Nothing unleashes optimism like the start of another Browns season. The team hosts the Detroit Lions tonight in its first preseason home game of the year, and there’s plenty of justification for excitement.

Head coach Romeo Crennel begins year two of his reconstruction project with a lot of help: Injured players are healing, positions have been upgraded on both sides of the ball, and Charlie Frye is developing confidence as the starting quarterback.

Heartbreak may be inevitable — the Browns are an abysmal 36-76 since returning in 1999 — but we just can’t help ourselves. And while the Browns and the Lions are in perpetual rebuilding mode, the turf is definitely greener on the Browns’ side tonight.
Fri., Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m.

This article appears in Aug 16-22, 2006.