Crawford quarterbacking Browns preseason broadcasts

PERKINS TWP. — He lived and died with Bernie Kosar's teams coming oh so close to a Super Bowl appearance. He still proudly cheers on the expansion-era squads, first led by Tim Couch.Now Jay Crawford works on the same team with these former Cleveland Browns quarterbacks — and, in a role reversal, they've even handed off primary play-calling duties to him.Crawford, a 1983 Perkins High School graduate, begins his WEWS-TV, Channel 5, play-by-play announcing duties with the Browns tonight, when they face the New York Giants at 7 p.m. It will also air on the NFL Network.After a 14-year run at ESPN ended for him in 2017, the former SportsCenter anchor called a life audible, highlighted thus far by signing a deal to call locally televised Browns preseason games."I've always wanted to do play-by-play for a Cleveland sports team, and the opportunity for me to do this is a dream come true," said Crawford, who will focus on position battles and season outlooks for players during telecasts. "The timing of this is great. I'm thrilled to be doing it, and it's my favorite assignment ever."The entire broadcast team consists of Crawford; Couch, a No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in 1999; Kosar, a 1987 Pro-Bowl selection; and Dustin Fox, a former Ohio State University football player."It's a great lineup," said Crawford, who boasts about three decades' worth of broadcasting experience.The Cleveland Browns preseason announce team consists of, from left, Jay Crawford, a 1983 Perkins High School graduate, Tim Couch, Dustin Fox and Bernie Kosar.Unlike national telecasts, in which broadcasters must remain neutral and unbiased, Crawford can express some of his enthusiasm. Along with the Buckeyes, Cavaliers and Indians, Crawford considers himself a Browns diehard."The Browns have known I have been a lifelong fan," Crawford said. In 2017, the Browns honored him as a Dawg Pound fan of the game. "I make no secret about my Browns fandom, and the management knows that, and they felt this would be the perfect match."Since training camp started earlier this summer, Crawford notices a positive vibe sweeping through Berea, affecting fans, players and coaches."You can see there is a renewed commitment to turning this thing around," Crawford said. "There is a lot of interest in this football team. It's been a blast for me to spend time around the organization."The Browns finished last season with a winless 0-16 record.Will that happen again? Anyone knowing the Browns wouldn't put it past them.But will it? Not according to Crawford."They won't lose 16 games again this year," Crawford said. "You are going to see a much different product. The offense is certainly going to be a much different animal. The defense looks good. They just look like a real football team."The Cleveland Browns signed Jay Crawford, a 1983 Perkins High School graduate, to call the team's preseason games on TV this year. Crawford, a Browns fan, who boasts three decades' worth of broadcasting experience, described it as, "My favorite assignment ever."Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.