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Dan Campbell, the Cleveland Browns and what could've been

On a 2019 pivot point and why it pays to challenge your preconceived notions.

Tyler Dunne's avatar
Tyler Dunne
Oct 17, 2025
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In Tampa Bay, yes, Baker Mayfield is currently in the pole position for NFL MVP.

The same Baker Mayfield that the Cleveland Browns drafted No. 1 overall. The same Baker Mayfield the Browns could’ve kept around.

And if this wasn’t torturous enough for Browns fans, there were the events of Thursday night in the other corner of the state. As Joe Flacco threw dart… after dart… after dart through the Cincinnati Bengals’ pulsating 33-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, I couldn’t help but think of a counterfactual that just might’ve changed this team’s fortunes completely.

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