Some more thoughts on the Browns’ thrilling 24-19 comeback win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field on Thursday Night Football:
We always say that you will read things on Brownsdailydose.com that you won’t see anywhere else, and so it is again now.
“The highlight of the Browns’ win for me was Jameis Winston’s Christian witness in the national, in-uniform and in-the-stadium one-on-ones interviews,” said Steve Doerschuk, the former longtime Browns beat writer from the Canton Repository.
“The first was just before kickoff, the second after the game, when so many people continued to watch.”
Yes, it was impressive, whether you are, like Steve (and me, for that matter), a faith-based person, or even if you’re not, really. Winston, whose outstanding play on the field was the key to the victory, has done this type of thing before with his faith since he came to the Browns in the offseason, though never previously in the national limelight. To be sure, his words were heard by a lot more people Thursday night.
The Browns are looking for a longtime solution to their search for a quarterback who can get them where they want to go, that is, to the Super Bowl, and then to win it. Who knows, Winston may — or may not — be that guy, but anyone who has the courage of his convictions to voice his feelings to a national audience obviously has the leadership capabilities that a quarterback must have. So, with that, then, and with the fact that Winston has led the Browns to five-point home wins over AFC heavyweights Pittsburgh and Baltimore this season, means that he certainly deserves to be in the conversation, if not necessarily as the starter, then at least as a backup. Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey has done a great job thus far of harnessing Winston’s talent but at the same time getting him to stay within himself and reduce his mistakes, namely his interceptions, that have plagued him throughout his decade-long NFL career.
And think about this: a team’s quarterback is, in most cases, the face of the franchise, and Winston is as appealing of a player for the role as Deshaun Watson is an uncomfortable one.
Sometimes, the best things you find on a football club — or any pro sports team, for that matter — are not the things you ever set out to look for. When it comes to things of that regard at quarterback, these expansion-era Browns are due for some good fortune.
Think it can’t happen? Consider that a year ago at this time, or even just six months ago, absolutely, positively none of the deep thinkers on the Steelers had the aging Russell Wilson, thought to be pretty much finished, on their radar as even a candidate to be their starting quarterback, yet here he is as the man helping to lead a team that, going into the season, was not considered to be a Super Bowl contender (on the contrary, they were picked for last place in the North), to the division lead and the third seed in the conference playoff picture behind only the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.
And also, the Seattle Seahawks had no idea that Geno Smith, a veteran journeyman like Winston, would spend three seasons as their starter when they began their search for a replacement for Wilson after they parted ways with him.
Indeed, stranger things have happened, so the Browns, who have bungled their quarterback situation to the nth degree over the last 25 years, can’t afford to rule out Winston. If they do, then they will regret it.
Steve King
