Cleveland Browns fans offer mixed emotions over Jameis Winston signing

The Cleveland Browns got their experienced backup quarterback, but it probably wasn’t who fans were expecting.

Plenty of those who caught Flacco Fever during the Browns' run up to a playoff appearance last season, may have been caught off guard when reports surfaced that the team held interest in former No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston.

By early afternoon, his signing became more clear, likely signaling that Joe Flacco would be moving on.

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Was Joe Flacco's presence a threat to Deshaun Watson?

Needless to say, fans had opinions. And there is the expected one as there were plenty who were sad to know that Flacco would be exiting. In a football region starved for any sliver of hope for a championship, that's to be expected given Flacco's unbelievable run.

Does Jameis Winston make the Browns better?

Winston's career trajectory never lived up to the draft status (something that should sound familiar to Browns fans). He started for five years with after being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2015 NFL Draft. In those five seasons he was 28-42 as a starter. He completed 1,563 of 2,548 passes for 61.3% with 121 touchdowns and 88 interceptions..

He's spent the past four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, mostly as the backup, where he's completed 200-of-334 passess for 2,367 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

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Jameis Winston's past at Florida State, which includes sexual assault accusations, has some Browns fans concerned

He's suffered his own off the field issues, including accusations of theft over crab legs and sexual assault of a fellow student while he was still at Florida State. He was never officially charged and eventually reached a settlement with his accuser. For some fans, that similarity is too much:

Is Jameis Winston a better fit in Kevin Stefanski's Browns offense?

Still it would seem that Winston fits head coach Kevin Stefanski's vision for the offense. He and Watson possess similar size, strong arms and they are both mobile. As successful as Flacco was with the Browns, Winston may be a better fit.

If nothing else, some fans were wiling to give G.M. Andrew Berry the benefit of the doubt with the move.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns fans have mixed reaction over Jameis Winston signing