There is a newfound sense of optimism surrounding the Cleveland Browns going into the 2018 NFL season. Best of all, their process has been documented in this year's version of Hard Knocks: Training Camp. 

The latest episode featured their meeting with free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant. Jackson even made some rather bold claims to Bryant, via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk:

“Twenty-one days, baby. Pittsburgh Steelers. Right here at home in front of the Dawg Pound,” Jackson said. “It’ll be unbelievable. This will be the greatest turnaround in sports history.”

Needless to say, Jackson has high expectations for a team that has won one game in the last two years. There is no question that they have made some serious upgrades this offseason. The arrival of quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wide receiver Jarvis Landry has fueled their hopes of a potential turnaround this year. However, Jackson is in no position to start making such outrageous before the regular season even starts.

Despite the mutual enthusiasm from Bryant, he ultimately left the building without a deal. His departure from the Dallas Cowboys was a major headline this offseason, and it has been fueled by his occasional rants about the organization on social media. Regardless, signing a player of his caliber would only heighten Jackson's expectations for this team.

There have been some pretty notable turnarounds in sports history. However, it is likely that Jackson is hoping to emulate the success of the St. Louis Rams back in the late 1990's. They finished the 1998 NFL season with a 4-12 record before winning 13 games the following year en route to a Super Bowl. Of course, this was a team chalk-full of Hall of Famers and generational talent on offense. That said, Jackson will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to surpass the “Greatest Show On Turf” this season.