans have watched their team lose early, often and in just about every way possible. Last second Hail Mary’s, field goals, blown leads and blow outs we’ve seen it all. Yet somehow this season has got me feeling optimistic.
I know I know, Browns fans have become the proverbial “boy who cried wolf” because there seems to be a permanent sign at Browns stadium that says "there’s always next year". However, watching this year’s edition, I feel like that just may be true.
For once we actually have a quarterback that isn’t over 35 (Jake Delhomme, Jeff Garcia), a model posing as a quarterback (Brady Quinn), the owner of a horrendous haircut (Kelly Holcomb), an ESPN analyst (Trent Dilfer), or likely to throw the ball directly to an opposing safety who isn’t even covering anyone (Derek Anderson). Even if Colt McCoy isn’t the next Drew Brees (I think he may be) we should at least love him for what he isn’t.
The key now is patience. I’ve heard grumblings on various message boards around the interwebs that Cleveland should consider giving up on McCoy after this year should the right quarterback become available in the draft. I would certainly hope the front office isn’t considering this.
Between the coaching change and the lockout, McCoy is basically a rookie again. Half the battle of winning in the NFL is continuity. You see it all the time. Who have been the most dominant teams in the last decade? The Patriots, Steelers, Colts, Chargers and Saints immediately come to mind. What do they all have in common? Continuity.
It’s not like the offense as a whole is a finished product for McCoy to work with anyway. Outside of Greg Little and Montario Hardesty I’m not sure the Browns really have any young skill players that will develop into anything to special in the next 3-5 years. Spending time and money on talent to put around McCoy should be the priority, not shipping him off before he can prove himself. Not to mention making sure he is protected by shoring up what could be an elite offensive line.
Even more than the fact we finally have a quarterback who knows how to win and is young enough to still develop into that winner, I love the new defense. Switching to the 4-3 could not have been more beneficial and it appears they may even have a pulse. Yes, there are still holes to fill but at least now there are specific holes that need filled. Previously the whole defense was an area of need. Another edge rusher to complement the promising Jabaal Sheard, one more playmaker in the secondary and overall linebacking depth would certainly help but the pieces in place are definitely a solid foundation.
Yes, for once I can see the Browns actually heading in a good direction. They finally seem to have a vision for what they want to be and doing what they need to do to get there. So while I may not have too many good football Sundays this year I’m looking forward to many in the upcoming years.
Of course this is the Cleveland Browns. There’s always the chance they ink Peyton Hillis to a massive long-term contract, keep pretending Josh Cribbs will develop into a legitimate receiver, quit using the draft to acquire promising young talent on defense, throw outrageous amounts of money on 30+ year old linebackers and keep saying “there’s always next year”.
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