A Browns fan, but winning won’t feel the same
- col-aaron-dorksen
- March 23, 2022
- 788
A few thoughts from the week in sports …
Cleveland sports fans have endured many stunning moments over the years, but the past week might have topped them all.
I didn’t think anything could trump the way fans were divided over Baker Mayfield: Should he stay or should he go?
However, Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said, “Hold our drinks.”
The Haslams went and did the unthinkable, going “all in” like never before in the history of the NFL to trade for the extremely controversial Dashaun Watson.
The Browns announced on March 18 in a stunning move that they’d agreed to trade the Texans three first-round draft picks for Watson, who will sign a five-year, $230 million guaranteed deal. Cleveland also will send a 2022 fourth-round pick, a third-rounder in 2023 and a fourth-rounder in 2024 to the Texans and get back a sixth-rounder in 2024.
The trade-and-sign announcement came just one day after Watson said he was “out,” eliminating the Browns first among four teams his camp was in talks with to waive the no-trade clause in his contract.
Even if you look at the deal just from a football perspective, it’s an extreme risk. It’s the most guaranteed money ever put into a contract. It’s also the most first-rounders surrendered since the famous Herschel Walker deal, which backfired on the Vikings and helped build the foundation of the Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty.
Debating Watson’s off-the-field behavior is a much bigger point of contention.
Watson faces civil lawsuits from 22 women, who have accused him of sexual assault and sexual misconduct during massage sessions. A Texas grand jury opted not to indict Watson on criminal charges on March 11, but the civil cases are ongoing and he still faces an undetermined suspension from the NFL.
My reactions to the Watson time line went like this: relief after he initially ruled the Browns out, then shock, followed by disappointment after the trade was announced.
I’m not going to stop being a Cleveland Browns fan, but if they win with Watson, it won’t feel as good.
That’s my take, but I respect the wide variety of opinions ranging from “I’m done being a Browns fan” to “I don’t care what the players do off the field; it’s a business.”
I’ve listened to compelling arguments for and against the trade.
People have pointed out that lots of icons in sports and entertainment who we support have had some major missteps in their personal lives. That list includes current Browns running back Kareem Hunt and all-time legend Jim Brown, as well as recently retired Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and current Bengals running back Joe Mixon.
They say innocent until proven guilty, but it’s extremely hard to believe all 22 women would fabricate their stories.
It’s hard to compare the severity of transgressions, but Hunt appears to have made one big mistake, paid for it dearly and learned from it. On the other hand, Watson was allegedly a serial abuser, and he’s fortunate not to be facing extended jail time.
It’s sad parents like myself have to discuss this controversy with their kids, but it also can be a teaching opportunity about the right way to act.
Quarterback has become the most important position in any sport, but unfortunately, the Browns have had a revolving door at that position since returning to the NFL in 1999.
Mayfield appeared to finally be the answer at quarterback in 2020, until he wasn’t in 2021.
Winning is the most important thing in pro sports, but at what cost?
The Haslams were so desperate for a Super Bowl they were willing to go where no owners have gone before.
Thank you, Baker
This past year has gone from bad to worse for Mayfield, but I thank him for all he’s done for Cleveland and wish him well in the future.
In 2020 Mayfield led the Browns’ first winning season in 13 years and then won the first playoff game in 26 years. He brought the moxie needed to help turn around an 0-16 team, and I’ll long remember the comeback win over the Jets he led as a rookie.
I wonder if in hindsight Mayfield wishes he would have gone on the injured reserve list after the left shoulder injury he suffered in week two of this past season or after he reinjured it in mid-October. The Browns and Mayfield were never the same, and “toughness” points clearly didn’t mean much.
Mayfield then compounded his problems with his immature comments on social media.
A lot of this off-season has played out like scenes from the movie, “Draft Day,” which ironically tells the story of fictitious Browns GM Sonny Weaver portrayed by Kevin Costner. Mayfield should have listened to Weaver’s advice: “Don’t Twitter! Do not do this to yourself.”
And with numerous transactions involving quarterbacks already completed, we’re starting to see what Mayfield’s value is to the rest of the league.
Parting shots
Earlier this season I wrote a feature story on the Wayne County Cagers basketball team coached by Doug Hamsher.
Hamsher started the Cagers Basketball Club five years ago to give high school and middle school players a second chance at the game if, for one reason or another, they didn’t play on their school team.
The Cagers finished with a 13-1 record, with the only loss a 64-40 setback to Cathedral Academy (South Carolina) in the NCSAA Tournament championship game at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Earlier in the tournament, they defeated 23-5 Living Water Christian (North Carolina) and the previously unbeaten 30-0 Rochester Rapids (New York).
Dalton’s Jack Steiner (12.6 ppg) and Norwayne’s Eli Stanley (11.6 ppg) were voted all-tournament while Dalton’s Ethan Stutz (13 ppg) also played well.
“This group had a special chemistry that every coach yearns for,” Hamsher said. “There wasn’t a selfish kid on the team. They played the right way and had fun.”
—The OHSAA spring sports season officially will begin for most teams on March 26. Best wishes to all athletes and teams.
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AaronDorksen.