The Browns had an embarrassing loss being manhandled the new look Chargers dropping them to 2-7. This is a far cry from where this organization honesty thought they would be. They were thinking that with 11-6 last year, all the off season accolades, and Watson coming back this was their time to go to the big game. And them thinking those thoughts is even more embarrassing than last weeks loss.
Okay every team should have those thoughts, but there’s reality. They have overestimated this roster, but so has the national and local media for a couple years. This team is now one of the oldest teams in the league and the Watson trade has stopped a nice flow of difference making younger players from making it here. This season is a disaster.
So why is this? Why is it that we seem to be here and seldom over there at 11-6. Well, the wrong people are making the wrong decisions and their biggest blunder is not recognizing this team has no identity. They throw things against the wall to see what sticks, and great teams don’t do that. Teams that are perennially not good do that, it hasn’t worked, doesn’t work, and won’t work.
Look at teams that do a lot of winning. Steelers, 49ers, Bills, Patriots, Chiefs, Ravens, Rams, and others. They know who they are, and what kind of player fits who they are. All of them have different long standing identities that work. They have a “way.” They have a direction drafting and signing players that fit who they are. Good teams and organizations know full well who they are year after year.
The Browns used to have one of the best identities in the league for many years, going way back. A great running game, great offensive line play, tough guys, and a deep connection with their fans. Think about it, any era of Browns football from the beginning when they have had ongoing success, that’s who they were. But not now.
Just a few years ago we had the best running back room in the NFL. A young and hungry defense, plus a culture changing young QB that was full of attitude guiding a very good play-action offense to a playoff win in Pittsburgh. That was Browns football. Then the very trouble laden Odell Beckham Jr showed up, the trade for Watson who said he didn’t want to come here. The casting off of some proven players and coaches, and alienating one of your leaders, Amari Cooper with contract issues and a trade threat. They also were actively pursuing another player who didn’t want to come here who seems to be in the NFL for only the money in Brandon Aiyuk. None of that stuff struck to the wall, at all. Cooper didn’t recover and is now traded for virtually nothing.
Of course the NFL has changed over the years, as it is now a passing league, but the successful teams have kept their identity through many changes. The Browns just try this and that and decide things on the fly, its desperate. They recently signed on to throw the ball 40 plus times a game, not really run the ball, and have rid themselves of many good football guys on and off the field in favor of bowing to a QB that most fans simply don’t want to root for. Having the face of your franchise that unpopular is about the worst decision that can be made. That’s the identity they chose to go forward with thinking we wouldn’t care as long as we were winning. They honestly thought they were Watson away from the Superbowl. They were dead wrong all the way around and proved again when it comes to intangibles, they have no idea what they are doing.
Sadly we are more than likely closer to a medium to large rebuild than the promised land. They really whiffed on this recent identity decision and now have to figure out what’s next. The true identity of your team begins with the understanding of who you are in your DNA. Going in a direction that works, with players that fans want to get behind and see the kind of football they can identify with. Here that’s tough, time clock punching, lunch pail carrying, hard working players that want to win – and really want to be here – and not just grabbing the money.
The beginning of the winning starts there.
