5 Reasons Why 2013 Will Be a Good Year to Be a Cleveland Browns Fan

If you consider yourself a Cleveland Browns fan, then you undoubtedly understand the meaning of heartache.

A suffering breed of loyal men and women, Browns fans have been on a life-long journey to emerge from the rip tides of the NFL. With dreams of Courtney Brown and Tim Couch dancing together in a room full of first-round pick money, most Browns fans have been waiting for a reason to smile once again.

Arguably the most outspoken and toughest fans out there, Browns supporters are hungry for a new start. And even with all the Jimmy Haslam drama going on, the 2013-14 season could be the start of something special for the beloved Brownies.

Behind an innovative, charismatic head coach and a defensive unit stacked with young talent, the Cleveland Browns seem to finally be headed in the right direction.

Now, I ask all of you to join me. Put all of the negatives from the past away, and together, let's take a look at five reasons why it will be good to be a Browns fan next season.

The Man with the Visor: Rob Chudzinski

Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Rob Chudzinski, the latest head coach of the Cleveland Browns franchise, understands the suffering and disappointment Browns fans have endured over the years.

An intelligent young man who wants to surround himself with the best possible talent, Chud brought along Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator and Ray Horton on the defensive side of the ball.

While Chud may not have a long-running coaching pedigree, over the time he's spent in the league, he has been labeled an offensive guru who is always able to get the most out of the players on his roster. With a young offense and a dynamic defense at his disposal, Browns fans should be damn excited about having this man on their sidelines next season.

The Ray Horton, Barkevious Mingo Connection

Barkevious Mingo, the most talked about player not named Brandon Weeden on the Browns' roster, is stirring up quite a buzz.

He's electrifying, loves to get after the quarterback and has all of the physical tools to become a dominant NFL pass-rusher. But putting his skill set aside for a second, I believe the most exciting part about Mingo joining the Browns is that he will be paired up with one of the game's best young defensive minds in Ray Horton.

Horton, a 3-4 specialist, has been prepping this young man to become a game-altering force of nature. Utilizing his strengths and building on his weaknesses, Mingo will have every opportunity to become the elite playmaker Browns fans desperately need him to be.

With Horton coaching up this talented young man, the sky will truly serve as the limit to what he can do on Sundays. With a little luck and some great coaching, maybe Mingo can sack away the ghost of Courtney Brown in 2013 and beyond.

The Season of Brandon Weeden

Whether you hate Brandon Weeden, or think he has a chance to be a solid NFL quarterback, all Browns fans should be excited about watching him play this season.

Unlike last season, this year Weeden will be forced to show off to keep his job. With the additions of Jason Campbell and more recently Brian Hoyer, the pressure has been cranked up on Weeden even before camp has begun.

For all of the negative lingo thrown around when talking about his game, Weeden was still a rookie last season. Even if he is a handful of years older than most rookie starters, this guy was thrown into a less-than-stellar situation in one of fastest-paced professional sports leagues on earth.

With the 2013-14 season already being considered his make-or-break year, Browns fans should hold hands and together get excited about this experiment.

If he fails, this new regime owes him nothing, and the team will move on to draft a quarterback who fits its scheme. But if Weeden excels under Chudzinski and Turner, Browns fans will be glad they have a player on their roster who can move the chains and help the team win games.

The Factory of Sadness Has Been Renamed

With news surfacing saying that Cleveland Browns Stadium has been renamed FirstEnergy Stadium, this wonderful piece of information should serve as a good omen for Browns fans.

While there is a rich history behind the stadium's old name, this new title could help the team mentally break away from the "factory of sadness" nickname it has generated since the team resurfaced in 1999.

Finally with a new name and the old signage gone, Browns fans should look forward a new era in their stadium. Let's say it all together! So long Cleveland Browns Stadium, hello FirstEnergy!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

The best part about having young players with a ridiculous amount of potential stashed away on your roster is that in due time, they will break out as individuals.

Guys like Josh Gordon, Jabaal Sheard, Jordan Cameron and Trent Richardson all have a real shot to break through the clutter and make an impact for the Browns this season.

When the roster has a bunch of quick, dynamic athletes on both sides of the football, the team automatically has a chance to win each and every game. While this season should be looked at as a growth year, Browns fans have to be thrilled about the talent they have accrued and the coaches that have been put in place to help this process move along.

It's time to understand, that for all of the negativity and chaos surrounding the organization, at least you aren't the Jacksonville Jaguars or Oakland Raiders. For Browns fans, there is a brightly shining light burning at the end of the tunnel, and sooner than later, they will all get to witness just how bright it truly is.