For the better part of two decades, I have likened Cleveland Browns fans to masochists on a mission. In a weird way, these devotees of the Clowns actually like being butt-of-the-joke underdawgs. They embrace the embarrassment as a badge of honor, built on years of refusing to bail on their team despite the bone-headed decision-making of bad management.
Perhaps it is a coping mechanism, but even as Browns fans talk Super Bowl, deep down they know the best they can hope for is to celebrate a Pro Bowl player or two. Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett and Joe Thomas substitute for championship rings.
The Factory of Sadness belches smoke and mirrors,
fooling fans into believing every Dawg has its day, but Cleveland’s home stadium is just as much “Animal House,” the 1978 comedy from which comes the line, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?” as a young Kevin Bacon gets paddled during a fraternity hazing scene.
The Browns selected Johnny Manziel in the first round of the 2014 draft.
Thank you, sir, may I have another?
The Browns traded for serial “massagynist” Deshaun Watson.
Thank you, sir, may I have another?
The Browns thought Shedeur Sanders was an acceptable answer.
Thank you, sir, may I have another?
But the times they are a changin.’ It is possible, even probable, that Browns fans finally are fed up. I read it online, hear it at church, see it on snarky T-shirts.
“I’m done with them.”
To be clear, I do not encourage Cleveland fans to switch their allegiance from the Browns to, say, their heartbreak doppelganger the Buffalo Bills. I also do not discourage it. But there is something to be said for showing the resolve to rise from the canvas after repeated knockdowns. Browns fans are as faithful as they are fatuous.
But how much more can one fanbase take? The latest bad comedy act is the quarterback competition between Watson and Sanders, which reached a resolution Aug. 24 with coach Todd Monken picking Watson to open the season as the starting QB.
Set aside for a moment that Watson, the central player in one of the worst trades in NFL history, has been a bust since coming over from Houston in March of 2022. And that he has little use for Cleveland fans, comments he has since apologized for. What does it say of Sanders’ abilities if he cannot beat out a 30-year-old alleged sexual predator who has never shaken the rust from having missed 1½ seasons due to numerous accusations of misconduct and more time off due to injuries?
Maybe it says Sanders is what many of us thought he was coming out of college, an NFL backup at best. Or maybe there is something more conspiratorial at play? Something like Browns owner Jimmy Haslam demanding that Monken start Watson so that Haslam receives at least some return on his investment for the five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract the Browns gave him.
Regardless, Browns fans are tired of the carnival act.
But wait, hope is on the horizon! The Browns are building a new $2.6 billion domed stadium in Brook Park, by the Cleveland airport and a Ford engine plant. It is the most expensive stadium ever designed for a minor-league team, paid for by Haslam ($1.75 billion from his stash of about $10 billion, how generous) as well as an estimated $245 million from Brook Park city tax revenues. The state of Ohio is scheduled to kick in $600 million by way of residents’ unclaimed funds, but that money is being held up by court order. Finally, a win.
As for this season? I predict no more than four wins, which should secure a top-three draft pick, which the Browns probably will use to take a kicker.
Thank you, sir, may I have another?
Another sign of the college football Apocalypse
Speaking of the Browns, their brush with anything-but-greatness now extends to college football. Cleveland waived tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who agreed to play for LSU in 2026 should he clears waivers.
What?!
It’s true. Wright is the first player to have an agreement to play in college after signing with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles after the draft and then was claimed on waivers by the Browns on Aug. 11.
“Man, isn’t this s--- crazy?” Monken said when asked about Wright’s situation. “I don’t even know what to say. I wondered why [LSU coach] Lane Kiffin reached out to me a week ago; now I know. I didn’t call him back. I guess I should have.”
Wright played for Kiffin at Ole Miss in 2024 and 2025. Last season, he had 39 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns for the Rebels. He didn’t appear in either of Cleveland’s first two preseason games.
Wright entered the transfer portal after he and a group of athletes who filed a lawsuit in Louisiana were granted a temporary restraining order to return to college for one more season.
Listening in
“Darth Vader had more fun.” – PGA Tour player Wyndham Clark after holding off crowd favorite Rory McIlroy to win the BMW Championship Aug. 23 in St. Louis.
Off-topic
I recently rode the buswith the Hilliard Darby football team for the Panther’s season opener at Lancaster, something I’ve wanted to do for 30 years. Nothing makes you feel old like hanging with teens for the day, but it also makes you feel young again, remembering what it was like to be 17 with few life worries beyond trying to get the jersey over your shoulder pads. Darby won, 20-15 after trailing 9-0 at halftime. Well done by both teams.
Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at roller@dispatch.com and on X.com at @rollerCD.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Another Cleveland Browns quarterback disaster pushes fans to the edge
