People in Cleveland take their sports very seriously. We have just about seen it all this past year as far as Cleveland sports are concerned. On one end, you have the Cavs winning an NBA Championship and the Indians one win away from a World Series Championship. You could even add in the Calder Cup Championship for the Lake Erie Monsters. On the other end of that spectrum, you will find the Browns. What a magical season they had this past year. Even though all the other teams are doing so much better, it is clear that the Browns still run the city of Cleveland. Some way, some how, they still appear to be the most popular team.

I know what you are thinking. That had to be a typo. Believe me, its not. As much as I don't want to believe that its true, you cannot ignore the fact that the Browns are the most popular team in Cleveland. I listen to ESPN Cleveland every morning. I would say about 80% of the time they are talking about Browns related topics. Who they should draft, what player beat up their girlfriend that week, or that one player who could not lay off the sour diesel (Josh Gordon). That alone is a pretty good indicator. Sure they talk about the Cavs and Indians for a little bit, but a vast majority of the shows are centered around the Browns. I have no idea what Tony Rizzo and The Really Big Show would talk about if the Browns became a winning team.

Ohio is a football state. We live for our football. Football is that one sport that brings everyone together. Based on my childhood, every kid wanted to grow up and play football for the Cleveland Browns. At least at the time they thought so. Now you see a different quarterback get killed every week. Think of all the great players that played for them throughout the years. Bernie Kosar, Earnest Byner, Jim Brown, all come to mind. These players laid the ground work and created a fan base that would be almost impossible to destroy. I think many Browns fans remember when Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore in 1995. That feeling of not having a football team still lingers. Many appreciate the Browns being back and many teach their kids to live and breathe Cleveland Browns football.

One thing is clear. The Cleveland Browns need to show improvement next season. They tested the patience of the fans a lot this season. If they lay another egg next season, you can consider the Cavs or Indians the most popular team in Cleveland. When other teams become successful you start to focus less on the bad ones. All eyes are on you, Browns.