If you’ve been reading our NFL 2022 Kickoff series, you’d know by now that I’d have a cool story, some jokes, or just something different to put in an introduction before we got down to business.
I don’t have that with the Cleveland Browns. It’s more of disgust than anything else. Now you’ve probably seen and heard your fair share of Deshaun Watson content by now, and that won’t be the priority of the next few hundred words. Instead I’ll focus on owning your brand.
In previous articles I wrote that the Jaguars and Texans have been irrelevant, the Jets are a laughing stock, among plenty of other things. The Browns play in a city nicknamed, “The Mistake by the Lake,” and wear the color orange proudly. They’ve openly decided to take on any player in legal trouble as long as they in turn provide the team with a discount. You can connect those dots.
This is an instance where winning does not fix everything. They’ve made a mockery of this NFL offseason while even finding a way to get around the loss of pay Watson would have faced during suspension, by creating a large bonus. We’ve heard conflicting things that maintain Watson’s innocence, while also saying he’s sorry for his actions.
Well, which one is it? It can’t be both.
For years, the Browns were considered a circus. They were the NFL’s version of being banished to SIberia. Once you got to Cleveland, your NFL career was approaching its expiration date, since no other team was to come calling.
Yet here the Browns are, once again sticking to their brand.
They shipped out former quarterback Baker Mayfield because of poor play. I’m sorry, correct me if I’m wrong here, but Mayfield played last season with a major shoulder injury when he should’ve missed the season. He was coming off a year in which they were only a few plays from defeating the mighty Kansas City Chiefs. Now I’m not a Mayfield apologist, but considering he was the one guy on the team that was willing to proudly represent Cleveland, it becomes hard to not be in his corner.
The real loser in all of this? The fans, as always.
With ownership blinded by pursuit of wins, they’ve lost all sense of perspective. Did the fans want this circus? They seemed perfectly happy with Mayfield and his now healed shoulder. Anything was better than being in the running for 0-16 every year. But now, those same loyal fans will either participate in or be forced to deal with their team and its brand.
Parents will have to be even more careful in which jerseys they buy for their children, if any at all. Charles Barkley once said, “I am not a role model,” which is fitting considering that would be a good slogan for a shirt with a Browns logo on it.
The Browns through the betting lens
To be honest, how does one even bet the Browns this season? They are without Watson for 11 games while having a ton of moving parts.
Does the offense remain the same with backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, or will it be different when the starter inevitably returns? What does Watson look like after almost two years off from football?
Running back Nick Chubb might be worth a look at +1000 on FanDuel to lead the league in rushing touchdowns, considering that might be the only consistent thing about this team in 2022.
Normally uncertainty can be a good thing, meaning we can create our own narrative and find a prop that fits that perfectly. To me, the only angle I find is one of chaos and quite frankly, that’s not something I can confidently recommend to you, the loyal reader.
BetBasics Best Bet
For our best bet, we head over to DraftKings to bet the under 8.5 win total for -155. Hey, it’s rich for me too, but the only way I see the Browns season is that it will almost certainly go down in flames.
I’m sorry Browns fans. I truly am. Out of all 32 teams in the league, I don’t know if a fan base has ever had to deal with so much losing and then once they finally turn the corner, the team becomes unlikeable too. It’s a bad place to be, but at least the Cavaliers will be fun again this year.
Considering the Browns play in the city known for rock and roll music, it’s quite upsetting that no sportsbook wanted to offer odds on a musical bet. How many times will opposing teams play Elvis’, the King of Rock and Roll, hit “Jailhouse Rock” this season? No matter what the imaginary number might be, take the over.