The Browns season is mercifully over and now we can look forward to what's next.

As Americans, we love an underdog. The nation was founded as such. A bunch of scrappy militia taking on the worlds most powerful army at the time and winning independence.  It's in our DNA.  As Northeast Ohioans, we double down on that. We are tired of being made fun of by others. We cheer for our perennial under-dogged teams with a passion seldom seen in the most bujee of markets.  So what's next for us, our Browns, our QB?

Baker Mayfield is the perennial underdog.  He has been told his whole life he's not this or that and proved them wrong.  Full disclosure - I am not huge fan of his, BUT I respect his toughness and I respect that HE wants to be the guy to bring glory to the Browns. I also respect he never complained about coming to Cleveland.  He was drafted #1 for exactly that reason. To be a hero with fans he could identify with directly and to change the culture of a losing team.  But this season was a lost one for him and our team.  Much of it not his fault if you're being honest about it. Some of it was, as were injuries, COVID, and incredibly bad coaching didn't help either.

I see people screaming with powerful opinions on Social Media about running him out of town, or he's not NFL quality, or the Browns will never get it right with him.  I understand fans are frustrated and he's the easy target. OK, I'll respect that opinion. But here's the question those fans seldom think about.  What is next? And here's one more.  WHO is next?  This town for some silly reason that I have never understood, loves the second string QB -  always has.  I remember when fans were screaming for Paul McDonald to play QB here in the 1980's and bench Brian Sipe.  Oh my.

Then it was Kelly Holcomb, as fans turned their backs on a nearly dead Tim Couch who was getting his brains beat out every Sunday afternoon. Then it was Johnny Manziel. Oh yeah, put Johnny in that will fix everything, and there have been others.  Those fans got what they wanted and the stinking continued. It's never, ever a good thing when the most popular guy on the team is the backup QB.  It never, ever goes well.  To his credit, Case Keenum handled himself very well this season, even when fans were screaming to put him in.  If Keenum was a real answer, there are plenty of teams that needed QB in June and he wouldn't be here in the first place.  If the Browns think he IS the answer for next year, those fans will get thier wish  -  again.

So, as much as angry fan is yelling, can you answer the question at all?  Who and what is next?  It would take a large miracle to get Aaron Rodgers, or Russell Wilson here, please move on. So we trade for Garropolo, OK.  How about next season when he's out for 6-9 weeks with some injury, that is his reality. You trade for Deshaun Watson, you want those ongoing legal problems?  Derek Carr? Possible sure, if he leaves Las Vegas for Cleveland?  Would you as a 30-ish rich young guy?  Then there's Matt Ryan. Sure the Browns could probably get him in a trade. But he's 37, and has been to a Superbowl.  I don't hate that, Baker would probably be in the trade, then you could draft a QB and let the pick sit and learn for a couple years. Also keep in mind, we are not the only team looking for a QB, we don't have dibs.

They say draft someone. OK, who?  There is no instant franchise changer out there. So if you dump Baker and draft a kid from college, then you have to go tell Miles Garrett, Joe Bitonio, Nick Chubb, Jack Conklin, Jarvis Landry and a ton of other great veterans that you're starting over. When you told them last year that our Superbowl window was open. You want to do that?  Yeah, me either.  Then you have to convince free agents to stay, (and that you know what you're doing), and beg new ones to come here.  You could make a trade and find someone off the current radar, but you may have to give up a Kareem Hunt and big draft picks.  You see, it's a lot easier to scream for a Baker change than it is to actually get meaningful change.

Be careful what you are wishing for. Baker had a GREAT 2020, and won a playoff game in Pittsburgh and took the Chiefs to the brink on the road. That's just fact.  He also had a terrible 2021 with a broken shoulder and countless other aches and COVID issues.  That too is fact.  So who is the answer? I have no idea,this is not a Baker problem, as a total team, this team needs to do and be a whole lot better next year to win. Even if Aaron Rodgers is here, because bad play calling and bad coaching is a problem no matter who is under center.  Also keep in mind, places like New Orleans, Miami, Denver, and PITTSBURGH are looking for QB's too.

Whether Baker is here next year or not, and I hope he is for many reasons, as fans we need to hope that the Browns organization understands fully that Baker alone was and is not the entire problem.  The whole thing needs to be better when it matters, in games that matter on both sides of the ball and on the sidelines.  If he stays, get him healthy and commit to him, and get the contract behind him and all of us.

Simply blaming Baker is an absolute recipe for 9-8 next year and watching Cincy win the division again.  Be wise Browns - and Browns fan.