Recently drafted CB Justin Layne was a Browns fan growing up. The key word is “was.” In a twist of cruel fate, the Browns fan and NFL hopeful was drafted by Cleveland’s bitter rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Layne’s father has since remodeled parts of their home to better match Layne’s new team. The Browns colors were painted over with the black and gold that epitomize the city in Pennsylvania.
That’s how it goes for an NFL player and their family. There is no longer an allegiance to the team you grew up rooting for. It’s all about family. If Layne ends up on a different team, you can bet those walls will be painted over again. It’s understandable; you hate to lose a loyal Browns fan, but you love to see a kid who worked hard achieve his dream of playing on Sundays.
To Justin Layne, you’ve made it into the league. You worked extremely hard to get there. You took the talent you were blessed with and molded it. You played at a high level consistently and did it enough to earn a spot in the NFL. You’ve worked hard for a privilege that many kids dream of and never attain. You have achieved the dream. So, good luck. I hope your career is beneficial to you and your family in terms of your financial well-being and I hope you keep a clean bill of health during your time in the league.
Lastly, I hope you lose at least twice a year to Cleveland. It’s nothing personal. You get it.
