One of the bits of information that came out recently via Pat McManamon’s series of opinion pieces on the Browns was that Eric Mangini had elected to paint over a mural of Browns greats outside the locker room.

This got folks fired up, of course. 

One reason, I assume, was that it sent a “the past doesn’t matter” message out from Berea, like the ones we got used to hearing in the early years of the expansion franchise.

This message, of course, never sits well amongst us Browns fans. The past is important to us, partially because the present of late has, um, “sucked”. So you’ll excuse us if we occasionally escape to the warm embrace of history.

Ah, the past. The Steelers are the worst team in pro football. It’s hilarious how horrible they are. Oh no, fellas! Here comes Jim Brown to steamroller your ass… So happy there, so nice…

(shakes head violently, returns to present day)

**Aaaiiigyah!!**  (Girlish scream of fear)

Sorry. The 21st century does that to me.

Anyhow, another reason, I’m assuming, are sorta-almost-close-to-accurate reports from entities like Pro Football Talk which go on about the team snooping through cell phone records, painting a picture of a somewhat paranoid administration that was focused entirely on the wrong things.

The team will have to prove that their focus is right in coming months, to overcome that impression.

In the interim we can reveal one little item: sources inside Berea tell us the mural is not actually getting painted over as it is getting moved. This appears to have been the plan from the beginning rather than a last-minute scramble to overcome negative public reaction.

We’re not exactly sure where it’s getting moved to, but fans can expect that to be announced, along with other items of a similar bent, at some point in the future.

Taking a break from negative media spin, I’d say we’re not seeing a Carmen Policy-esque shrugging of the shoulders at Browns history. Team owner Randy Lerner has a seemingly strong appreciation for the team’s past, up to the point where he’s criticized for using Jim Brown and Bernie Kosar as close advisors.

It’s being done because it ties into the team’s current understanding of what works better from a psychological perspective. Sort of why you might paint the opposing locker room pink or, if the Baltimore Ravens are coming to town, tack up pictures of Ray Lewis wearing that ridiculous feather boa he used to sport. Which I think is an awesome idea, frankly.