Cleveland sports fans have been enjoying a banner year with a Cavs championship followed by an Indians team that's likely bound for the postseason. But for the Browns, the focus is on building for the future. The Browns open the season Sunday in Philadelphia, and WKSU commentator says there鈥檚 already a twist to this game that has fans lamenting and second-guessing.
鈥淐leveland has an obsession with quarterbacks,鈥� Pluto says.
And heading into the opening game of the season, fans are ruminating about former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, who will start for Philadelphia on Sunday.
鈥淥nce upon a time the Browns had the 2nd pick in the NFL draft. The quarterback they had their heart set on was Jared Goff. He was gone by the time they picked No. 2. The second-best quarterback, according to the experts, was this kid, Carson Wentz. The Browns decided they really didn鈥檛 like him very much and they traded down and piled up the picks. The team they traded with was Philadelphia."
Pluto says the Eagles weren鈥檛 planning to start Wentz this week. They were going to start veteran Sam Bradford. But, this past week, Philadelphia traded Bradford to Minnesota, whose quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, got injured and is out the rest of the season.
鈥淪o, now it鈥檚 Wentz against Robert Griffin III. Now, of course, Browns fans are sitting there going, 鈥榃e should have taken Carson Wentz!鈥� We always want somebody else鈥檚 quarterback."
A bad streak
Pluto says the Browns carry an ugly streak into this weekend鈥檚 game 鈥� they鈥檝e lost their last 11 season openers. 鈥淚鈥檒l let the Browns analytic department sit with that,鈥� Pluto says. 鈥淵ou would think you wouldn鈥檛 just lose 11 in a row because you鈥檙e not always facing a great team opening day. It鈥檚 kind of luck of the draw.鈥�
Trying to lose?
Pluto says the Browns are basically playing to lose this season. 鈥淭hey may not have to try real hard; that may come naturally. Last year they were 3-13. So, when you look at the new front office and new coaching staff, it鈥檚 not as if they inherited the 1964 Browns.鈥�
And Pluto says the team is doing what the Cavs did after LeBron James left Cleveland for Miami in 2010 -- accumulating draft picks to try to build some talent. 鈥淲hat the regular season then becomes is you鈥檙e almost running tryouts for all your young players.鈥�
A young team
Pluto says the Browns drafted 14 rookies and they only cut one. 鈥淎nd that wasn鈥檛 enough. They went out and claimed some guys who were cut by other teams. They now have 17 rookies on the 53-man roster. That鈥檚 a staggering amount. But they鈥檙e goal is, 鈥楥an we find some of these players who are going to help us two or three years down the line?鈥� Now fans say they鈥檝e been hearing this forever but it鈥檚 the only way you get good.
Still tuning in
Pluto says despite yet another dismal outlook, the fans are expected to tune in. 鈥淭he television rating on this for the opening game will come in on this like a Cavs playoff game.鈥�
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