DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Are we, dare I say it, American's (new) Team?

I don't know, but it sure feels like people everywhere are are feeling something for the Browns that maybe they didn't feel before.

It's like Dorsey says, Teams don't win in March.. They win in Camp and then in the Fall.

If this turns our like I think and hope it will, then yeah, I bet we're going to be the darlings of the league..

Obviously, the Browns aren't "America's Team," but they aren't "the same old Browns" in the eyes of the national media and public.

Instead, there is a positive buzz about the Browns. People are liking what they are seeing from this roster. I also think that a lot of folks across the country have felt bad for the long-suffering, loyal fan-base of the Browns and our kinda rooting for us. There was a similar sentiment about the Cubs and Red Sox for years.

It's cool to think that our team is finally receiving positive attention.

Agree 100% We aren't there yet, but do you feel as if it could become true? I mean, are we headed in the right direction to become Americas Team?

That we did.

I was never a fan of the whole "America's Team" shtick. Made my stomach turn, to be honest. If it wasn't for that, I probably wouldn't dislike the Cowboys like I do.

I feel that I'd be a hypocrite if I called my Browns America's Team the minute they started getting a little love.

I don't like the Atlanta Braves for this same reason, and like you it's why I dislike the Cowboys so much as well. I won't call the Browns America's team either.

I worry about all this hype. Yes the team has turned a corner, but talking Superbowl and " playoff team" seems a little over the top. I hope it is going to happen, but I've seen this movie before.

My hope is that the players are not sucking all this hype up. I hope they are avoiding all this talk. If this team, as assembled, decides to go into this season undistracted, and committed, they very well could verify the hype. But they could just as easily buy in to it, get in the mindset that it is a given, that could lead to the very opposite.

As much as we believe that the media is in love with us now, if this thing don't live up to the hype, they will giving us just as much bad talk.

The leadership in the locker room, is going to be the deciding factor. The mindset has to be set, that they still haven't achieved anything. I think Freddie is the kind of guy to keep that message fresh, but it is going to take guys like Jarvis, Baker, Odell, and Bitonio, to push the idea in the locker room. IMO, it is time for Garrett to step up as a leader in the locker room, express some of his passion for winning to his teammates.

If they want to call us America's team, I'm all for it. But most of the outside love this team is getting is conditional, the moment there is a slip up, the trash talking will begin all over.

Agreed 100%. There are too many variables at this point. New players that have to learn to play together as well as new coaches they have to play for. Then you have to ask how will we handle the added attention and expectations. I for one would like to see things toned down a bit and take it one day at a time. JMO

One thing being left out a lot is Freddie. I have faith in him, but he still is stepping into a new realm. He seems to have the personality to handle it, but you never know.

In the back of my mind I can picture him being overwhelmed, and making bad decisions out of haste. I mean, this team has a knack for the smackdown, just when we think things are right, something major happens. Yes, battered fan syndrome.

If Freddie proves to be the man, it will be the ultimate icing on the cake.

I agree with the concerns. I'm fairly confident in the structural integrity of the current hierarchy in Berea... that helps a lot. An owner that trusts an actual GM, a GM that knows his job and is extremely competent in fulfilling his role, a new coaching staff that knows who the bosses are... no bickering, no backstabbing, etc...

Not to say that makes it easy, and Freddie has some serious personalities to deal with, but I actually feel like that might be a strong suit with him.

Doesn’t the team that “won the offseason” usually lose the regular season? We have to keep the expectations modest.

In my opinion, this season should be about the division. No mention of the playoffs (if/once you get there, sure, get pumped).

I'm not so sure that holds true with us. We went 5-3 during the last half of the season which gives you some good momentum ending last season.

When you combine that momentum from last season with the addition of the talent we have amassed that's a two edged sword that would be hard to dismiss.

I prefer the hype to "the same ol' Browns again" thing that we have heard for decades.

The hills are alive with the sound of music!

I’ve been in a state of euphoria ever since the trades. We haven’t had this much talent since 2007, and now we have a much much better QB.

I keep seeing and hearing that we are the "New" America's Team.

Phhffftt.. I'd be happy to be this years Ref's team. We are long overdue there.

I've seen the "cautious optimism" movie over and over again. Screw that. I'm all in. I'm done quietly hoping that we might be turning the corner, it's effin' do or die time! I've been predicting 12-4 since Hue was fired. Our time is NOW!

Besides Colin Cowherd , we are getting much love around the NFL

Dawg. We're in great hands. I sense fear of failure from some.

CAP. Give this Dawg a DRINK ON ME....

HELL, GIVE HIM A BOTTLE ON ME...

Let's all sit down and share one, or three.

Me too. I'm just cautioning those who think all this love from the media is real. They have wallowed in the ability to have a whipping boy like the Browns. In the past teams that were bad were never beat up in the media like they are today. We have all kinds of shows with ex-players that trash talk and laugh at teams daily. They have used the Browns as a punchline. All I'm saying is that if this thing doesn't pan out like it should, they will be more than happy to have their whipping boy back.

The media want a great story.

Team sucks? Great story.

Team hopelessly bad? Great story.

Hopelessly bad team suddenly turns things around and look legitimate? Really great story.

Colin Cowherd? He still has a show?

