| Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice maintains her Browns' fandom. (NFL) |
Relatively speaking, there aren't a lot of Browns fans outside Ohio. Unlike the Packers or Cowboys or hated division rival Steelers, supporting the Browns is a regional affair. Drew Carey, who was born in Cleveland, is one celebrity exception. Another: former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama but became a Browns fan while watching games with her father.
And some 40 years later, nothing's changed. In fact, Rice, sporting a Josh Cribbs jersey, appears in a new campaign for NFL apparel that targets women.
Hey, when Cleveland finally turns things around, Rice will be there on the ground floor. And she legitimately thinks the organization will right the ship. Back in 2009 she described herself as "an optimist … I just keep hoping. Hey, things have to get better."
When asked for specifics, she summoned the same talking points Browns fans everywhere are quite familiar with. "We've just got to find a way to score points," she said. "Obviously, we've got to settle down the quarterback position."
Three years later, and the hope is that the quarterback position is finally settled. Brandon Weeden's first preseason game was forgettable but, again, it was his first preseason game. It's hard to make pronouncements about a player's career based on half an hour of sloppy football played in mid-August (although we're all guilty of doing it, most recently with Andrew Luck and Ryan Tannehill).
The campaign also includes other celebrities representing other NFL teams. Tennis star Serena Williams claims the Dolphins as her own, and Melania Trump and Suzanne Johnson (wife of owner Woody Johnson) are decked out in Jets gear (oddly, neither is wearing No. 15. Blasphemy.)
(via NFL) |
Others featured in the print ad above (via AdWeek.com):
* Charlotte Anderson, Dallas Cowboys fan and Cowboys EVP of brand management
* Susie Castillo, New England Patriots fan and Miss USA 2003
* Gracie Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs fan and daughter of Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt
* Tavia Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs fan and philanthropist, wife of Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt
* Kym Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers fan and professional dancer
* Suzanne Johnson, New York Jets fan and philanthropist, wife of Jets owner Woody Johnson
* D.J. Kiss, New Orleans Saints fan and prominent D.J.
* Peta Murgatroyd, Green Bay Packers fan and professional dancer
* Ary Nuñez, New York Giants fan and Nike Training Club master trainer
* Marlena Ortiz, New York Giants fan and breast cancer survivor
* Lakey Peterson, New York Jets fan and Nike professional surfer
* Marie Purvis, Denver Broncos fan and Nike Training Club master trainer
* Condoleezza Rice, Cleveland Browns fan, former U.S. Secretary of State
* Summer Sanders, San Francisco 49ers fan and retired Olympic gold medalist in swimming
* Eva Scrivo, Detroit Lions fan, hair and beauty expert, author of Eva Scrivo on Beauty
* Juliet Simms, Miami Dolphins fan and singer/songwriter
* Brittanie and Tiffanie Snyder, Washington Redskins fans and daughters of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder
* Tanya Snyder, Washington Redskins fan, breast cancer survivor, married to Redskins owner Daniel Snyder
* Melissa Stark, NFL Network host from Baltimore
* Melania Trump, New York Jets fan, entrepreneur and wife of Donald Trump
* Serena Williams, Miami Dolphins limited partner and Nike professional tennis player
For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our Pick-6 Podcast and NFL newsletter. You can follow Ryan Wilson on Twitter here: @ryanwilson_07.