The Cleveland Browns have talent all over the roster. Yet, they will still stink and rent out the basement for another year in the AFC North.
Cleveland is a franchise which knows a history of bad quarterback play. Since coming back into the league in 1999, the best signal-caller to line up under center was Derek Anderson. Anderson made a Pro Bowl and led Cleveland to a 10-6 season under Romeo Crennel, something that should give Anderson some Hall of Fame consideration. Unfortunately, Anderson reverted back to being terrible and was shipped out.
Headed into 2015, the Browns are prepared to let last year’s starting quarterback, Brian Hoyer, test the free agent market. Hoyer was nothing special last year, throwing 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while ranking 32nd of 33 qualifying quarterbacks in accuracy.
Returning to the roster is second-year pro Johnny Manziel. Manziel is currently in rehab for a substance abuse problem, and while he deserves applause for attempting to fix his problems, it remains a concerning situation for the team. Cleveland tried to shore up the position by signing Josh McCown to a three-year, $15 million deal, after McCown was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a forgettable season.
Regardless of who starts Week 1, it is a train wreck. The coaching staff has little stability after offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was allowed out of his contract to join the Atlanta Falcons in the same capacity. John DeFilippo is replacing Shanahan, a man who has never been more than a quarterbacks coach at any level.
Additionally, the front office of the Browns is a mess. General manager Ray Farmer has admitted sending improper text messages during games to coaches, something that will likely result in his suspension and perhaps the loss of draft picks at some point this offseason. Then there is owner Jimmy Haslam, who in 2013 dealt with a federal investigation into his company Pilot Flying J, along with firing Cleveland’s entire front office following one year of employment. Haslam is known to be a control freak and unpredictable, as expertly detailed by Jason La Canfora at CBS Sports. The Browns do not offer a stable environment, something a young quarterback like Manziel needs.
Finally, there is also a question of the weapons around either Manziel or McCown. With Josh Gordon suspended for the year and tight end Jordan Cameron hitting free agency, who is the quarterback throwing to? The Browns have $49.65 million of cap space and must spend a good amount on adding weapons. With two first-round picks at 12th and 19th overall come the draft, the Browns will have another opportunity to acquire a top receiver, perhaps Amari Cooper, DeVante Parker, Dorial Green-Beckham or Kevin White.
Regardless, Cleveland will be a losing team until the culture changes. Manziel maturing would go a long way toward a winning campaign, but even that won’t be enough without serious alterations across the organization.
