A GREAT MENTOR, AND SOME REALLY GREAT NEWS

By STEVE KING

Some thoughts on two matters:

*I wish quarterback Josh McCown, who has announced his retirement, were still with the Browns. He would be the perfect veteran mentor for young Baker Mayfield.

Yes, I know Drew Stanton has that assignment now and does a fine job. He is incredibly valuable because of that.

But McCown, who played for the Browns for two seasons (2015-16), is the second-best quarterback mentor the club has ever had, trailing only Gary Danielson, who did more than anyone to help the development of Bernie Kosar over 30 years ago. Like Danielson, McCown is a great guy who is selfless, knowledgeable and a wonderful teacher, and teammate.

Because of that, McCown is one of my all-time favorite Browns.

He will be sorely missed in the NFL. The league needs more people like him.

*So, the Browns are going to stay in Berea for 20 more years, through 2039. That’s great, great news – so great, in fact, that I can’t even quantify it.

Ever since the original Browns franchise bolted to Baltimore following the 1995 season, I have learned to be a doubter – or at least a semi-doubter – on things. I don’t take anything for granted anymore. I never say never, and I never say always.

That’s especially true concerning the Browns. I didn’t see that move to Baltimore coming. No one did.

When the Browns returned as an expansion franchise in 1999, I’ve continued to have that nagging doubt – a very little nagging doubt, but a nagging doubt nonetheless – that they would, or could, leave again. That’s the way pro sports are now in all cities, even the foundational ones.

So the fact the Browns have re-upped to stay in Berea for two more decades, means they will also be in Cleveland for that time.

Of all the things that really matter with this football team, that matters the most – that there will be a team playing here. From what happened 24 years ago, we know that all too well.