There have been a lot of changes in the NFL recently, but none bigger than what the Browns just did.

Cleveland unveiled its mind-blowingly new logo, featuring a slightly darker orange hue and a more Disney-fied dog to represent The Dawg Pound.

“Our updated helmet logo is reflective of today’s modern Cleveland — the design honors the past while evolving into the future. The iconic brown and white stripes stand tall over the orange helmet — a new orange color that matches the passion of the Dawg Pound,” the team said on its website. “The new brown facemask represents the strength and toughness of Cleveland.”

You hear that? Iconic! The new orange is a throwback to Cleveland’s past, a representation of what the city stands for, what the organization hopes to achieve, what the “Play Like A Brown” attitude is really about BECAUSE THE DAWG POUND BARKS TOGETHER!

Or something like that.

The Browns would have been wise to at least glance at the various concept helmets that have been floating around in recent weeks.

Deeyung Entertainment started it with concept designs for all 32 teams (its Browns helmet is one of the cooler ones I’ve seen in a while), and Paul Bunyan Design followed about a week later with its flashy helmets (it used the Browns’ real logo … which is no logo at all.)

The designs are impressive, and for the Browns, they’re certainly an improvement (anything would be an improvement).

But I was also intrigued by their Broncos’ designs. Deeyung created multiple Denver designs that played off its past helmets, while Paul Bunyan created an entirely new look for the Broncos.

I’m partial to the throwback helmets, the classic and simple designs. But, with a little help from the Broncos and Riddell, I’ve decided to rank their helmets and the recent concept designs. Agree with my Top 7? Disagree? Let me know:

7. 1967: Very Browns-esque. Which is to say: not a good look.

6. 1962-66: The Bronco looks like a foal just learning to stand. Hardly intimidating.

5. Paul Bunyan Design: The Rocky Mountains make the helmet look as though it’s cracking.

4. 1960-61: It’s brown.

3. 1997-present: The colors are solid and the Bronco design is fierce (yep, I said fierce).

2. Deeyung Entertainment Design: Deeyung created multiple concept designs for NFL teams (as well as college teams), but this one is, in my mind, the best, because it incorporates the old logo with an updated, sleek design.

1. 1968-96: I’d like to think there’s a reason they kept this look for 28 years. I miss the “D” in today’s design.

Chew on this

• Thirty-eight years ago today, Pete Maravich, who holds a special place in my heart, dropped 68 points on the Knicks, a record for an NBA guard. And, of course, this was without a 3-point line. After you watch him destroy the Knicks, check out this Q&A with former Sports Illustrated writer Curry Kirkpatrick, whose 1978 cover story, ” No One Can Cap The Pistol,” was chosen as one of the magazine’s 60 best stories of all time.

• If you’re one of those who actually has a life beyond Twitter and/or likes to sleep at normal hours, you probably missed in the conversation between ESPN writer Molly Knight and Dodgers pitcher Brandon McCarthy about sports media on Monday night. Do yourself a favor and go back and read it.

• Nuggets GM Tim Connelly joined The Sports Show last week and said the Nuggets are “an above-average defensive team.” This is flat-out wrong, by numerous measurements. But Connelly also admitted that current defensive measurements can be misleading and just inaccurate (true). Perhaps this will help.

• Yum.

• Marvin Bagley is a 6-foot-9 high school freshman in Arizona. Remember that as you watch this.

• Whoo! Guess who’s 66?

Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickijhabvala

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