It Happens Everywhere

Man, the Browns made a bunch of news this week, canning the coach and GM.  Plus a few other moves have the area talking big time.  And the old sentiment is back of, "Only the Browns, only Cleveland, only us."  And yes, there has been our share of heartbreaks, but nothing in those statements could be further from the truth.

First off, I am a Browns fan, Indians and Cavs fan too. Have been all my life.  I have lived what you have, and in many cases more than others. I know the pain from all the teams.  I also can remember the truth that most don't want to admit about Browns and other teams.

Let's take the Cardinals, Chiefs, Panthers, Vikings, Bengals, and even the Patriots.  All are in the NFL playoffs this year so they have that in common.  They also have something else in common. They have all been through long, and agonizing losing era's before the pendulum swung back the other way. The Cardinals have been in 3 cities, and have won a couple of post season games in countless decades of play, now they threaten to win it all.  The Bengals went through many arduous years, about as long as the Browns trying to get it right.

The rest have similar stories including the mighty Patriots.  They, in the 1990's had a brutal stretch including a 1 win season, until Tom Brady showed up with the right coach. And I would even say Brady was a stroke of luck NO one saw coming, not even the Pats. The Panthers have had a 1 win season, and a two win season.  Even the mighty Cowboys have had brutal stretches including a 1 win season. and THIS season was horrible for them.  BTW the Browns have never had a 1 win season. - 70 years.

The difference is, it's just more satisfying for the small minds at ESPN in Connecticut to pile on a city they don't care for.  Sports networks don't care for the Midwest in general, and it's more fun to take swings at a seemingly downtrodden city like Cleveland (in their minds) than give an name to a horrible loss that Peyton Manning took to the Ravens in the playoffs a few years back.  Or the Steelers getting beaten by Tim Tebow - again in the playoffs.  The list is endless of most NFL teams with brutal stretches and losses.  Ask Seattle about last year in the Superbowl.  They don't have names like The Drive, and The Fumble, for those games but they were just as, if not MORE brutal than the Browns losses.

The truth is, hard luck follows most teams for there is only 1 champion every year.  The Browns will eventually get this right and contend. They all do in time.  Let's remember, the Saints and Bucs did, winning a Superbowl each, and they are a combined 250 games below .500 all time.  No one is excusing the Browns and this debacle that has ensued the past few years, but if history is our guide, way better days are ahead.

Just a bit of perspective. It's hard to wait, but it will happen.