How the Cleveland Browns became the most interesting team in sports

Coming off a winless season, one might not expect a down-trodden team to be even slightly interesting. However, the Cleveland Browns have created enough storylines for this fall, enough to make them the most interesting team in sports.

It’s hard to make an impact and stay relevant in the sports world. Either you’re at the top of the mountain, so bad that you’re a joke, or in the middle of the road. And yet, fans always find interest in their favorite teams, and even other teams that they keep their eyes on.

Rarely ever, though, does a winless team fit the category of “interesting.” Teams aren’t supposed to go winless. When they do, they are normally bereft of talent for at least a short while. So, what makes the Cleveland Browns different from the winless teams before them?

The Browns have at least three huge storylines surrounding them, and they have them in bunches. No winless team has ever acquired this much new talent in just one offseason. Not only did the Browns have two draft picks in the top five, but they made a litany of signings in free agency.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

This leads into storyline number one: how will all the new talent mesh with the current team? The Browns have added Jarvis Landry as a new marquee player, as well as smaller signings like T.J. Carrie and the troubled Donald Stephenson.

Cleveland could have some massive growing pains in 2018, as their young core attempts to keep up with the massive talent upgrade. Players like Corey Coleman, Jamie Meder, and Matthew Dayes could very well be on the chopping block in training camp and pre-season.

Storyline number two: can Baker Mayfield, at any point, legitimately unseat Tyrod Taylor? Hue Jackson has noted that Taylor will be the incumbent starter for 2018. The question here is a two-parter.

First, can Mayfield take the crown off of Taylor? Even if Tyrod Taylor hasn’t thrown a single pass for the Browns yet, he is already one of the best quarterbacks they have had since 1999.

Secondly, should Mayfield take the field in place of Taylor? Coming from the Big XII conference, Mayfield may not be totally ready for the NFL game yet, no matter how accurate his arm, or how smart his reads looked in college.

Finally, how will the offensive line perform in the absence of Joe Thomas? Can Joel Bitonio or Austin Corbett get the job done now that he’s gone? Thomas was a reliable option on and off the field for a decade, and he now leaves a massive hole in the offensive line and the locker room.

Someone needs to step up, especially as a voice in the locker room. Right now, it seems the early favorite is Jarvis Landry. Others right for the job could be Joel Bitonio, Myles Garrett, or Christian Kirksey.

Next: Brian Sipe, the big tease

Overall, the Browns just have an air of intrigue surrounding them this season. Will they be the best or worst team in the league this season? Likely not. However, they will almost certainly be the number one team to keep an eye on in all of sports.

Home/Browns News