Browns Sitting In the Basement of Sportsline Power Rankings

I don't think even the most optimistic Browns fan expects to see the Browns in the Super Bowl this year, and the realistic ones will be quite happy with some steady improvement and maybe a .500 record.

But Pete Prisco's new offseason power rankings show the Browns no respect at all, ranking them dead lost, behind even the Ravens.

I'm trying to figure out how the Browns could possibly rank behind the Raiders. During the offseason the Browns have completely revamped and improved their offensive line, added a talented if aging Jamal Lewis and should be able to count on improvement from a very solid 2006 draft class. That should make them at least a little better than last year.

The Raiders on the other hand have traded away the team's best receiver, not fixed the team's massive offensive line problems and still show signs of being a dysfunctional team. Prisco's logic is that JaMarcus Russell will be ready to help bring the Raiders close to .500, while Brady Quinn's arrival ensures another complete rebuilding year in Cleveland. This is even though seemingly everyone agrees that Brady Quinn is more NFL ready than JaMarcus Russell, even if JaMarcus Russell has more long-term potential.

The Browns may be bad, but 32nd? It's hard to buy that.

 

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