2012 NFL season: Another year of promises for Cleveland Browns – NFL Feature
The Cleveland Browns are returning to action in the 2012 National Football League (NFL) season determined for a better run this year as they had been doing so in the past.
The fans are promised of better performance this season, again. They had been kept on the promises almost every year. They have become so used to these promises that the hardly show any sign of reaction to the claims that the Cleveland
Browns are aiming higher this year.
As a matter of record, the team has ended every single of the past five seasons with four or five wins. This was the reason for linebacker Scott Fujita to show the signs of frustration of the so-called rebuilding process that the team’s
owner had been claiming all along those years.
This year is no different, except for that the team now has a different owner. First, it was rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, who was the talk of the town. Now the arrival Jimmy Haslam, the truck-stop magnate, who has bought the franchise
for over $1 billion, is a subject of the fans’ conversations.
Jimmy visited the town soon after confirmation of the deal, and during his formal unveiling by the outgoing owner Randy Lerner, he promised to put back a winner in the town. This was in line with the guarantee that he will not relocate
the franchise elsewhere in the United States.
So the fans were promised of another phase of transition and rebuilding at the very outset. Interestingly, the Browns local fan community did not show any reaction to the change. They looked a bit confused and to a little extent saddened.
The notable point in the deal is that the owner is former minority shareholder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and boasts to be a ‘1,000’ percent fan of the team. The Browns can be sceptical about loyalties of the new owner. They nevertheless
know the change has come. It is not a matter of choice for them.
On the other hand, as Fujita puts it, the change is going to make the staff including coaches "lab rats like the rest of us (player)." Yet the second year coach Pat Shurmur insists he is focused on preparing the team, without any distraction
or fear of losing his job.
It often happens that new owner brings in people he likes or finds fitting his strategy for the franchise. Jimmy has already spoken of his desire to make the Browns consistent winners on the field. It may just be another promise at the
moment but if he goes for the rash changes, many jobs will be in the line of fire.
The transformation of the Indianapolis Colts is the best example to cite here. Although there was no change of the guards in Indianapolis, Jim Irsay – the owner – has parted ways with the entire group of officials, coaches and players,
who were part of the miserable performance of the team in 2011 season.
At the moment, there is no indication that the Browns might see a similar change happening here but the transaction marks another era of promises and assurances for the team’s fans.
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