章節 106: Pure Nonsense
If the competition for Lance comes from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Baltimore Ravens can handle it. Harbaugh has his own considerations. Should the Ravens draft a running back, or should they continue to strengthen their defense as they have in recent years?
Since winning the Super Bowl in the 2012 season, Harbaugh has been working to fill the void left by Ray Lewis' retirement, rebuilding the Ravens' traditional defensive powerhouse. Meanwhile, the offensive unit, led by Flacco, has been patched up for the past three years.
In the last three seasons, the Ravens have missed the playoffs twice with 8-8 records and made it to the playoffs in 2014, only to be eliminated by the New England Patriots in the second round.
So, is it finally time to bolster the offense?
If the answer is yes, how much is Harbaugh willing to spend to secure a running back?
If their competition is the Jacksonville Jaguars, things should be simpler.
However...
Harbaugh blinked in disbelief. "Who?"
Brandt repeated, "Cleveland."
Harbaugh: "Damn!"
Someone explain why the Cleveland Browns are suddenly getting involved!
Harbaugh took a deep breath and, unable to contain himself, burst out laughing. "Do they even need a running back?"
Brandt shrugged. "Do they have any position they don't need players for?"
Harbaugh couldn't argue with that. "Shouldn't they be focusing on picking a quarterback? Watson maybe? They should really be looking at Watson."
Brandt replied, "Coach, next year is the big quarterback draft. Jackson, Mayfield, they're all expected to declare next year. Maybe the year after, too."
They both understood the reasoning. Clearly, the Browns had their own convoluted plans, even if they were a mess. But when it comes down to it, Harbaugh just found it funny. He couldn't understand the thought process of the Browns' management. Do they not need a group MRI to check their brains?
After a moment of stunned silence, Harbaugh sighed. "Since when did running backs become so sought after?"
Harbaugh's comment was meant as a joke, but Brandt answered seriously. "Coach, this isn't just about any running back. He's a Chinese-American running back."
Harbaugh was taken aback, then a grin spread across his face. "And a damn good one at that." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Alright, I get it."
They needed a full game plan and time to consider everything. Drafting wasn't a simple matter, but that's part of the beauty of football.
Just as Harbaugh was about to hang up the phone, Brandt's voice came through again. "Coach."
Harbaugh paused.
Brandt hesitated for a moment but still spoke up. "Just a personal opinion, but we shouldn't miss out on Lance. I think he's just scratching the surface of his potential."
Harbaugh blinked, unable to respond before Brandt hung up.
Staring at his phone, Harbaugh fell into thought.
He knew Brandt well. Brandt was highly professional and objective, always offering advice from a purely analytical standpoint and never getting personally involved in recommending or influencing decisions.
Harbaugh had once been curious. Most scouts wanted their opinions to be heard, respected, and acted upon, but Brandt didn't seem to care.
Even now, Harbaugh remembered Brandt's answer.
"Do you know how many kids I see every day?"
"From middle school to college, sometimes even younger. They all step onto the field with different goals and dreams, and I genuinely hope their talents can shine on a bigger stage. But we all know it's not that simple."
"In the spotlight, we see victories, championships, and glory. But outside the spotlight, I see injuries, struggles, and frustration—things that never make the headlines."
"These kids are vivid and real to me. I know their parents. I know their likes and dislikes. I know how they are in school and on the streets. But once they enter the league, they become just a statistic, a persona, like characters in a game."
"Soulless."
"They can disappear at any moment. They can be sacrificed or traded at any time."
"That's not a dream. That's a business."
"So, I keep my distance, trying not to let my emotions get involved. I treat them as evaluation subjects, not as living souls. It's easier that way. I've seen too many broken dreams and wrecked careers. I don't need to go through it over and over again to be reminded of the harshness of competitive sports."
That was how Brandt maintained his professionalism.
And yet, Brandt loved the sport and the people who played it, pouring their heart and soul into the game.
With his qualifications and experience, Brandt could have easily held a mid-level leadership position in any team, sitting in an office without the need to travel constantly and live out of hotels. Even the Baltimore Ravens offered him a management role, but Brandt declined.
He loved being on the road. He loved being in the stands. He loved watching the game up close.
Like Icarus, he knew the consequences of flying too close to the sun, yet he couldn't resist the temptation to edge closer and embrace it.
Today was no different.
Brandt couldn't help but express his personal opinion about Lance because he admired him.
Even though he hadn't said much, that single comment weighed heavily on Harbaugh, more significant than any scouting report.
Standing there, Harbaugh was lost in thought.
What made this Lance so special? Wasn't he just another running back?
And seriously, what was Cleveland up to?
The Cleveland Browns, a team notorious for "tanking"—failing miserably by design—had a "formidable" record. With poor management and ridiculous rebuilding strategies, they were so adept at losing that they made even their rivals admire their "mastery" of failure.
Since the NFL merger in 1966, marking the beginning of the Super Bowl era, only four teams had never won a Super Bowl: the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and… the Cleveland Browns.
And looking at the current situation, the Browns' dream of winning a Super Bowl seemed even further out of reach.
Since 1999, the Browns have had only two winning seasons, in 2002 and 2007. They made the playoffs only once, in 2002.
In fact, forget about the playoffs—just winning a few games was a challenge. The Browns were perennial favorites to finish at the bottom of the standings.
They were the worst of the worst, the epitome of a "bottom feeder" in the NFL.
And this season was no different.
After losing to the Dallas Cowboys last week, the Browns remained the only team in the league without a single win.
Nine straight losses.
If you count the three losses at the end of last season, that's 12 consecutive defeats. Their bleak situation seemed never-ending.
Even fans from other teams couldn't bring themselves to rub salt in the wounds of Browns supporters.
Currently, the Cleveland Browns sit dead last among the NFL's 32 teams, far ahead in the race for next year's No. 1 overall draft pick. Teams like the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars can only trail behind, eating their dust.
So, here's the question:
What should the Cleveland Browns do with their No. 1 pick?
Could it really be… Lance?
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