CLEVELAND — In previous times, 2020 for the Cleveland Browns would have been a throwaway year.
Under the black cloud of the coronavirus, you had a new coach and a new general manager trying to bring a new culture to a losing organization. And for the most part, you had to do it through Zoom meetings for four or five months.
"If ever there was a year for the Browns to have a mulligan, this would have been it," Jim Donovan told me during Monday's Donovan & Dino show. "No offseason, a bizarre training camp, no preseason, and then to open up on the road in Baltimore. You throw all of that in the mix and think to yourself that six or seven wins is a great year."
What Kevin Stefanski, Andrew Berry, their staffs, and this football team has done in 2020 is nothing short of remarkable. The Browns are now 10-4 after winning in New York on Sunday night. They are on the threshold of clinching their first playoff berth since 2002. And for all of us whose lives have been so dramatically changed dure to COVID-19, it's been, as Jimmy calls it, 'a beautiful distraction.'
"I think it's been a different kind of a vaccine for all of us in this area. That they have been able to go out and play this kind of football for a town that loves football and craving good football," the 'Voice of the Browns' added.
So with that in mind, check out today's edition of Donovan & Dino. In addition to the above, we talked about:
- Baker Mayfield performaing at a high level
- The Browns working to get everyone on offense involved early
- The Browns' 2020 NFL Draft class looking like a success for Andrew Berry
- Myles Garrett's comeback from COVID-19
- Avoiding the 'trap-game' scenario against the Jets
For more thoughts from Jim Donovan, check out "Jimmy's Take" by clicking here
You can watch the show in the player above, or on YouTube below:
More Browns coverage:
- What are the Cleveland Browns' playoff odds after win vs. Giants?
- Browns' Myles Garrett says he's still dealing with the effects of COVID-19
- AFTER FURTHER REVIEW | Dave 'Dino' DeNatale and Jay Crawford recap Cleveland Browns win over New York Giants
- How can the Cleveland Browns clinch a playoff spot in Week 16?