Written by Richard Hanes

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The name of this website says it all.  "The Cleveland Fan."  At the heart of all of the writing, conversation, research, and posting is the fact that we are all fans of Cleveland sports and the city itself.  For far too long "The Cleveland Fan" has been robbed of one its basic emotions.  Joy.  Sundays at Cleveland Browns stadium, since their return in 1999, have been anything but fun.  Sure the tailgate scene is amazing and we have had a winning season or two, but overall attending Browns games at the stadium are usually painful.  Browns fans have been tortured and forced to watch bottom of the barrel football for over a decade and its time to put an end to this.

How can we do that you ask? 

Draft Robert Griffin the Third. 

Make it happen.  I don't really care how it happens, but make it happen.  Its time to bring excitement back to the shores of Lake Erie and wake up the sleeping giant that is the Cleveland Browns franchise.  Stockpiling picks and drafting cornerbacks, or offensive linemen every single April won't accomplish this.  Drafting the face of your franchise, a game changer, someone with marketing appeal both on and off the field will.  Its time.  The fans of this franchise are nearing the end of their rope.  They need a player that they can get behind.  A player that they want to look forward to watching on Sundays.  A player that makes them believe he can win games for them.  An offensive tackle (as good as Joe Thomas is), a Wide Receiver, or a cornerback (Yes I still love Joe Haden) can only do so much.  We need our Kobe Bryant.  Our Albert Pujols.  Our Aaron Rodgers.  We need our leader.  Someone that will have the ball in his hand for 50+ snaps a game.  Someone that has the potential to be elite at football's most important position.

But what if he is a bust?!

He might be, but he also might be the next Donovan McNabb or Steve Young.  RGIII has that type of talent.  He has that type of mental make-up. 

But this city can't get behind an African-American QB! (Yes some people actually throw this out there on twitter, not many, but some)

I call complete BS.  Cleveland has supported African-American athletes since Larry Doby broke the American League color barrier in baseball.  We still do today in the new face of the Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving.  The second RGIII says how much he wants to win for this city (which he would if drafted by us) and goes out there and makes a few jaw-dropping plays, all you will see is #10 Browns jerseys everywhere (No not old Quinn jerseys either).  People who honestly think race matters here are foolish.  Its about how you play the game and represent this city.  Period.  If you love Cleveland we love you back.  You become one of us.

But he needs weapons!

Yes he does.  The Browns still need to get weapons at WR and at RB for us to be a playoff team, but you are in a position now to draft elite potential at QB.  You don't pass that up.  You can't assume you will ever have the assets to take this shot again in the next few years.  Even if we did, do you really think Matt Barkley wants to bring his west coast attitude to the shores of Lake Erie next year? I would argue he would prefer not to.  RGIII comes from a program that is not a national powerhouse.  He helped shape a program that went 4-8 in 2008 to 10-3 in 2011 including wins over three top 25 teams and a bowl win.  He has shown he can help a struggling program/team and be apart of the solution.  I think he can bring this attitude to the Browns and help turn our fortunes around.  We still need to focus on getting him play-makers, but lets secure him first.

But he doesn't fit the west coast offense!

How do you know this?  Have you watched him try to run one?  Have you sat down with him and talked about the finer points of the west coast offense?  I doubt it.  Who knows what this kid can do.  As long as the Browns are smart and tweak their offensive game-plan slightly to highlight RGIII's strengths, (mobility/vertical passing game) I believe this kid is special enough to pick up whatever offense he is asked to learn.

But we will have to trade our entire draft and next year's to get him!

I really don't think we will.  To guarantee that we secure the services of RGIII we may have to move up to the #2 pick, but it might not be as expensive as first thought.  I have heard that we have offered our #4 pick, 2nd rd, and 5th rd pick in this year's draft plus a 2013 2nd rd pick.  That means we keep the 22nd pick in 2012 and really the rest of this year's draft.  That means we keep our 1st rd pick next year.  Is a couple 2nd rd picks worth not taking a shot at a franchise changing player?  I don't think so.  Also it may cost even less.  If Peyton Manning decides to go to Washington (yes he was just released from the Colts) the cost could be significantly less.  Heck we might even be able to stand pat at 4 and just select him.  Even if we have to trade up and lose a couple 2nd rd picks and a 5th are you really worried about possibly losing out on the next David Veikune, Montario Hardesty, Brian Robiskie, Larry Asante, or Brandon (Lockdown) McDonald?  I'm not.  Ill roll the dice that RGIII can change the fortunes of my franchise.  Even if he doesn't I am no worse off than I am today.  You have to take a shot at an elite player when you can.

RGIII brings so much potential to the table outside of his football ability as well.  This goes beyond the X's and O's and on field performance.  Imagine Kyrie Irving and RGIII in the same city.  If RGIII does pan out those are two stars that will help boost our city's sports reputation nationally and our economy on game days.  Would Morris Claiborne have this effect? ..... The Browns have to notice the increased number of empty orange seats on game day.  Would Trent Richardson or Justin Blackmon solve this? .....  Do you know what would solve that?  A franchise QB.  Fans would get excited again to watch football on Sundays.  The muni lot would be buzzing not just because the next flip cup game was starting, but because the Browns were playing, and RGIII was facing off against Ben Roethlisberger on Monday night football.  Do you know who free agents like to sign with?  Teams that have a good leader and a play-maker at QB. 

Sure there is some risk here.  There is with every pick, but the upside so astronomically outweighs the downside how can you not take your shot.

I'm tired of not having a franchise player (no offense Phil Dawson). 

The Browns can not afford to pass this opportunity up. 

Its time to make Sunday Funday again on the shores of Lake Erie.