"The Browns are a team of destiny because the Super Bowl is the anniversary of their mascot dog Swagger's death" — PFT Commenter

Take Slip·Jan 6, 2021

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The Browns are a team of destiny because the Super Bowl is the anniversary of their mascot dog Swagger's death

I got a little sliver of hope for Browns fans. And that's that you are a team of destiny... the Super Bowl is being on the one-year anniversary of Swagger's death. Their dog died a year ago on the exact date of the Super Bowl... Swagger one laid the foundation for Swagger two to come in and turn the Browns into a winning team. One year later, I feel like they get that team of destiny vibe.

Hot Take Football FireSarcastic

The Browns won their wildcard game but lost in the Divisional round to the Chiefs, failing to reach the Super Bowl.

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Win

Take Slip·Jan 6, 2021

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Big Cat

Kyle Trask's facial hair makes him look like a mediocre 6th-inning reliever, not a franchise quarterback

If you were scouting this crop of quarterbacks, Kyle Trask's facial hair is a huge negative. That is not a franchise quarterback. That is a... like a 6th-inning reliever. Maybe a long reliever. Not a good reliever, I'm talking about a guy who comes in when someone gets shelled.

Hot Take Football Medium

Trask was drafted in the 2nd round and never became a franchise starter, largely serving as a backup (the NFL equivalent of a long reliever).

Loss

Take Slip·Jan 6, 2021

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Big Cat

The NFL should let Bill Belichick or Nick Saban coach the Browns for their playoff game

The real solution, and I'm being dead serious on this: they should just be like, 'Bill Belichick can coach the Browns this week.' Wouldn't that be the greatest entertainment to be like, 'Okay, let's see how great of a coach you are, Belichick.' You show up, five days to prep the team. Browns fans would absolutely take it.

Hot Take Football ScorchingSarcastic

This obviously never happened; Kevin Stefanski missed the game and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer served as acting head coach.

Void

Take Slip·Jan 6, 2021·Hot Seat/Cool Throne

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Hank

JJ Watt's heartfelt apology to Deshaun Watson was staged for the cameras

My Hot Seat is the Texans camera crew... JJ Watt and Deshaun Watson were sharing a heartfelt moment of JJ Watt apologizing to Deshaun Watson and he said, 'I'm sorry we wasted a season for you.' And a fucking camera guy caught it... he's got to be pretty embarrassed about that because that's something that, you know, between teammates... or else everyone's going to know what a great dude you are.

Opinion Football Medium Subjective

While Watt's intent is subjective, it became a major talking point in sports media as many fans and analysts shared the suspicion that it was performative.