What will push this year’s Browns?

By STEVE KING

It was 30 years ago, during his Browns head coaching tenure, when Bill Belichick would preach that momentum – both good and bad – doesn’t carry over from one season to the other.

I rolled my eyes each and every time I heard him say it.

Well, of course it does carry over, Coach. What in the world are you talking about?

As with almost everything related to football, Belichick was – and still is — right. It doesn’t carry over. It can’t. These team – even the ones that stay “stable” – change too in the offseason.

I think of that a lot, and especially this week, as the Browns open their 2021 training camp. Based upon what happened last season, much – very much – is expected of the Browns.

Well, what did the Browns do last season?

They finished 11-5 and made the playoffs for the first time in 18 years and won a postseason game for the first time in 26 seasons.

But they didn’t win anything in terms of titles – not in the AFC North, not in the AFC as a whole and not in the NFL. Those things really count the most, obviously, so, in essence, then, the Browns had only a good season and were far, far from a great one.

As such, the Browns still have a lot of room to grow.

Will they in 2021?

There is no guarantee of that. Last year’s Browns were fueled by their embarrassing 6-10 finish in 2019. They wanted to prove they weren’t that team, that they were much better.

And they did that.

So, what will be this year’s fuel. What will be the carrot dangling from that stick, pushing them day in and day out?

The Browns had better have one, and if they don’t, they’ll be in big trouble. Remember, they won’t be sneaking up on a anyone this year. Instead, they will have targets on their backs.