Congratulations to the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. They are going to square off in Super Bowl XLIV. That’s 44 for those of you who cannot read Roman numerals. I am a Peyton Manning fan and am happy he is on his way to his second Super Bowl. If he wins, “the greatest of all time” discussion can start in earnest. And it is heartwarming to see something wonderful happen to the city of New Orleans. They certainly deserve it. But as a Browns fan, I cannot help but feel a little tweak. With the Saints victory, the Never-Been-To-The-Super-Bowl club has dwindled to a mere four teams. And of course, our beloved Browns are in that dubious fraternity. The Browns joined the NFL in 1950. They left the now defunct AAFC along with the 49ers and the Baltimore Colts to enter the National Football League. San Francisco had their dynasty in the 1980s. Baltimore lost SB III and won SB V defeating the Cowboys. After moving to Indy, Peyton and the gang won SB XLI. Twenty other franchises have joined the NFL since the Browns did. Of those teams only two, The Jaguars and the Texans, have never made it. Houston must feel gypped. The Oilers only made it after they moved to Tennessee and renamed themselves the Titans. You all are going to have to talk me off the ledge the day the Texans play in a Super Bowl. Think of the perennial losers that have played in a Super Bowl before the Browns: The Buccaneers, Seahawks, Bills, Chiefs, Falcons and Bengals! The freaking Ravens have been to a Super Bowl, and won! Why has God forsaken me?!?!?! Of the nine teams that were in the NFL before the Browns only the lowly Lions have never been. The Browns and the Lions are definitely the old maids of the group. If this is not bad enough consider this. The Never-Been-To-A-Super-Bowl-And-Never-Hosted-A-Super-Bowl club has a membership of one…The Cleve! C’mon Mike Holmgren. Bring us to the Promised Land!
