Commit and Build
Josh Thornton
The grass is always greener on the other side… right? Well, at least according to a faction of the Browns fan base and some local media types. In this instance the “grass” is quarterbacksand the “other side” is Deshaun Watson. We’ve all seen the recent rumblings of Watson wanting out of Houston. Of course, that gave every Joe Schmo a reason to voice their yearning for anything other than Baker Mayfield.
The main reason for looking into trading for Watson that has been thrown out there is “due diligence”. This plays off the mindset that “Andrew Berry has to look into doing anything he can to make the team better”. That sounds good on the surface, but it isn’t a valid reason in this instance. If you go through life constantly looking for the next best option, you will never stop looking. If you never stop looking, you cannot build anything. If you can’t build anything, you are the Cleveland Browns of the last 2 decades. You see the issue here.
I am not an idiot, I swear. I fully understand that Deshaun Watson is good. Really good. I also understand that it would take a king’s ransom to get him, if he becomes available. Capital that can be used to build a defense that can help us win a championship. Offense isn’t the issue on this team, and that’s really the point.
Baker Mayfield is good… and has been really good in stretches. Is he great? Not yet… and that’s okay. He has proven that, if given competent coaching, good quarterback play will be the norm. The man’s arm talent is undeniable. While not necessarily a Mahomes type of thrower, there is no throw that I ever worry Baker cannot make. He can sling it.
The biggest question you need to ask yourself when determining if Baker is “the guy” is… can you win with him? If that answer is yes, proceed to question number two… does he fit with the direction of the organization. A yes to question number 2 moves you to the third and final question. Is he a leader on this team? Folks, a yes to question 3 and you’ve got your guy. Baker checks all three boxes.
At some point you have to commit and move on. I know it is engrained into the subconscious of most Browns fans that a quarterback can’t hold his spot for long. Its Cleveland… the organization that chews up signal callers and spits them out. If you still have that creeping feeling… please burry it deep, deep down inside you. Lock it up and throw away the key. We’re in a new era. It’s time to accept the fact that we have our guy. It’s time to stop walking on egg shells. We have bigger things to concern ourselves with…
Like where the statue is going to go after Baker wins us a Super Bowl.
Go Browns!