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July 20, 2021As we enter into another week, we also start the final week of the year without Cleveland Browns football. That’s right! The Browns will report to training next week with training camp beginning on Wednesday, July 28. The first practice open to the public will be on Friday, July 30. Browns football is almost here.
Next week begins one of the most anticipated and expectations-filled seasons in a generation for the Browns. This anticipation and excitement have been built off of what happened last season. Not only are the Browns coming off an 11-5 season that saw the team make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2002, but they are also coming off their first playoff win since 1994. The season produced so much excitement and promise for the future leading into this offseason.
Andrew Berry and company did not rest on their laurels this offseason, even after all of the promise that the team showed last season. The front office knew that this team had its warts even with the success it had last year. The biggest wart was on the defensive side of the ball, so Berry completed overhauled the defense with major acquisitions on all three levels of the season including the big free-agent signings of safety John Johnson and edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney and the drafting of cornerback Greg Newsome. The Browns knew what they had to do this offseason and they did it. They turned over the defense and supplied it with much-needed upgrades.
This is where we stand with a week to go before training camp. The Browns have upgraded their team, the same team that went 11-5 and won a playoff game. The expectations and excitement are warranted like never before.
We are in new territory as Super Bowl contenders. Yes, we can actually say the S-word without giggling or saying it after a handful of adult beverages. This team has the talent to contend for a championship. The offense is expected to be even better than last year with quarterback Baker Mayfield leading the way. The defense should see a big bump in performance after the huge upgrades and expected returns of the injured players that missed last year. This team has all the makings to be better (and maybe by a good margin) from last season.
So, one more week without Browns football. That’s it. We are almost there.
(Video courtesy of the Cleveland Browns)