Preseason Assessment
I just watched the Cleveland Browns lose to Carolina, 23-20, in a preseason game.
I have to say that I am impressed.
I felt, before Butch Davis left the club, that Romeo Crennel would be the best choice for head coach. It was prophetic, I guess, but not really. He was the best assistant coach in the NFL, an assistant under Bill Belichick, who has done nothing less than win 3 out of 4 Super Bowls. If Randy Lerner was to do anything right in his tenure, he’d hire the guy.
He did.
Leaving that aside, I liked the Browns’ draft. Braylon Edwards was a great choice. So was Charlie Frye. This kid Frye can play, make no bones about it. So can Edwards, but I already knew that: he gave my beloved Ohio State Buckeyes fits for years at Michigan.
This year, the Browns won’t be any better than a .500 team, but I find myself excited about them for the first time since before Art the Fart moved the original Browns to Baltimore back in 1995. Not because they’re going to be any good this year, but because they are going to be *real* good in the years to come: it shows already.
At this time of year, I bleed Scarlet & Gray, not Brown & Orange; this year will be no different. But on Sunday afternoons this year, you’ll find me in front of the TV, watching this team grow.
Trust me: this team can play, and they’re going in the right direction. Finally.
