We have just sufficient time left for a massive year-end mailbag. Below's Component 1 on the Browns. Have a risk-free and satisfied new year.. Note: Sent inquiries have been edited for clarity and size. As one of the leaders of the anti-Baker Mayfield crusade, are you prepared to admit maybe he had not been the only thing holding the Browns back from being a contender?-- Mark claiming "he had not been the only thing," it seems like you're conceding he was at the very least component of the trouble. For the document, my largest problem given that I started covering the Browns is ownership. That's the largest point holding them back. Period. Ownership, possession, ownership. As for Baker, let's dig in on this a little , I created all last season the Browns needed to do better at quarterback. Last offseason provided an ideal tornado of occasions that allowed that to happen. It isn't often that groups have a possibility to land a franchise business quarterback. As a matter of fact, it's unbelievably uncommon. As last year progressed, nevertheless, it seemed at numerous times like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson as well as others might transform teams. At the time, all looked like an upgrade over Baker clearly Wilson currently looks cooked). At no factor did I advocate preparing a quarterback to change Mayfield. I assumed and also commonly composed that Mayfield was ordinary and last offseason provided an uncommon possibility to do far better than average. If none of those individuals appeared, the Browns were most likely mosting likely to need to run it back with Mayfield and also do the most effective they could. I recognize the hostility that Watson attracts from numerous fans, but he's a far better quarterback than Mayfield. That's why the Browns did this. I dream Baker well. I stated on different platforms I didn't such as the Carolina suitable for him. That scenario was a lot more unpredictable than Cleveland and also after watching the Week 1 video game versus the Panthers, I believed Matt Rhule was a dreadful head train. I assume Mayfield remains in an excellent spot in Los Angeles and also would be important to remain there also if Matt Stafford returns. The Rams have no picks as well as no real avenues to discover an eventual substitute for Stafford. Mayfield is the ideal reclamation task for them. Baker will have some great games and also all the Baker fans will indicate them as well as state, "See? I told you!" And also Baker will have some horrible games and the Baker followers will certainly ignore those. That's that he is. That's why he's an ordinary NFL quarterback. You can certainly do even worse, yet you can additionally do far better. The Browns attempted to do was exceptionally premature when he was below as well as had a great deal of growing up to do. I picture the last twelve month have actually been incredibly humbling for him. Currently we'll see what he finishes with it. I'm hoping he expands from all he's been through. I'm not exactly sure that would've been feasible had he remained in will the Haslam ownership be on the hot seat? They have about a 30 percent win rate during their time as owners. Should not they have to respond to some hard concerns? They are the one constant for the previous 10 years. When can we get new proprietors? Yes, I recognize that the team is not for sale however their inexperience is telling. Maybe the issue isn't the front office or training but the a follow-up to my question: Just how likely is it that Haslam holds the Cleveland location and also its fans hostage requiring a new arena or dome stadium when the lease expires in five years?-- Fred G. I have actually discussed the Haslams many times and also all your factors stand. I agree with all of it. As I composed in the previous solution, possession is what avoids success more than anything in Cleveland. Your arena inquiry is sharp as well as something I'll be enjoying, too. I have actually long believed FirstEnergy Stadium would certainly be the next stadium replaced in Cleveland regardless of the fact it is the most recent of the city's professional sports centers. The sight lines are dreadful Amari Cooper Jersey (https://www.buffalobillsoutfit.com/collections/amari-cooper-jersey). It's difficult to see the scoreboard as well as punts from a few of the premium seats. The location is awful. The entire task was as well as states were starting to get tough with owners wanting brand-new arenas. The fad had actually significantly become "if you want it, go develop it on your own. " At the minimum, proprietors were coming to be heavily, heavily spent in a few of these tasks. Stan Kroenke wrote the $5 billion check to build SoFi Arena in Los Angeles. Of the $1. 5 billion price to develop Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, only regarding $200 million was openly financed. The Wilfs, that possess the Vikings, paid concerning half of the $1. 1 billion to construct united state Bank Stadium in Buffalo deal set all that back 20 years. The Expenses are getting a brand-new $1. 