The Cleveland Browns went from the worst team in the NFL last season to winning seven games this year, giving fans something they haven鈥檛 had in a while: hope.
WKSU鈥檚 Mark Arehart talked with sports commentator Terry Pluto about how the Browns finally started winning and why the team is an attractive destination for potential head coaches this offseason.
Surprise, Surprise
If you would have told Pluto a year ago that the 2018 Browns would go 7-8-1 and look like a team that could hang with division leaders Pittsburgh and Baltimore, he would have thought you were crazy.
Yes, heading into the 2018 NFL Draft, Cleveland was flush with first round picks, 鈥淏ut the Browns have always had high draft picks. That doesn鈥檛 ensure success in Cleveland,鈥� Pluto said.
But that鈥檚 just where we are in this New Year, talking about the Browns as a team with a solid young core of players and the potential for a bright future.
That core starts with quarterback and former #1 overall pick , who set an NFL record this season for the most touchdown passes for a rookie.
鈥淲hat a difference a quarterback makes,鈥� Pluto said.
But he also points to players like wide receiver , running back , defensive end and defensive back as big reasons for the this season鈥檚 stark turnaround.
In its division, Cleveland went 1-1 against Baltimore, 2-0 against Cincinnati and 0-1-1 against Pittsburgh. 鈥�3-2-1, that鈥檚 almost enough to build a statue in Cleveland,鈥� Pluto said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e actually a viable NFL franchise.鈥�
Coaching Carousel
Interim Head Coach Greg Williams went 5-3 with the Browns after the team in October.
But Pluto said he thinks General Manager John Dorsey will go in a different direction next season. 鈥淚 think he relished the idea of hiring his own coach.鈥�
Eight of the NFL鈥檚 24 teams fired head coaches this season which would normally be a bad sign for the usually dismal Browns, but after the turnaround Pluto says Cleveland looks to be one of the top jobs open this off season. But if not Greg Williams, who could take over the Browns?
鈥淭he one guy I know (Dorsey) has a relationship with is Mike McCarthy,鈥� Pluto said. Dorsey was in Green Bay鈥檚 front office when McCarthy led the team to a Super Bowl championship in 2010.
Green Bay fired McCarthy midseason after starting 4-7.
But Pluto also thinks Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh could be an interesting dark horse for the job.
鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 signed an extension (with Baltimore) yet. He has a contract for next year, but maybe he would get himself out of it? I鈥檝e always liked (him),鈥� Pluto said.
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