Here is a sentence I never thought I would write: The NFL's TV partners are fighting like cats and dogs for the right to televise Browns games this coming season.
With the Giants having traded all-world wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland, the Browns — yes, the Browns — have instantly become one of the most desired draws by NFL TV partners NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN and NFL Network.
The teaming of the 26-year-old Beckham with Baker Mayfield, Cleveland's charismatic, 23-year-old quarterback, makes the Browns must-see TV. If they live up to their billing, look for them to make nationally televised appearances across NBC's "Sunday Night Football," ESPN's "Monday Night Football" and FOX/NFL Network's "Thursday Night Football" in 2019.
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NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" has reigned as TV's No. 1 prime-time show for eight straight seasons.
"The Browns are certainly a team on the rise and, like everyone else, we're excited to see what the NFL will do with them in primetime," wrote an NBC spokesman.
The sad-sack Browns previously had been exiled to local TV siberia. But Mayfield brought excitement as the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, and the Browns last season appeared on two nationally televised games on NFL Network.
They delivered. Mayfield's dramatic debut against the Jets (and No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold) in Week 3 was the highest-rated TNF game in nearly three years.
Typically, the most sought-after NFL teams by TV networks are the Cowboys, Steelers, Packers, Patriots and Giants; the clubs with loyal national fan bases and the teams that draw the highest ratings. Now Tony Romo of CBS and Cris Collinsworth of NBC might want to look into waterfront condos on the mistake by the lake.
The Browns are already being discussed as Super Bowl contenders. If their offense with Beckham, Mayfield, running back Nick Chubb and receiver Jarvis Landry lives up to expectations, then football TV viewers will get to see more Browns games than the amount showed during the days of Bernie Kosar.
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Don't be surprised if the NFL pencils in the Browns for a nationally televised season-opener when the league releases its schedule this spring. And if they win games, look for the Browns to appear frequently in the late slot of afternoon doubleheaders.
This is not to say we will be seeing the Browns every week. The most popular teams can play in five prime-time games. Up to three teams can be flexed into a sixth appearance on "Sunday Night Football." So the Browns can appear in a max of six prime-time games.