Browns fans react to the return of the XFL

The Cleveland Browns have not fared well in the NFL since 1999. But does that mean that Cleveland would embrace a team in the new XFL?

A portion of the football world was abuzz on Thursday with the announcement that Vince McMahon will bring the XFL back in 2020.

The original XFL was announced in 2000 and played just one season before folding in May of 2001 after losing somewhere around $50 million. The league was mostly known for the team names – Chicago Enforcers, San Francisco Demons and Orland Rage, to name a few – player nicknames on the back of the jersey, live in-game interviews with players on the sidelines, and putting “storylines” over actual game play.

According to the website wrestlinginc.com, the revamped XFL will be different. Among the reported changes:

• League officials will turn to the fans to find out how they want the game to be played. There will allegedly be “lots of innovations.”
• The league will have eight teams and each team will have a 40-man roster..
• The season will last 10 games.
• Four teams will make the playoffs.
• Players will stand for the national anthem. No word on what will happen if someone does not comply.

Once the news hit, angry Dawg Pounders lit up Twitter and pumped out comments that showed exactly how cynical they’ve become with Cleveland’s winless version of an NFL team. The following are some of the best (and funniest) reactions out there.

First off is a tweet from @Angry Browns Fan who has a quarterback suggestion echoed by quite a few other Browns fans online:

The only problem with that particular idea is that McMahon told ESPN in a subsequent interview that he wanted the new XFL to be free from players with a criminal past:

"“We are evaluating a player based on many things, including the quality of human being they are. If you have any sort of criminal record or commit a crime you aren’t playing in this league.”"

So technically, that rules out Manziel (and a whole lot of others, including McMahon if you count his many WWE arrests) from being a part of any XFL team.

The award for most Browns inside jokes in 15 words or less goes to:

Mr. Smith is simultaneously referring to head coach Hue Jackson’s promise to jump in the lake after a winless season and Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas’ now infamous tweet:

Sweet Browns references, Jason Smith, but the monkey vote is still out (fingers crossed) and your XFL Cleveland team name suggestion is far too depressing.

The comments regarding cleveland.com’s reference to the XFL possibly coming to Cleveland were equally sarcastic.

Chipchipper1229:

"Wow!  Wouldn’t it be great to have a professional football team in Cleveland!"

Hardy har, Chip, but that team is already here. Well, soon. The front office clearly told us it would take four years to rebuild the Browns and it’s only been two. Plus, regardless of how you feel about owner Jimmy Haslam, remember all of these XFL teams will be owned outright by the WWE’s McMahon, so who knows where his football priories will truly lie.

This next Browns fan deserves mad respect for thinking way outside the football box:

jgull13:

"Please create a team in Cleveland and call them the Brownies. We can call them Browns for short. This should avoid any legalities and we can have a winning Browns team!"

Your attention to “legalities” is to be admired, J Gull, but your plan assumes Cleveland’s new XFL team would win. What if they didn’t, though, and what if by then the real Browns are finally winning? McMahon would have to eat your Brownies, Gull, and you’d be sad you jumped ship too early.

One woman sarcastically predicts that the XFL will turn professional football players into battling gladiators:

44144girl:

"finally, brain damage makes a comeback.  how long until the first on-field death, and the thoughts and prayers to go along with it?"

McMahon answers her question somewhat in the ESPN interview:

"“The XFL will be fan centric – with all the things you like to see, and less of the things you don’t.”"

Better be clearer, 44144girl, a rough guy like McMahon might not understand your sarcasm and assume you’re a hopeful fan of brain damage.

Lastly, in response to the Orange and Brown Report’s XFL coverage, one Browns fan mentions a concern that should have come up at least a year ago:

pdubau

"Can we also send Kizer there to be developed?"

One thing these tweets and comments make crystal clear is that Browns fans are finished waiting for a winner, and if the current organization fails to provide them with one as promised, they’re completely willing to look elsewhere.

Next: Could the Browns swing a draft deal with the Colts?

And if the NFL doesn’t start listening to its fans soon, it won’t be just Browns backers who are curious to see if the XFL can offer them more of what they like and less of what they don’t.