Sure, the local and national media has recoiled from the new Browns brain trust as it were a unwashed and diseased mole, but that doesn’t mean that some feel the team might be headed in the right direction.

Among their limited number is Don Banks of Sports Illustrated, who refers to Eric Mangini and the Browns as one of a handful of new coaches who are “Ready to Win from Day One”.

And he’s right, as much as people want to mock the Browns. The roster isn’t as bad as the team’s 4-12 record indicated, and was decimated by injuries and unexpected drops in performance (I’m looking at you, Braylon Edwards).

My prediction is that the team will bounce back to break even next year.

Of course, I predicted that they would go 9-7 in 2008, so, um, oops, take that for what it’s worth.