The Cleveland Browns are no strangers to drama - but this week, even by their standards, things got a little wild.
It started with reports that Mike McDaniel, one of the more innovative offensive minds in the league, had taken himself out of consideration for the Browns’ head coaching vacancy. And not just Cleveland - McDaniel reportedly withdrew from head coaching talks with the Ravens and Raiders as well, plus any offensive coordinator options on the table. That’s a big move, and it left Cleveland once again in the spotlight - though not for the reasons fans would hope.
The Browns, of course, have long been the butt of NFL jokes. But while some teams manage to spin chaos into compelling storylines or even redemption arcs, Cleveland’s version often feels more like a long-running tragedy with brief flashes of hope. This latest chapter only adds to that legacy.
Then came the next twist: Baker Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall pick and once the face of the franchise, took a not-so-subtle shot at his former head coach, Kevin Stefanski. The comment stirred up plenty of reaction, both from fans and around the league. Some saw it as Mayfield speaking his truth, others viewed it as unnecessary pot-stirring.
But when someone like Joe Thomas - a Hall of Famer and one of the most respected voices in Browns history - weighs in, people tend to listen. Thomas has always been a steady presence in Cleveland, even through the franchise’s most turbulent times. If he’s offering perspective, Browns fans are going to take it seriously.
It’s another reminder that in Cleveland, the story is never just about football. It’s about personalities, history, and the never-ending search for stability in a franchise that always seems to be chasing it.