Cleveland fans are no strangers to outsiders poking fun at their city and team.
The Browns in particular spent the better part of the last two decades as the laughing stock of the NFL. Combined with the city's painful sports history in general, Cleveland is constantly underestimated. So whenever someone takes an inadvertent shot at the city or it's teams, swarms of supporters are ready to speak up.
What Browns fans appreciate even more though, is when the players come to the community's defense. Those who do, are often added to a pretend list of athletes who "get" Cleveland. Well, it may be time to move tight end David Njoku up in the rankings.
Njoku, who is representing the Browns at the Pro Bowl, was real quick to put an end to a dig levied against Cleveland from Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons , during the weekend's Madden Head-to-Head showdown.
"He obviously showed why Cleveland is Cleveland and we're...," Parsons began before Njoku cut him off.
"Woah, woah, woah!," he fired back. "One thing you gotta understand is, he says 'Cleveland is Cleveland' but we're both here. We're both playing this Madden game. You gotta make it make sense."
Later in the back-and-forth, Njoku's partner, Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill, backed him adding "he's got a good point bro, we all here."
Njoku's relationship with Cleveland and the fan base has come a long way since requesting a trade out of town in 2020.
Two days after suffering burns on his hands and face from a fire pit accident at his house ahead of Week 4 this year, Njoku went out and led the team in receiving against Baltimore. Later in the season, the former first-round pick told Inside the NFL that he played with stitches in his foot in a Week 16 win over the Bears, after stubbing his toe at his house. He hauled in a career high 10 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in that one.
One week later, Njoku was caught on video taking shots with fans in the parking lot after clinching a playoff berth against the Jets on Thursday Night Football. Now he's defending Cleveland's honor against his own peers at the Pro Bowl.
It's safe to say Njoku "gets" Cleveland.
More must-reads: