One of the NFL season’s greatest narratives was that of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns, who had lost their star running back Nick Chubb in Week 2, were hurt and bruised. Despite this, they managed to mount maybe the strongest defense in the league and secure the fifth spot in the AFC by starting five different quarterbacks.
Browns fans are in a very gloomy place three days after seeing their wonderful season end at the hands of C.J. Stroud and the Texans. Though one of the most anguished fan bases in professional sports imagined a happily ever after, witnessing 39-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco transform into a pumpkin on national television serves as evidence to the proverb that you should be cautious what you wish for.
Worse yet, the Tampa Bay Bucs easily defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 32-9, thanks to the outstanding play of popular former quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Browns supporters must endure watching the Baker Mayfield fable
Following his Week 13 Browns debut, Flacco presented his case for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. He resembled Joe Flacco in many ways, the player who led the Ravens to the Super Bowl in 2013 and put together one of the finest postseasons in NFL history. With an average of more than 300 yards via the air in five games, Flacco roused a sleepy Browns offense and helped them to four straight victories and a postseason berth.
Flacco’s play made it possible for Browns supporters to temporarily overlook the elephant in the room that has transformed them from beloved underdogs to one of the NFL’s most hated teams, which is perhaps even more significant than him leading his team to the playoffs. Naturally, I’m referring to Deshaun Watson.
The Browns ignored Watson’s baggage when they acquired the unreliable former Clemson quarterback from the Texans two years ago, but we are all aware of it. Cleveland let go of fan favorite Baker Mayfield, who has since bounced around the league before finding a home with Tampa this year, in exchange for giving up multiple first-round picks and awarding Watson a contract with a record-setting $230 million guaranteed
The Browns haven’t even approached seeing a return on their investment in Watson, while Houston used the money from the Watson acquisition to revitalize their team. Even when Watson was allowed to play, he was nothing like the quarterback who reached three Pro Bowls with the Texans. The troubled quarterback has been hurt frequently, which is why the organization had to get Flacco in the first place.
In contrast, Mayfield has found success with the Bucs following a disappointing 2022 campaign with the Panthers and Rams. With Tom Brady’s retirement, the former top choice has thrown for nearly 4,000 yards this season, giving Bucs supporters fresh optimism. If not for a few crucial drops by his receivers, his flashy stat line against the Eagles—337 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions—may have been even more impressive.
Mayfield was in a race with rookie Kyle Trask to start the season, but he has already established himself as Tampa Bay’s long-term option at the most crucial position in the game. In the process, Bucs supporters have come to appreciate him in a manner reminiscent of that of Browns supporters, leaving Cleveland with Watson as their unpopular and ineffectual quarterback. Even worse, the Browns will have to endure this for at least three more years while watching Baker and the Bucs from a distance as they are unlikely to be able to realistically opt out of Watson’s deal until 2027.
