Cleveland Browns: A sense of optimism as August begins

The Cleveland Browns still have a lot to do in August to prepare for the start of the regular season.

While summer continues to dwindle away and the calendar turns to August, football season continues to get closer.

The Cleveland Browns began training camp Friday, signaling the beginning of the 2016 NFL season. The team is being focused on, but an NBA title and a first-place baseball team has left the Browns with much less pressure to be great heading into the 2016 season.

No one expects the Browns to be a great team this year, but the lack of immense pressure on the squad may help them in the first year of the rebuilding process under Hue Jackson.

Gone are the days where a mediocre quarterback is expected to lead the team to the playoffs, and gone are the days where the head coach is on the shortest leash in all of professional sports.

The Browns are embracing the process, and winning should come of it in the next few years.

While 2016 does not appear to be a season filled with many wins, there is still some optimism surrounding the team as August says hello to Cleveland.

Much of this optimism is thanks to Jackson and his ability to inspire his group of players. He has not proven himself as a Browns head coach in terms of wins, but he has continually said the right things to prepare and inspire his players for the upcoming year.

It was rare to see players support past coaches the same way they do Jackson. Motivation doesn’t always mean wins, but it does mean the players are going to give it all they have for their coach, which can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing.

This optimism is also due to the fresh crop of talent brought in through the draft. The wide receiver position was ignored under the past regime, but the new group in charge made it clear the position needed new life by drafting four receivers and a tight end. All five players may not make the final roster, but the commitment to the position was enough for fans to see this new group was serious about upgrading the offense.

The young receivers are giving fans hope, but the best news surrounding the receiving corps is the return of Josh Gordon. Fans may still not trust him, but his talent allows him the opportunity to be one of the most successful receivers in team history, if he commits to staying clean and solely focusing on football.

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Hopefully this optimism surrounding Gordon in August does not turn out to be misplaced, as another failed drug test for Gordon may leave him permanently out of the NFL.

Gordon will be helped in his quest for redemption by Robert Griffin III, who should be named the starting quarterback soon. The lack of a competition is allowing Griffin to work with the first-team offense, and for the first time in a long time the quarterback position is not dominating the headlines throughout training camp after being a mainstay for so long.

The Browns don’t open the preseason until August 12 against the Green Bay Packers, but the good feelings should surround the team until the regular season begins September 11 in Philadelphia. Given the players stay healthy and continue to progress throughout the preseason, hope will still abound when the Browns take the field against the Eagles.

Next: Training Camp Day 3 recap

But after the opening kickoff, hope could turn into a variety of different feelings.