Thursday, Aug. 13 – The Browns will unveil their new uniforms tonight, but will they also have a new look with the way the guys wearing them, play? We’ll find out as the Washington Redskins come to FirstEnergy Stadium for the preseason opener. The Browns worked for several years on the design of these uniforms. A lot of time, effort and money was put into trying to make sure that every last detail was just right. If only the Browns had been that meticulous in trying to make sure that every last detail of the team was just right during that time. Indeed, it’s all well and good that the Browns have all these colorful – and numerous — uniform combinations now, but it’ll look as if they’re wearing ugly potato sacks if the results on the field continue to be bad. Sure, of course, it doesn’t really matter who wins tonight. They used to call these things exhibition games for a reason. It’s a practice game. But at the same time, the Browns have to begin to pass the eye test that will be given to them tonight by the best – and most savvy – fans in the NFL. Does it look like the Browns will be able to run the ball, something that is so crucial not just to the success of the offense, but also of the team overall? Will back-up Johnny Manziel look like a guy who at least has a chance to be the franchise quarterback some day? Will starter Josh McCown look like the steady, experienced, veteran quarterback the Browns were hoping he would be when they out-bid the Buffalo Bills to sign him in free agency? Will the tight ends and wide receivers, a real weak spot on the team for a while now, look like they can make productive, game-changing plays in the passing game? Will the defensive front seven, which was shredded by the run so badly last year that the team finished dead-last in the league in that department, look as if it will be better? Will the secondary live up to its billing as one of the team’s real strengths? Will the special teams, which were awful last season, look like they can be effective in flipping field position, as they are being counted on to do? Will Mike Pettine, who acquitted himself pretty well in 2014, look like he will continue to grow in his second season on the job? Will John De Filippo, the fresh-faced 37-year-old Youngstown native who is in his first season as offensive coordinator, look like he won’t get swallowed up and spit out by more seasoned defensive coordinators? Will the Browns look like a team that, barring a slew of injuries, will be able to compete all season – not just for the first 11 games, like last year – in the tough AFC North? And finally, will those new uniforms look like they were worth all the trouble it took to make them a reality?

Wednesday, Aug. 12 – Be careful what you wish for, because you just may get it. A lot of Browns fans say that, and then heave a sigh of relief, over the fact their team was unable to make a deal with the St. Louis Rams to get the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Rams wanted a king’s ransom – and then some – for the selection, and the Browns and Washington Redskiins, both of whom had plenty of assets to trade, bid against each other. The Browns got gun-shy and backed out at the 11th hour. That left the door wide open for the Redskins, who were only too glad to ante up a slew of high draft picks to make the deal. They gave up their first-rounders in 2012, ’13 and ’14 and their second-rounder in ’12. They wasted no time in taking Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III after the Indianapolis Colts used the No. 1 overall selection to get Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. As the Redskins and Browns prepare to meet Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium in the preseason opener, this has been billed as a make-or-break season for RG III. His career started out with a bang as he led the Redskins, who had been struggling for some time, to a 10-6 record and the title in the NFC East. Because of a sprained knee, Griffin did not play in a Week 15 game at Cleveland, which the Redskins rallied in the second half to win 38-21. The next two seasons were disasters as injuries, ineffective play and the inability of the Washington coaches to build an offense that fit RG III’s skill set caused him and the Redskins to fall flat on their faces. Wow! With all that, then, it’s good the Browns didn’t make that deal to get Griffin, right? Or is it? Let’s look at who the Browns took with their first picks in 2012-14, and with their second-rounder in ’12, all of which, in theory, they would have surrendered to St. Louis. Their first first-rounder in 2012 was running back Trent Richardson. In 2013, they tabbed linebacker Barkevious Mingo in the first round, and they took cornerback Justin Gilbert with their first choice in the first round 2014. With 2012’s second-round pick, the Browns got right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. Add to all that the fact the Browns, all these years later, are still looking for their franchise quarterback, just like the Redskins, but, unlike Washington, they did not make it to the playoffs in 2012. That 2012 season was one in which the Browns, with Weeden at quarterback, finished just 5-11. And while the Redskins were 3-13 in 2013 and 4-12 in 2014, the Browns were only 4-12 and 7-9, respectively. At least Redskins owner Daniel Snyder was willing to roll the dice, take a risk by trading for the pick to get RG III and try to get a difference-maker at quarterback. The Browns refused to even try. RG III will start for Washington on Thursday night, while the Browns will open with Josh McCown at quarterback. Who would you rather have? It’s certainly something to think about as you watch tomorrow night’s game.