4 billion stadium and also taxpayers will certainly get on the hook for concerning $850 million. It's an astonishing deal of public money. The lease with FirstEnergy Stadium runs out in 2028. I've spoken with numerous individuals entailed with stadium develops who insist the moment to start speaking about planning these things is currently, although it never ever really functions that the Guardians were negotiating a current lease expansion, the suggestion of developing a brand-new arena was never ever also broached. Team leaders were well mindful the city as well as state were in no setting to develop a new framework. The state also started $30 million for the Progressive Field renovations, which might cause complications as locations throughout the state turn up for point I'll mention: Minnesota is in setting to repay its financial debt for the Vikings' new arena about one decade early since of the success of electronic pull-tab games. Minnesota does not have actually legalized betting, but the "charitable gaming" run by charities created a path with the digital pull-tab video games to fund a big portion of the new arena. With legislated gaming pertaining to Ohio in simply a couple of days, I have actually seen quotes that the state can carry in greater than $5 billion in earnings within 5-6 years. Exists a path to make use of some of that profits to spend for new facilities? It only seems natural. Remain chance the Browns' brain depend on recognizes top quality defensive deal with efficiency has genuine value? -- David C. I'm going to transform this around on you. I believe this routine has actually purchased defensive takes on. They simply maintain selecting the incorrect ones. This group drafted Jordan Elliott in the third round in 2020. They took Tommy Togiai in the 4th round in 2021. They picked Perrion Winfrey in the fourth round this those top picks? No. But defensive deal with is the only position the Andrew Berry routine has actually attended to annually within the leading 4 rounds. They additionally made Taven Bryan their initial finalizing in free agency. So it's not like they're disregarding the placement, they just have not had much success. Togiai doesn't look like an NFL gamer. Elliott has been irregular at finest and terrible at worst. Winfrey might have a chance to be a contributor, however there are maturation your factor, nonetheless, I definitely believe if they take care of the massive holes at protective take on, a great deal of the other problems on protection will go away. I'm 60. I was 2 when the Browns won their last champion. Have no memory of it. I most likely have 10-20 years left, suitable health and wellness, a few problems. What odds do you give me of a Browns Super Bowl win prior to I bail out? -- Mike , I'm the idiot who forecasted Cleveland champions for all three groups in 2024, so maybe I'm the wrong one to ask. I do think all three groups are entering championship home windows, yet the Browns are most likely the least most likely to complete for a title in this period. Next year is a big, big year for everybody in Berea. It will identify if that's exact or silly reasoning. If it doesn't occur within the next 2-3 years, it could be time to choose a new group before it's also is it when I review or pay attention to Browns details it's always from the perspective that they are a top-tier contending group that makes a few essential errors that lead to losses? This is a group that has one championship game win in, what, 18 years? It would certainly be better to remove the dream and also look at the team honestly. -- Steven things can be true: You're right, the Browns have been a punchline for two decades. Yet I additionally believe a franchise business quarterback offers you an opportunity and the Browns have a franchise business quarterback currently. For as poor as this season has actually been, they're an interception against the Chargers as well as an onside kick recuperation versus the Jets far from having 2 even more victories and being best in the thick of the playoff race. However if Cade York misses out on from 58 yards at Carolina and David Njoku does not make that extraordinary catch versus Tampa bay Bay, they're 4-11. That's the appeal of the NFL. Good groups discover a method to win close video games. The Browns aren't a great team since most of the time, they have not found out exactly how to win close video games. I tend to believe a quarterback will help repair that. We'll , as the initial season with Deshaun Watson as a Brown is ending, do you get any kind of feeling of remorse from any individual within the Browns organization over the finalizing? I understand I'm not the only lifelong follower that rejects to buy this organization as long as that man is a Brown. -- Elwood 's absolutely your right. I get it, however you may not intend to hear my response. I don't think there is any kind of remorse or regret from the Browns Von Miller Jersey (https://www.buffalobillsoutfit.com/collections/von-miller-jersey). I think there was disappointment when the suspension was extended to 11 video games and also I've maintained all year the goals for this season changed significantly when the suspension was boosted. Yet regret? No. The Browns were searching for a franchise quarterback. They think they have one for at least the following 4 years. The Browns are 2-2 with Deshaun Watson as starter this period. Ken Blaze/ USA Today) Do you agree with me that Watson is the one that will determine Kevin Stefanski's destiny, nobody else?