Dynasty Diatribe: A Different Approach
Torture. Heartbreak. Pain. Embarrassment.
The Merriam-Webster thesaurus has plenty of words to describe the 365, 24/7 sadomasochistic experience of the Cleveland Browns fan. Introduced to the Browns (and my entire sports fandom) by my late grandfather, I was raised to stay true to your teams no matter how dire the circumstances.
The majority of Browns Backers (read: any true Cleveland sports fan) share this stunning combination of undying loyalty and an impending sense of doom. Any member of the Dawg Pound will tell you stories of brown and orange heartbreak with soul-crushing accuracy. Here are a few of mine…
December 20, 1992: Houston Oilers at Cleveland Browns
The Browns, under head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Nick Saban, needed a win in this critical week 16 contest to keep their playoff hopes alive. Things were progressing well for the home team as they led 14-3 late in the third quarter much to the delight of seven-year-old Josh. Unfortunately, as I consciously experienced for the first time that frigid winter afternoon, last-minute heartbreak is a rite of passage when cheering on the team from the shores of Lake Erie.
As you can guess, the Oilers came back to score two touchdowns in those last few minutes, the back-breaking play coming on a 65-yard screen pass to Lorenzo White to set up the game-winning score. I was over at my grandparent’s house watching the game and nobody could find me for several minutes. Finally, I was discovered sobbing on the stairs as my initiation into the hard knocks reality of Browns fandom was too much to bare at the moment.
November 6, 1995: The Baltimore Browns?!
In my opinion, even the conclusion of game seven of the 1997 World Series is second to this creme de la creme of Cleveland sports misery. The rumors had been swirling of Art Modell’s plan to move the franchise to Baltimore for several weeks, but on this early November day the incompetent, broke owner made it official.
Watching that press conference was the stuff of nightmares for not only this ten-year-old boy, but the entire Cleveland Browns fanbase. Thankfully, nothing I loved so much had ever been snatched away from me and I’m not ashamed to admit I had a ten-minute shower cry that evening. Had I known what the next 22 years would have in store for me, I probably would have doubled the tear time.
January 5, 2003: NFL Wildcard Playoffs Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The last playoff game for the Cleveland Browns franchise. Butch Davis was forced to start backup Kelly Holcomb at quarterback due to an injury to starter Tim Couch. Holcomb responded by throwing for 429 yards, three touchdowns, and had the plucky Browns leading 24-7 in the third quarter. Yet, in typical Same Old Browns (SOB) fashion, Tommy Maddox led the Steelers on a late-game comeback and we once again lost to our Yinzer rivals.
A 17-year-old teenager – who thought he knew everything and was “tough” – would not shed tears after this heartbreak. My feelings of anger, shock, and sadness led me to stupidly pick up an old television remote and throw it at the wall. Sadly, my aim was awful and the remote went through my bedroom window… much to the chagrin of my mother. I learned a hard lesson that day about managing my negative emotions and always expecting the worst from my beloved Browns.
Baker Mayfield: A New Hope
There’s no reason to waste any more words chronicling the slow, downward spiral of the franchise in the almost fifteen years since that January day of sorrow, The Browns came into last Thursday’s primetime, nationally televised game against the New York Jets needing to end a 19-game winless streak in the worst way. Unfortunately, for the first 28 minutes of the game, a hapless Browns offense was starting at a 14-0 deficit and all of Browns Nation expected to wake up to day 635 without a win in another classic SOB performance.
The moment Baker Mayfield stepped out on the field, everything changed.
Sharp, crisp passes into tight windows. Accurately reading defenses. Pocket presence. Multiple scoring drives. These are not normal occurrences for a quarterback here in Cleveland. Mayfield not only ended a city’s losing streak, but his passionate, brazen, tough-nosed attitude and work ethic has captured the hearts of the entire Northeast Ohio region; present company included.
I had been on a financial boycott (no merchandise, game attendance, etc.) of the team for the last three years. I never missed watching a game on Sunday, but refused to pay money to eat a crappy sandwich from a criminally mismanaged organization. My monetary strike concluded on Friday morning when I bought a Browns jersey bearing the name of the Oklahoma product on the back. I’m far from the only person in the greater Cleveland area fired up by the emergence of one Mr. Baker Mayfield.
Don’t Let Emotions Cloud Your Decision-Making
You are probably wondering, “Why in the hell did he just waste 800 words discussing his loyalty to the Browns?! I get it.” Fair point. However, I needed you, the reader, to understand both my lifetime of agony and the cathartic experience I had watching our new starting quarterback last Thursday before I make the following statement. I own Baker Mayfield in two dynasty leagues and if one of my competitors wants to make me a Godfather offer to acquire the former Sooner… I’m accepting the deal.
Yes, I’ve been a lifelong, diehard fan of the Cleveland Browns. Yes, Baker Mayfield might be the best quarterback I’ve witnessed don the brown and orange since Bernie Kosar. Yet, I also enjoy winning dynasty championships. If a league-mate has my level of passion for the Brownies, or is a partisan of the Oklahoma Sooners, and is willing to trade me an RB1/WR1 like Melvin Gordon/JuJu Smith-Schuster along with a comparable ranked QB (Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Mitchell Trubisky) for Baker and an overhyped RB2/WR2 in the vein of Tevin Coleman/Corey Davis in a Superflex format; yes, please! “A Steeler?!” Again, I don’t let my deep-seeded hatred for those urine-colored rags keep me from making deals which bring me one step closer to hoisting up a trophy.
Use Your Opponents’ Emotions Against Them
Rookie quarterback Josh Allen was spectacular in leading the Bills to an improbable 27-6 week three victory in Minnesota. Allen showcased the athletic skill set the Bills hoped when they took him seventh overall accounting for a passing touchdown and two on the ground. Bills’ fans share the same optimistic, loyal to a fault DNA with us Clevelanders despite both cities’ bitterly cold weather and tough football times. If you took a late third round flier on the Wyoming product in your rookie draft and one of your fellow owners live and breathes Bills’ football then reach out to him/her. They will likely overpay to get the new starting quarterback on their dynasty roster.
The most important point to remember when attempting to sell-high on a player (particularly to an emotional owner) is timing is everything. Baker could get swallowed up by a desperate Raiders team in the Black Hole or Allen might toss three picks to an equally reeling Packers team in Lambeau on Sunday. The window to trade both rookie quarterbacks at their current peak value might only last for the next few days. You want to strike while the iron is hot and us Browns/Bills’ fans are still on cloud nine.
Conclusion
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; the specific market value of any player will be determined by the competitiveness of your league and the intelligence of the opposing owner in your negotiations. The intellect of said negotiating owner could be hindered by his unwavering support of a certain franchise and/or player. A smart and savvy dynasty owner takes the advice of my DLF brethren Leo Paciga and keeps a notebook on the tendencies of all owners in their leagues. Then, when a player on your roster has an abnormally exceptional performance, you can easily know if any member of your league highly covets said dynasty asset.
As of this writing on Monday evening, the trade market for Baker Mayfield has been relatively quiet since Thursday evening. Though, I suspect that will change by publishing. Remember, you are not turning your back on your favorite team/player by selling them for way above market value or acquiring a star from a hated rival. The most successful dynasty owners are able to separate these tribalistic urges from the goal of winning championships.
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