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Cleveland Browns: ESPN reporters offer grim outlook for the 2017 season

By Steven Kubitza

Dec 11, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bengals won 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bengals won 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters went through and predicted each game in 2017, and the Cleveland Browns didn’t fare too well in the predictions.

Cleveland Browns fans may be optimistic about the team’s chances in 2017 as the NFL Draft is less than a week away. This time of year props up the hopes of Browns fans and usually results in being the most exciting time of the season.

The optimism surrounding the Browns does not extend outside of Northeast Ohio, as displayed by some 2017 predictions.

With the NFL schedule now out, ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters went through and predicted each game for their respective teams. Not one had their team losing to the Browns.

The group gave the favorable prediction of 0-16 for the Browns in 2017, one season after the team went 1-15.

Let’s start with the fact that record predictions in April are simply for fun and nothing else. No one knows whether a perennial winner will falter during the year, or if an underdog will rise up and surprise.

But when going through the schedule and basing it off the 2016 season, it is fair that no one outside of Cleveland gives the Browns a chance against their respective team in 2017.

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But after a 1-15 season, it is hard for any Browns fan to predict an 0-16 year. The team is rebuilding, but adding some top talent in this year’s draft will help the team pick up at least a few wins. Right?

The Browns always come up as a national punchline, but they seem to have the right people in place to surprise a few opposing teams in 2017 and earn back some respect that was lost after a 1-15 season.

Those outside of Cleveland can continue to make bad jokes about the Browns, while Hue Jackson and his team will keep working to improve.

Fans must remember that last year was doomed from the start due to it being the beginning of the rebuild, but there is at least some foundation in place for the upcoming season.

Next: Mitchell Trubisky draft profile

Add in Myles Garrett and potentially a quarterback and the Browns aren’t going to go 0-16 or 1-15 in 2017.

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