Oct 12, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Paul Kruger (99) against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
As we stride closer and closer to the start of the season, there are a few players that simply need to perform in 2015 to guarantee a future with the Cleveland Browns. I guess you could say that about any player on any roster, but some are just on a shorter leash than others.
The reason could be because of distraction, – cough cough, Johnny Manziel – underperformance for an extended period of time, or a large contract. This current Browns roster isn’t one filled with many on the fringe type of players, but a few caught my eye.
Since the 2011 CBA (collective bargaining agreement), turnover on NFL rosters has been enormous. Unless a contract is heavy in guaranteed money, almost no player is safe from being cut even a season after signing a long-term deal. Stability and loyalty are no longer words associated with NFL teams and players. If you don’t perform, you’re no longer looked at as worthy enough to be retained based on salary cap restrictions.
Other players simply haven’t performed based on draft status and team expectations, which can lead to people within the organization to wonder if they will ever turn things around. Thus, we have the hot seat.
So without further ado, here are five Browns who need a strong 2015 campaign to secure their future long-term with the organization.
Next: Paul Kruger
Sep 8, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns linebacker Paul Kruger (99) against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
5. Paul Kruger
Many of you may be surprised by this choice. How could Paul Kruger coming off an 11 sack season, be on the hot seat? Well, let’s go back to the salary cap restrictions in today’s NFL. The term “cap casualty” has been a word that we’ve heard a whole lot over the past few years, because of the new Collective bargaining agreement.
This past offseason alone, players like Andre Johnson, Jake Long, and Vince Wilfork – all proven Pro Bowl players – were all released as cap casualties. Was the production really that poorly for any of those three players to deserve to be let go? Not really, because both Johnson and Wilfork found a home quickly in free agency, while Long is still rehabbing from injury.
Teams no longer want to continue to pay big money when they feel a younger player for a cheaper price can do just about the same job. Kruger signed a five-year deal back in 2013 worth $40 million, which reeks of a potential cap casualty type of contract. If he plays like he did in 2013 – 4.5 sack season – I see them moving on from him and his big contract considering the strain it would have on their salary cap.
Next: Phil Taylor
Sep 29, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns nose tackle Phillip Taylor (98) before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
4. Phil Taylor
If you look up “Phil Taylor” on Google, the first results that come up are for a dart player from the United Kingdom. He’s kind of been lost in many people’s eyes- even on search engines – after a productive rookie season in 2011 where he posted 59 combined tackles and 4 sacks. In the past three seasons he’s combined for just 50 combined tackles and 3 sacks, while playing in only 28 games.
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Taylor wasn’t a Ray Farmer draft pick, so the connection to validate his selection isn’t there. Sometimes availability is the most important asset. You can have an all-world talent like Josh Gordon, but his stupidity has made him almost worthless because he’s never on the field.
Taylor’s size and ability is ideal, but how could you rely on him as a starter if he doesn’t have the durability to play for long strecthes at a time? As an organization you can’t keep relying on someone that can’t consistently stay on the field. When Taylor plays he’s been productive, but another injury plague season could easily end his stint in Cleveland.
Next: Dwayne Bowe
May 26, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (80) during organized team activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
3. Dwayne Bowe
How is newly acquired Dwayne Bowe already on the hot seat? Simply, because of his baggage. Let’s be honest, with the very uncertain quarterback situation, not much is expected of Bowe and this offense. Like any other diva wide receiver, not getting the football could lead to turmoil and frustration. How will Bowe react to the possible struggles of this young offense?
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In the past with the Kansas City Chiefs, he had shown up to offseason workouts overweight, dealt with marijuana issues, a PED suspension and character issues. He was always someone who needed to be guided, almost like a dog on a leash. This could be a potentially disastrous season for Bowe on a team that is still trying to find an identity.
He signed a two-year deal this past offseason worth $12 million, $9 million of which is guaranteed. The guaranteed amount is absurd, and seems a little bit desperate, but if his issues reoccur I don’t think Cleveland would have any problem with letting him go.
Next: Barkevious Mingo
Sep 22, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo (51) looks on during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Browns defeated the Vikings 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
2. Barkevious Mingo
In 2013, the Browns made Barkevious Mingo the sixth overall pick in the draft out of LSU. Expectations revolved around Mingo being a double-digit sack type of player to get after quarterbacks like Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, and Andy Dalton in the AFC North. In his first two seasons, he’s only compiled seven sacks, two of which came last season.
Even though Farmer was the assistant general manager when Michael Lombardi was in charge of drafting Mingo, I still wouldn’t consider Mingo one of his guys. After this season is when the team has to decide whether or not they want to accept his fifth-year club option, which will speak a lot about their trust in his future.
Another dud season, could very well lead to the organization giving up on the talented pass-rusher. His issue coming into the NFL was his rather thin physique and so far that assessment has been relatively correct. His future with the team is up in the air, unless he proves his worth in 2015.
Next: Johnny Manziel
Oct 19, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dole-USA TODAY Sports
1. Johnny Manziel
You knew it would come to this at some point in this piece. Yes, in only his second season in the NFL, Johnny Manziel is on the hot seat. Quarterbacks these days are no longer given four-to-five years to develop. Teams expect NFL-ready players right out of the draft. In Manziel’s case, not only was his rookie season a disaster, but personally I don’t think many even wanted him drafted in the first place.
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Drafting a guy like Manziel is easier when you have a more stable franchise, whether it be the New England Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens or New York Giants. His distractions get filtered in those settings, but in Cleveland it’s a different story. We all know the disfunction that has shaped this franchise for years now, but the drafting of Manziel in many people’s eyes was more of a cry for attention than anything else.
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Besides ownership, I don’t think anyone else agreed with selecting him considering his brash persona and small stature. It really wouldn’t surprise me if Manziel put up another irrelevant season in the NFL, and was traded to a team like the Patriots to learn how to grow up behind a veteran like Tom Brady. With all the hype and media that surrounds Johnny, it gives the Browns even more of a reason to move on from him if he proves to be a non-factor on the field.
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