When the Cleveland Browns unveil their new uniforms, they better not disappoint.
Browns fans are chomping at the bit to see their team´s new look.
I just want to see the new #Browns uniforms so I can stop tweeting about wanting to see the new Browns uniforms.
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) April 8, 2020
They suffered through the last five seasons with a cluttered and amateurish appearance.
Their uniforms weren´t so great, either.
These already look better than the current #Browns uniforms pic.twitter.com/dp2LwH2BnO
— Browns Rally Possum (@Browns_Possum) April 10, 2020
Dee Haslam promised something simpler and more traditional.
Rumors of an April 15 reveal already have the fans on the edge of their seats.
The release of the Buccaneers and Falcons’ new uniforms this week did nothing to calm the Clevelander´s curiosity.
Paul Lukas of Uni Watch slipped out a detail of the new Browns helmets.
He cited an unnamed source as saying the helmet decals would be “tweaked.”
That might have piqued the interest of Browns’ fans.
But it was the 15-second video released by the Browns that almost blew up the internet.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 9, 2020
15 Really Dark Seconds
Cleveland´s video, with the message, “Coming Soon”, contains mostly dark and obscured images.
But Browns fans immediately set to work isolating those images for clues.
https://twitter.com/thatscrazyB/status/1248299310783115265
The biggest clue might be in the players who show up in the video.
Multiple fans recognized Jim Brown and Clay Matthews Sr.
Others claim to have isolated Eric Metcalf, Webster Slaughter, and Bobby Mitchell.
Dee Haslam promised a uniform that would “embrace the team´s rich tradition.”
You want to know what the new Cleveland Browns uniforms should look like? This. That's it. pic.twitter.com/3o8Aw8ULPG
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) April 8, 2020
Brown and Mitchell played for the Browns in the late 50s and early 60s.
Matthews´ career spanned from the late 70s to the mid-90s.
Metcalf and Slaughter joined Matthews on the roster in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
In 1985, the Cleveland Browns introduced a return to “traditional” uniforms.
There were 5 stripes on the sleeves and the three-striped strip down the pants.
The uniform numbers were bold and not highlighted.
Ok got a little time to put Browns uniform teaser in photoshop.
Please excuse the colors, I pulled the exposure, offset & gamma to see the hidden light details.
Looks like:
– No shadow on number
– 5 sleeve stripes
– No Cleveland / browns on chestNumbers look…sizable pic.twitter.com/Se2aDsDoOY
— Wreck This League (@wreckthisleague) April 9, 2020
They were very similar to the uniforms of Brown and Mitchell´s era.
Some of the Browns fans saw those uniforms on the 15-second teaser.
It could almost make the official unveiling somewhat anticlimactic.
What About the Helmet?
Remember that Paul Lukas´ source claimed the Browns helmet decal is being tweaked.
It struck me as odd since there is no obvious decal on the Browns´ helmets.
Does that mean the team plans to add one?
Browns uniforms easy—–home road, alternate pic.twitter.com/WQ0BDkuT3U
— ᑭᖇO ᖴOOTᗷᗩᒪᒪ ᒍOᑌᖇᑎᗩᒪ 🏈 (@NFL_Journal) April 9, 2020
Would the Haslams slap Brownie the Elf on the side of their helmets?
Maybe a photo or caricature of the late Swagger is coming.
Cleveland actually had something on the sides of their helmets back when Brown and Mitchell played.
Who remembers these helmets?#browns pic.twitter.com/9Q1b30oFql
— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) April 8, 2020
The players´ uniform numbers were part of the Browns´ helmets.
But it is more likely that Lukas´opinion is correct.
The decal in question is probably the striping down the middle of the helmet.
Changing the current textured look to a smooth glossy stripe would embrace tradition.
A narrowing of the brown stripes on either side of the white might be in order, too.
How Much Longer Can Browns Fans Wait?
Cleveland is one of three teams changing their uniforms this season.
Tampa Bay and Atlanta unveiled their uniforms to mixed reviews this week.
https://twitter.com/BakerJe08261575/status/1247575824854929408
New England will sport a new alternate uniform in 2020.
But fans in Cleveland only care about what their team will look like come opening day.
There are reports of an April 15th reveal date.
Not certain if plans have changed, but #Browns new uniforms expected to be unveiled on April 15.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) April 7, 2020
But the Browns have not verified that.
Traditionally, new uniforms are unveiled before the NFL draft.
That means the Browns could keep their little secret until April 23-25.
But unless they have a series of additional teaser videos on tap, they would do their fans well by presenting their new look as soon as possible.
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