Bro, I think it is different this time. This is the first team we have had since the rebirth that has talent and is headed by a great FO.

I hope so.

I don't know where this "Americas Team" crap started. I heard Jim Rome say it the other day. That's crap. We are not "Americas Team". Until last year we were Americas JOKE. A punch line. Obviously, the Browns will be must watch TV. But as many people will be hoping this implodes as there are hoping it succeeds. Americas Team? *snicker* Where the hell do people get this tripe?

We are Cleveland's Team. The rest of the country can be jelly. They don't get to claim ownership of something they didn't have to suffer for.

Cleveland Browns Daily has been saying it for months (I think since December or so?). I don't think they coined it but heard it one time and ran with it.

I'm still cautiously optimistic/leaning more to the positive.

My reservations: dude, you already know them. We've read each other's thoughts for years, but I'll just say it for the rest of the board:
We have once again assembled a new group of people in important coaching positions. Coaches who will be working with each other for the first time. That dynamic is always an 'X-factor.'

Don't get me wrong- I've read up on them all, and I like what I've learned. That doesn't change the fact that this is all new for them as much as it is for the players. There are a LOT of moving parts that need to mesh for this on-paper potential to be realized.

"Once bitten, twice shy." Let us not forget how dysfunction cost this team an entire 1/2 season and 2/3 of its top coaching tier during its most recent regular season. Who could have seen that coming 12 months before? Not Browns fans... because even that was a brand-new incarnation. Swear to God, someone needs to test the ground water in Berea.

You know me. I've always been the 'continuity man' on the boards. I still remember how you pulled me off the bridge when the whole 'Chud/ 1-year' thing went down. I'm serious when I say this: I won't feel secure until I've seen a coaching staff (HC/OC/DC) in place for 2+ years. Because that, more than any other factor, sets the culture for the team. A well-stocked, well-stacked pro team can win a championship. A team with its own culture becomes a dynasty. Only longevity can build/maintain a culture. And we are- once again- on Year One of this Tier One coaching staff.

Year One.
Again.

I'm putting some faith in Dorsey's vision/leadership skills, and hope that a chemistry can be cultivated with the new folks assembled, but let's be honest here: this all-important aspect is still an unknown. I don't know these people yet. We don't know them.

Here's where I am, right now:
I'm more interested/intrigued in this team this off season than I've been DURING seasons... so yeah- I'm a bit swept up like everybody else. At the same time, um- "Hello? I'm a Browns fan....."

Anything can happen. And usually does.

If I see:
* a >.500 Browns team at midseason, with
* ZERO reports of FO/coaching dysfunction, AND
* ZERO reports of locker room friction/drama...

I'll take my hand off the emotional emergency brake.
Until then... I'll just try to keep playing the cello with crossed fingers (ouch).

In all seriousness, I thought this happened last year. People like underdawgs.

I have a strict rule when drinking. I always have to end on a odd number, and that number is never 1.

This was my thread to be upbeat and lighthearted on, but you raise a very good point.

The coaching staff is a big unknown. They aren't very experienced in their current roles and don't have the greatest resumes.

My fear is that they will get lambasted if our record doesn't meet the high expectations that have been set. And Clem, they will be easy targets for ridicule if we reach such a point. I'm tired of having initial questions about coaches while others are praising them only to turn around and have to defend them when the masses revolt and call for their heads.

I really hope that it doesn't come to that once again. I am more confident this time because we have so much more talent and I really believe that Dorsey is a great leader who is relentless in trying to improve the team.

The OBJ trade put it over the top for me. He is a true superstar and he should make everyone else better. We are loaded on offense and the defense should be a bit better. We still need help in the secondary, but it's a process.

I do have one more concern in regards to how much we will improve, but I will hold off on that one for now.

Why? Everyone knows it's Baker and the reason is because he won't work out with a QB guru. You've mentioned it at least a dozen times.

Truth be told, I'm somewhat concerned by it as well. But probably not for exactly the same reasons. I wish we had more information as to why he won't. Has he done it before and it didn't work for him? Does he feel he can get what he needs from Freddie and the other coaches, more than he can get from a few summer workouts?

The biggest threat to success this upcoming season is Baker going into a sophomore slump. I'm not worried about the coaches. I'm worried about Baker getting too Hollywood, letting it all get to his head, and not recognizing that he'll get figured out and will need to be ready for it. Nothing has changed in regards to what the NFL game is all about. It's about the QB. You can have 8 HOF receivers on the team. It's still all about the QB.

Baker's play will determine how far the team will go next year.

J/C

I'm not worried about any innumerable potential catastrophes derailing the team. The team showed last year that they refuse to own any of the losing baggage that the Browns have been carrying for 20 years. The "same old Browns" mentality is still lingering in spots within the fanbase. Winning will cure it.

As far as the America's Team label. Realistically all of these Band Wagon hangers' on will become Vulchers if we go sub 500. I would not embrace any of this media glad-handing.

I like how EveDawg said it. The Brown's are Cleveland's team. But if you're not in Cleveland but have an Orange and Brown state of mind that counts too.

If you don't know the struggle then you can't share in the glory.

HOW does one figure out a QB that throws all over the field, and accurate at that.

You DON'T. You try to slow it down.

GOOD LUCK....