1994. It was the last real Super Bowl hope the city of Cleveland had. Sure we can say the 2002 team made the playoffs. Or the 2007 team was a windy day in Cincy from making noise in January. But let's be honest, the Cleveland Browns haven't been the team you grew up loving for 20 years now. Twenty long, miserable years. From Couch to Holcomb to Garcia to Dilfer to Anderson to Quinn to Weeden. Twenty.... long.... years.
The team went into 1994 season following back to back 7-9 seasons under Bill Belichick wondering what they had. After losing in week 2 to Pittsburgh the Browns, led by Vinny Testaverde, ran off 5 straight wins to get to 6-1. An injury to Testaverde that week looked like it could derail the team but the defense carried the team to a 11-5 record, a playoff appearance and a win (the franchise's last). The only real problem with the 1994 team? The same problem the Browns often have had: the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns ended the season 0-3 vs. their rivals including a 29-9 playoff loss.
But there were high hopes. Statistically the 1994 Browns were the team's best defense in franchise history. Belichick and Nick Saban had slowly put together a tough group led by Pepper Johnson, Carl Banks & Eric Turner. The offense had actually scored more points than it had since 1987, often aided by field position from the nasty defense. Vinny was making some forget about the fallout of Bernie Kosar. Eric Metcalf was as exciting of a player as the NFL had.
Things looked bright headed into 1995. Sports Illustrated even picked the team to win the AFC. After a brief break the Browns were back as one of the NFL's best.
But things don't always go as planned. Sure the team started out on the right track in 1995 going 3-1. But following a home blowout to the Houston Oilers, dropping the Browns to 4-5, Art Modell dropped the bomb that is still being felt today.
The Browns team name and colors remained but oh so much changed. The fans loyalty not being one of them.
But where would the Cleveland Browns franchise had gone had the team not left? If Modell and the city had ever agreed to either renovate the old stadium or build him a new one? If the defense continued to grow into the NFL's toughest on the cold shores of Lake Erie? If Belichick would grow into the NFL's best coach in Cleveland, not New England?
Those questions will never be answered. We know what's happened in Baltimore. And New England. And Cleveland. None of it good for Browns fans.
But is it time for change here? After 20 long years is this team finally headed in the right direction? Did they finally find their QB in the draft this year? Or did they find him right out of their own backyard? Is one of the game's best WRs going to get off on a technicality? Is this the best Browns defense since 1994?
Better yet, is this the year it all changes? Weird things have been happening in Cleveland. Maybe the best way to answer that last question is to answer it with another question...
Why not?
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