Glad That’s Over
It’s not been a fun year as a Browns fan. We had to suffer through a season with little to no Nick Chubb, a Deshaun Watson era that was only six weeks long and six weeks too long, plus countless injuries across the field that took out Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah among others. It was the least fun a Browns season has felt in quite some time. Every week was a slog, and very honestly, went unwatched in the Gerberry household for the sake of my sanity and loved ones.
Sure, there were fun times, like when Jameis Winston showed us the full Jameis experience: going 1-2 in a three week plan with the win being over the Steelers in Cleveland in a snow game that was for the ages and sandwiched between big yardage games (395 and 497) and throwing for six tudders and three picks. It reminded us of the Joe Flacco era from 2023, when joy, smiles, and pigskins were tossed around willynilly. However, the Watson situation has muddied the waters so much with all of the surrounding circumstances that came from the move that even the bright spots were dimmed.
With the firing of Ken Dorsey, in my opinion, it all but sealed the fact that Watson will be a footnote in the trajectory of 2025. Nearly all of the players and coaches available to the media on Sunday hinted at and/or boldly proclaimed the offensive decisions made in preparation for the season were mistakes. Mistakes that were made to make Watson feel more at home, more comfortable in an offense that he was used to, allow him to free-lance more from the shotgun, rather than the design-heavy Stefanski one.
However, the ripples of Watson continue: the Browns finally have a first round pick after sitting out the first 32 picks for the last three years, and in part due to Watson, it’s the second overall. The roster, while stocked with high-end talent at some positions, has felt the lack of support from those picks alongside the cap-heavy hit from Watson’s guaranteed deal. Depth has been challenged due to injury, and the holes on the roster are various, scattered, and obvious. The offensive line is in shambles and threatens to be even more hurt if Joel Bitonio decides to retire.
Fans are right to be dubious about letting general manager Andrew Berry be the one to make that #2 pick in Cleveland. He, feasibly, was the one that pushed for Watson, counting the high cost and not caring and its since come back to bite him. The draft picks he has made have not hit and it’s becoming apparent to fans and maybe even those in the organization that he’s best suited for a more of a financial capologist spot and less of a player acquisition/scouting one.
The fight between the organization and the city continues to divide fans into two groups and the acrimonious nature of the discussion hasn’t given anyone relief. The city doesn’t want to lose the team from downtown, but refuses to work with the org to find a spot that allows them to do what they want (build a complex that can house not only the team but make gamedays and off days adventures, plus a dome). The organization wants to consolidate into one area, closer to their facilities in Berea. It’s understandable for both sides to feel jaded and its leaving fans in the perilous place of deciding to back the team the love or the city they live in.
All of this sums up the same feelings most Browns fans have felt in the past: what else can happen to us? I am always an eternal optimist, but even I have a hard time seeing the light through the trees here. I don’t think the roster is as far off as some do; removing Dorsey and Watson from the equation help the vibes return to those early fun Stefanski years. But the questions this offseason brings are all intense: Will they take a quarterback at 2? Will they trade down and help restock the team? Will Myles Garrett’s remarks about not wanting to be part of a rebuild stick? Will Nick Chubb re-sign in Cleveland or retire? Can they find some help at linebacker if JOK’s injury will cause him to miss more time?
At least we don’t have to sit through another Sunday afternoon watching slop until September. We are Browns fan after all, we are used to the offseason being our Super Bowl.
