Looking for a sign this could be the Browns' year? How about turning to Pittsburgh, of all places.

For the longest time, teams like the Pirates, L.A. Clippers, Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Royals were, in pro wrestling terms, "enhancement talent."

In order for the Lakers, Yankees and Patriots to win all those games, someone had to lose them. That's where those teams came in. They were the Iron Mike Sharpes of North American pro sports.

Not anymore. The Pirates are charging toward the MLB playoffs. The Clippers have been in the NBA postseason two years in a row. The Cardinals made their first Super Bowl appearance in February 2009.

Even the Royals are above .500.

In a perfect world, that means the Lions and Browns would be facing off in the Super Bowl (forget the Texans and Jaguars. They haven't been in existence long enough to be considered long-suffering).

While there have been plenty of reasons to be pessimistic about the Browns since 1999, look at it this way: If 2008 can be the year for the Phillies and their 10,000-plus all-time losses, why can't 2013 be the year for the Browns?

- Howard Primer