Cleveland Browns: Will They Ever Return To Prominence?

The Browns have had a Dickens-esque two years: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Many fans remember the tremendous highs from that miraculous 2007 season and heading into the 2008 season.

They also remember the typical lows that many Browns fans know and loathe during last season.

Everything in 2008 that could go wrong did go wrong. Injuries, blown leads, huge disappointment, sideline arguments, even issues at the top.

Clearly it seems that the Browns could not handle success. Thus, change had to come.

Enter Eric Mangini and George Kokinis.

The Mangenius was let go in NYC after the Brett Favre meltdown. He brings tremendous knowledge and passion for the game, not to mention a more disciplined approach, something the Browns players clearly need.

Over the past decade, the players dealt with Butch Davis' no-tolerance behavior policy, and Romeo Crennel's lack of discipline.

Hopefully, Mangini can fit right in the middle, treating guys as adults but at the same time able to get in guys' faces.

Kokinis as a GM may be a decent front-office addition, being a former director of pro personnel for the Ravens in the AFC North.

He brings deep knowledge of the other teams in the division and a great ability to tell what it takes for a certain player to succeed.

One thing in the favor of Mangini and Kokinis is that the cupboard is not exactly bare as far as talent.

This roster is the same roster that went 10-6 in 2007, but had injury problems the entire year.

Even in a down year, the Browns managed multiple Pro Bowlers, and have talents in Shawn Rogers and Joe Thomas to build upon on each side of the ball. Kellen Winslow II and Braylon Edwards can't possibly have years as bad as this one.

As for the QB situation, Brady Quinn appears to be the favorite for the starting job.

He had success in his few healthy starts, showing an ability to make great reads and take care of the football, especially more so than cannon-armed Derek Anderson, who may be great trade bait if the Browns want more draft picks.

Most fans would believe that the problem with this team was not talent, but lack of coaching ability.

The job of the coach in some circles is to get players prepared and ready to play in the game.

After watching them play through half a season, it became clear that the Browns constantly appeared flat and disinterested. If a coach has no energy from the sideline, how can he expect his team to have any?

The old adage in sports is the team is a reflection of its coach. After watching Crennel on the sidelines for four years, people had to believe that his players would become disinterested and lackadaisical.

Well, they did.

Mangini at least has the potential to not look like a statue on the sideline. He has youthful energy which can be infectious and hopefully reinvigorate this group.

The problem with the new leadership at the top is that the former regime gave them little to work with: four draft picks and not so much cap space.

Kokinis' strength is finding players that fit into the system, and that will be tested this year more than ever.

As for the dead weight, fans basically recognize certain players need to go ASAP, including Shaun Smith, who threw a punch at Brady Quinn in the locker room.

When building a team, those kinds of players and their behavior cannot ever be tolerated.

The best news for the Browns is that they cannot be any worse than last year.

Odds are good that they won't lose every QB on their roster at one point again.

Odds are good that the quality of opponent this year won't be as high as this year (six playoff teams on 2008 schedule, five played in divisional playoffs).

As a Browns fan, it's easy to feel jilted and irked. The Browns have one of the richest histories in the NFL, yet they have played like a joke throughout the last 10 years.

Fans believe that the players don't get it: that when the Brown and Orange jersey is put on, it means something more.

It represents pride and tradition. It represents the prestige of a bygone era. It represents so many great players, from Otto Graham, to Jim Brown, to Ozzie Newsome.

Some feel that the players don't understand. Players need to be reminded what the Browns are.

To the city of Cleveland, the Browns are, have been, and will always be everything, no matter what anyone says.

The mood and energy of the city is generated by those few months at Browns Stadium.

The question is, will the Browns ever be a team that is worthy of its fanbase? Will they ever win a Super Bowl?