Fantastic post. Thank you.This year, the Browns were victims of their own history of bad decisions as well as untimely injuries:
Eight draft choices traded for Watson, including three first-round picks
Lack of draft attention in previous years to building depth for safety, linebacker, offensive line and running back
Four of the five starting linemen either entered the season on IR or ended up on IR during the season
Nick Chubb coming back from terrible knee injury and then suffers a broken foot
Backup QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson is not a NFL-caliber player
Poor recent free-agent signings
Juan Thornhill - next play he makes will be his first one
Jameis Winston - he is who we thought he was
D’Onta Foreman - goal-line fumbles and injuries
Dustin Hopkins - has missed 12 field goals this year
Since 1999
Ten head coaches
Three playoff appearances
39 starting quarterbacks
Record of 1-31 from 2016-17
28 first-rounders chosen since returning
Six have been high-level players (Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, Joe Haden, Myles Garrett, Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward)
Three have been average to above-average (William Green, Jabril Peppers, David Njoku)
17 have been average to below- average (including Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow III)
Two have been trainwrecks (Justin Gilbert, Johnny Manziel).
Also, cannot tell you how many receivers have been selected in rounds two, three and four that have been washouts
Add in these things from 2024
Firing former offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and hiring Ken Dorsey, which has been a terrible decision
No running game due to injuries and the scheme emphasizing pass game
Jim Schwartz’ defense has been very inconsistent, especially in giving up big plays
Special teams is one of the worst units in the league, aside from star punter Cory Bojorquez
Rank near the top of the league in missed tackles and penalties
Owner continues to demonstrate his incompetence, lack of transparency and knowing tolerance for misogyny and bending/breaking the law
I guess that’s about it. I could keep going, but you get the picture.
I loved the old stadium, as we call it here. Spent 14 years there as a season-ticket holder. Saw countless Indians games and great concerts there over the years (Stones, Who, Pink Floyd, 1979 World Series of Rock and more).
Cheers!