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ESPN published a fun offseason article a few days ago titled, "100 NFL predictions that will frame 2016 season." (This past Tuesday also marked 100 days from the start of the NFL season, for those who didn't know). With 32 teams in the NFL, if ESPN were being fair, each team would have at least three predictions sprinkled in. To my surprise, there were actually three predictions posted about the Browns:
21. Robert Griffin III's name will be No. 25 on that jersey of Browns' QB starters since 1999; he'll start the opener against Philadelphia. But don't be surprised if, for the fifth season in a row, the Browns start their No. 3 QB in the season finale. That could be rookie Cody Kessler, who's expected to make the roster either as the No. 2 or No. 3 QB. -- Pat McManamon
59. Joe Thomas will open the season in Philly -- as a member of the visiting Browns. Cleveland's new regime has unloaded veteran players almost as a matter of policy, but none was a truly elite talent. Thomas is, which should keep him in Cleveland. -- Mike Sando
84. Terrelle Pryor will make the Browns' roster as a receiver, and will run, catch and throw the ball for Hue Jackson this season. -- Pat McManamon
Both of McManamon's predictions seem likely to come true. As for Sando, he's singing the opposite tune of colleague Field Yates, who last week said that trading LT Joe Thomas is the biggest looming roster decision for Cleveland. Sando had me fooled for a minute there, as I had to re-read his prediction twice to comprehend that he was pulling a switcharoo on us.
While we're on the topic of predictions, I'll try to throw another one out there -- in the spirit of the recent Pro Bowl news, besides the regular appearances of Thomas and TE Gary Barnidge, I predict that QB Robert Griffin III will be a Pro Bowler. The reason being is that these days, the top three quarterbacks don't even seem to go to the Pro Bowl because they are either in the Super Bowl, injured (an excuse), or too depressed that they lost in the playoffs. Griffin could get in with a sub-standard year. Remember that last year, we saw the likes of Tyrod Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater, and Jameis Winston in the Pro Bowl.