How close are the Browns to being a winning team?

In this episode of Afternoon Drive on The Fan, host JP welcomes Coach Riz to discuss the Cleveland Browns' potential for competitiveness in the 2026 season. The conversation begins with a brief, lighthearted tangent about the recent Diana Rossini-Mike Rabel scandal, where Coach Riz expresses discomfort with public judgment, emphasizing that relationships are private and that appearances can be misleading—especially in the age of social media scrutiny. The focus then shifts to Browns football, with Coach Riz arguing that the team is closer to being a winning unit than most believe, provided they get competent quarterback play and improve their offensive output beyond last year’s 17-point average. He praises the offseason moves—addressing the offensive line, bringing in Stahl as a fullback, and upgrading the linebacker corps with Quincy Williams and Swechinger. He remains cautiously optimistic about the defense, noting that key players like Miles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and Delpit are scheme-proof, but expresses concern about the transition from Jim Schwartz to Rutenberg, fearing a drop in defensive cohesion. Riz also critiques the idea of a 'transition year' as a cover for not fielding the best players, warning that if Deshaun Watson is the better quarterback, he should start—regardless of narrative. He stresses that true competition and accountability are essential to building a winning culture, and that the team must first earn a seat at the table before they can expect to win.