Dominate the Super Bowl

If the opponent was the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Baltimore Ravens would still be able to manage.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Harbaugh also had his own considerations, should they choose a running back? Or should they continue the tradition of the past two years and further strengthen the defensive group?

After ascending to the Super Bowl Champions in the 2012 season, Harbaugh had been working on filling the mess left by the retirement of Ray Lewis, rebuilding that traditionally strong defense team, and returning to a path of winning games through defense, while Flacco's offensive group had been patched up over three years.

In the past three seasons, with two eight-win, eight-loss records missing the playoffs, the 2014 season saw them make the playoffs but they lost to the New England Patriots in the second round.

So, should they start strengthening the offensive group now?

If the answer was positive, how much was Harbaugh willing to spend to acquire a running back?

If the opponent was the Jacksonville Jaguars, things would be simpler.

However.

Harbaugh doubted his ears, "Who?"

Bran repeated, "Cleveland."

Harbaugh: ... "Damn!"

Who could tell him what Cleveland Browns were doing joining in the hustle?

Harbaugh took a deep breath, it was too absurd not to laugh, he burst out laughing, "Do they even lack a running back now?"

Bran shrugged, "Is there any position they don't lack?"

Harbaugh, unable to rebut, "Shouldn't they be properly picking a quarterback? Watson, maybe they should consider Watson."

Bran, "Coach, next year is the big year for quarterbacks, Jackson, Mayfield they should all be drafted next year, I mean the year after next, what do you think?"

Reason, they all understood it, clearly Cleveland Browns had their own calculations, even if it was a bad deal.

But when it really came down to the facts, Harbaugh just found it funny, unable to comprehend the thought process of Cleveland Browns' management, were they sure they didn't need to collectively schedule an MRI?

In a moment of speechlessness, Harbaugh exclaimed, "When did running backs become so in demand?"

Originally, Harbaugh was simply venting, but Bran answered seriously, "Coach, it's not just any running back, he's a running back of Chinese descent."

Harbaugh choked a bit, his lips curling up, "And such an outstanding running back at that." He took a deep breath and then exhaled long, "Alright, I got it."

They needed a comprehensive plan and to think long-term, drafting was obviously not a simple matter, but that was also one of the charms of football.

Just as Harbaugh was about to hang up, Bran's voice came through the phone again, "Coach."

Harbaugh paused.

Bran hesitated slightly but still spoke, "Purely personal opinion, we shouldn't miss Li Wei. I guess, his potential has just begun to be tapped."

Harbaugh was stunned, before he could respond, Bran had already hung up the phone.

Harbaugh looked at the phone screen, lost in thought.

He knew Bran. Bran was very professional and objective, always giving advice from his own professional perspective, yet he never involved himself in recommendations or decision-making.

Harbaugh had always been curious, other scouts often hoped their opinions would be heard, respected, and adopted, yet Bran seemed not to care.

Even now, Harbaugh still remembered Bran's answer.

"Do you know how many kids I need to watch every day?"

"From middle school to college, occasionally even younger prospects, they step onto the field with different goals and dreams, I sincerely hope their talents can shine on a bigger, higher stage, but we all know it's not that simple."

"Under the spotlight, we see wins, we see champions, we see glory; but beyond the spotlight, injuries, struggles, and helplessness in our eyes are never exposed."

"Those kids, in my eyes, are vivid and real, I know their parents, I know their likes, I know what they look like in schools and on the streets, but once they enter the league, they become just a set of data, an image, like characters in a game." Your next read is at empire

"No soul."

"It could disappear at any time, be sacrificed at any time, be traded at any time."

"That's not a dream, it's business."

"So, I keep my distance, avoid involving more personal emotions, and try to view them as a subject of observation rather than a living soul. It makes things easier. I have seen too many shattered dreams and messes on the ground; I don't need to relive it time and again to remind myself of the cruelty of competitive sports."

This was Brand's way of remaining professional.

However, Brand loved the sport so much, as well as those who stood on the field, sweating and igniting their fervor.

With Brand's abilities and qualifications, he could serve as a middle manager for any team, sitting in an office; there was no need to keep traveling and living in hotels, including for the Baltimore Ravens who had offered him a management position, which Brand declined.

He liked being on the road, he liked entering the stadiums, he liked watching the games up close.

Just like Icarus.

Even knowing the end near the sun, he couldn't help but inch closer bit by bit, opening his arms to embrace the sun.

Today was the same.

Brand couldn't resist, and he shared his personal opinion about Li Wei, because of love and admiration.

Even though he didn't say much, just a simple sentence, it was of immense weight to Harbaugh, far more significant than a scout's report.

Standing there, Harbaugh was somewhat spellbound—

What is so special about this Li Wei, isn't he just a running back?

And, what's the deal with the Cleveland Browns?

...

The Cleveland Browns, a "powerful" team on a path of deliberate losing that scarcely sees a rival, whose terrible management and utterly foolish team-building strategies ensure the team leads far ahead on the track of collapse and losing, to a degree that makes competitors bow down in respect, a true master of tanking.

Since the merging of the two major leagues into the NFL in 1966, ushering in the Super Bowl era, until 2023, only four teams have never reached the pinnacle of becoming Super Bowl Champions:

The Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and… the Cleveland Browns.

Moreover, considering the current situation, the Cleveland Browns' dream of reaching the Super Bowl might need to be shelved for a while longer.

Since 1999, the Cleveland Browns have only had two seasons with more wins than losses, in 2002 and 2007; and they only made it to the playoffs in 2002.

In fact, forget playoffs, even winning is a challenge, as they are almost always the favorite candidates for last place.

The dregs among dross, a classic example of the bottom feeders.

This season is no exception.

After losing to the Dallas Cowboys last week, the Cleveland Browns became the only team this season to not have a single win so far.

Nine consecutive losses.

If you add up the three consecutive losses at the end of last season, it results in twelve continuous defeats, a deeply miserable plight with no end in sight.

Even other people feel too pained to sprinkle salt on Browns fans' wounds.

Currently, the Cleveland Browns are at the very bottom among the NFL's thirty-two teams, leading far ahead in the race for the top draft pick next year, while other contenders are not even in the same league, like the Chicago Bears or the Jacksonville Jaguars who can only follow behind and eat their dust.

So, the question arises—

Who should the Cleveland Browns pick with their top draft choice?

Could it be... Li Wei?