-- Rusty it by doing this: If the violation is a disaster following year, Watson battles and the Browns aren't winning, I believe everyone will certainly be gone. So in that feeling, I concur with you. And the $230 million ensured provides Watson a great deal of take advantage of over every person in the organization. He essentially manages everything. However I'll restate what I created in the days after the bargain was made: Deshaun Watson will certainly be the specifying minute of the Haslam household heritage as Browns this works, it will absolve them of a great deal of errors. If it does not, this will be their gravestone as NFL proprietors. It's a significant threat as well as they went all will certainly the Browns actually put even more effort right into winning football video games i. e. : running the football versus bad run defenses with 30 miles per hour winds) over different colored face masks and also cringeworthy social media sites celeb promotions?I recognize that audios like a petty dig at a group that's currently down. Yet I'm coming to be an increasing number of apathetic to this team since the front office seems to have such little respect for their very own fans, and it's somewhat disparaging to see them put a lot initiative as well as power right into getting followers thrilled regarding uniforms or cheesy star assistance * when we actually simply desire a winning football group for as soon as. * The JR Smith Dawg Pound Captain moment was extraordinary, so I value that. -- Jonathan B. I absolutely agree with you as well as went "old male shouting at the clouds" a few years earlier over the uniform nonsense. You recognize what teams make a large deal concerning uniforms? Groups that can not win. It's the glossy object distracting you from the calamity on the field. The exact same is true with last week's social media sites rubbish. You know what great companies do? They make the main point the important point and they win. Simply win. It won't matter what color the face masks are when you can I obtain a reimbursement for the $49,464 I invested in period tickets, flights, resorts, rental autos as well as Sunday Ticket packages on this group since 1999?-- Sky fans deserve so much far better than what they've gotten for 25 Kevin Stefanski is still a good play caller but not an adequate leader to be an effective head train? Freddie Kitchens was a really excellent play caller and acting OC, and also a great man-- but he simply had not been fit to run a team. Can not the very same hold true with Stefanski?-- Ben , it can be real. However I do not think it is. I actually like Kevin's even-keel character and also believe it's an ideal fit for the ongoing fire drill that generally exists in Berea. His unemotional feedback is exactly what an emotion-full company requires for equilibrium. I created after 2 games Kitchens was surging about at the deep end. It was evident that early he was not fit for workplace. That isn't the instance with Kevin. I think he is fit for the job. Next year will tell us a lot. I have actually preserved from the get go, like you, that this year was entirely created off by the front office which impacted offseason choices, like not signing any individual to an one-year offer in order to roll over cap for following season. Nonetheless, they have placed themselves in a poor place where gamers looking for extensions can go to the front office and say, "You are done in on winning, you need me on this team, and also if I stroll, you can't change me because you have no first-round choices. " Situation in factor David Njoku, that signed a substantial expansion and also has not done anything significant other than decline the pass against the Saints. So my inquiry is, this Browns team clearly isn't excellent enough to win-- exactly how tough is it going to be for the Browns to build a winner when they are basically between a rock and a difficult location, needing to overpay sub-par players without being able to replace them?-- Sam M. I 'd push back a bit on Njoku. He certainly has actually exceeded my assumptions. To your larger factor, the Browns have plenty of choices over the next couple of years, simply not first-rounders. The Rams have fewer choices than the Browns. Are their players attempting to leverage that against administration? Not actually. Njoku's agreement was Economics 101: He plays a premium placement where the demand much surpasses the supply. I truly do not think it's anymore difficult than concerns that are going to avoid the Browns from winning are the wage cap and also, yes, the absence of first-rounders. The truth they appear to have whiffed on a lot of mid-rounders in the past Anthony Schwartz, Tommy Togiai, Jacob Phillips, et alia) has created openings at placements where those people must be turning into crucial pieces. Rather, the Browns still require one more receiver, they need a thumper at linebacker and also they need to upgrade their protective deals with. There are various other demands, those are just the priorities as I see you think the Haslams are looking into obtaining Sean Payton as head train or do you believe they are pleased with just how this season has played out?-- David C. I think Kevin Stefanski's work is risk-free, so no, I don't believe they're exploring Sean Payton. He is still under agreement with the Saints, who will certainly want draft choices for any type of group interested in him. I additionally ask yourself if Payton is really an elite head trainer or if he was elite with a Hall of Popularity quarterback. He had one period without Drew Brees as well as ran for the departure. Currently there are reports he wants back in-- possibly with Tom Brady. Talking of Brady, Expense Belichick is. 500 considering that Brady left New England. I still assume Belichick is magnificent, but it's remarkable just how much far better a quarterback can make his train is the bigger priority following year for the Browns, replacing Jadeveon Clowney or enhancing defensive take on?-- Phil F. I like what we've seen from Alex Wright and also believe he can play. I'm additionally on document that defensive take on is the largest top priority this offseason. Place me down for DT over a Clowney replacement. Top image: Nick Cammett/ Getty Images).