I was sitting in my living room yesterday, watching the Eagles-Packers game, and my Dad--out of nowhere--said, "Can you believe that it has been about 20 years since we had a good team? Earlier today I saw a stat about how Bernie Kosar took us to the playoffs in his first three years in the NFL."
I started to think about it, and he was right. Yes, Bill Belichick took us to the playoffs, but didn't the Steelers knock us out in the second round? Yes, Butch Davis took us to the playoffs, but didn't the Steelers knock us out in the first round? Yes, Romeo Crennel led us to a 10-6 record, but didn't we fail to reach the playoffs? If anything, we have been consistent-consistently bad.
How bad are we?
Our new team has been back in the league since 1999, and we are still the laughing stock of the AFC, possibly the NFL. It's truly debatable. For argument's sake, just look at the teams in front of us in the draft.
The Panthers stink, but they have been to a Super Bowl. Furthermore, they should have beaten us this year, but the potential winning FG hit the goal post. If we are better than Carolina, the game should not come down to a missed FG.
The Broncos stink, but they have won Super Bowls in the past.
The Bills stink, but they have won the AFC Conference four times--in a row! Furthermore, they beat us this year.
The Bengals stink, but they beat us this year. Furthermore, they won the AFC North last year.
The Cardinals stink, but they have been to a Super Bowl.
Do you see a pattern here?
Ok. That's being unfair. Let's look at some of the teams who draft after us.
The 49ers stink, but they have won Super Bowls.
The Titans stink, but they have been to a Super Bowl.
The Cowboys and the Redskins stink, but both have won Super Bowls.
The Texans stink, but they have Arian Foster, arguably the best RB in the league this year, Andre Johnson, arguably one of the best WRs in the league, and Matt Schaub, a proven QB. They seem to have some pieces in place.
The Lions stink, but they have Javid Best, a game-breaking RB, Calvin Johnson, arguably one of the best WRs in the league, and Matt Stafford, a quality QB if he stays healthy. Once again, they seem to have some pieces in place.
The Rams seemed competitive this year, and they won a Super Bowl in the past.
The Jaguars were one win away from winning the division away from the Colts this year. They seem to be going in the right direction.
The teams that I didn't mention are in the playoffs this year, or they have made it to a Super Bowl in the past.
Once again, do you see a pattern here?
Keywords: 2011 NFL draft, AFC North, Bernie Kosar, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
