The Cleveland Browns, coming off an historically bad 0-16 season, open the 2018 regular season on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home at FirstEnergy Stadium.
With plenty of history between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, fans on both sides know what's on the line in this AFC North rivalry game.
Who better to put it all in perspective than our very own morning show of Ken Carman and Anthony Lima?
The guys eloquently tell us how they feel about the match-up and the upcoming 2018 season.
Anthony Lima: The Cleveland Browns as we know it, with their legendary head coach Paul Brown at the helm, might have been born in 1946 as you know but their loyalty and unwavering optimism from its fans certainly have roots that date back to the year 1733, did you know that Kenny? Sure, football hadn’t officially been born yet, even though Brandon Weeden was entering his first year of high school at that time. It was that year that legendary satirist Alexander Pope wrote the phrase “Hope springs eternal in every human breast.”
Ken Carman: Pope, probably a known pervert at the time, probably had no idea that a portion of his phrase would be borrowed over the years by drunken fans of a violent sport, who happen to don brown, orange, white, and even chew on the occasional dog bone. You see, its Friday before the 73rd season of Cleveland Browns football and fans are once again optimistic that by Sunday afternoon at four o’clock the home team will have more points than the away team at the end of sixty minutes. Why so much positivity for a team that’s 1-18 in openers since 1999 and 0-13 over the last 13 years? Well it’s simple Anthony. That was then, this is now.
AL: Well you see Kenny, I feel like there’s a new feeling around these parts. From the demands of Dorsey for real football players, to the jubilation over Jarvis, the quarterback makeover with Mayfield and a new found hope with Haley, gone are the struggles of these past Browns imposters. Johnny Manziel? “Johnny Idiot Face.” RGIII didn’t even make it to game two. Dwayne Bowe and Kenny Britt making millions to sit? But Browns fans, that was then.
THIS IS NOW
KC: Openers have been as unkind to the Browns as the yearly winter lake effect squalls are to the snowbelt. From Rudd's infamous helmet toss to Shurmur's week one quicksnap loss. To Weeden getting trapped under the flag. To Chud's only opener attempt, a loss so sad. Mike Pettine was destined for failure. Two opening losses, a concussion his quarterback had gotten, which led to his own lovemaking going rotten. "Even the sex is better." But Browns fans, that was then.
THIS IS NOW
AL: For these Browns, ladies and gentleman, things are different. For the first time, Big Ben will meet a healthy Myles Garrett. 22-2 against the Browns, you say? Browns fans, that was then.
THIS IS NOW
KC: Antonio Brown thinks he’s gonna drop kick our punter? Britton Colquitt, he’s no Spencer Lanning! Browns fans, that was then.
THIS IS NOW
AL: In just over 51 hours from now, the Browns will kick off another season, and this year, it feels different.
KC: Browns fans, that was then.
THIS IS NOW
KC: Corey Coleman dropping key passes against the Steelers? He gone! That was then.
THIS IS NOW
AL: And just after kick-off, Kenny, 1-18 in openers? That won’t matter.
KC: 2-22 vs. Big Ben? It won’t matter.
AL: The Steelers, 6-0 edge in Super Bowls, you say? That won’t matter.
KC: The only thing that will be is our 53 vs. theirs. Our 53 with Myles Garrett.
AL: With Jarvis Landry!
KC: With Josh Gordon!
AL: With a real quarterback!
KC: With a real general manager!
AL: And real football players!
KC: They’ll be playing in front of a crowd that’s hungrier than any other crowd in professional sport. A crowd that in a close game with under two minutes left, will be deafening.
AL: Drawing inspiration from dawgpounds of the past. From the legends on the lakefront, Paul brown!
KC: Jim Brown!
AL: The “Kardiac Kids!”
KC: Turkey Jones!
AL: Bernie’s Boys!
KC: Ozzie!
AL: Clay!
KC: Minnifield
AL: Dixon!
KC: Slaughter!
AL: Langhorn!
KC: This is now, Cleveland! And the browns will be back this Sunday afternoon!
AL: The black and gold, they’ll be black and blue! Your time has passed!
THAT WAS THEN! THIS IS NOW!
AL: Let’s go Kenny!
KC: Let’s get the victory fridges going!
