Cleveland Browns: Atlanta Falcons sum up the 2016 Browns season
The Atlanta Falcons have gained talent at the expense of the Cleveland Browns, so the team’s Twitter account made sure to thank the Browns.
Watching the Cleveland Browns play football in 2016 is both physically and emotionally painful. Fans may not even know all the new names that show up each Sunday, as most are young, inexperienced players.
But while fans may not recognize the players currently on the team, it is easy to watch any other NFL game and recognize some players as former Browns.
The Atlanta Falcons are a team with some former Browns, with the most notable being center Alex Mack, who has helped lead the Falcons to a 7-4 record thus far this season. It also helps that he snaps the ball to a real quarterback.
But another familiar name emerged in Atlanta yesterday, as wide receiver Taylor Gabriel had himself a big day. He finished with two touchdowns and some highlight plays, which led the Falcons to be in a thankful mood.
(Sigh).
It is great to see Gabriel have himself a great game after being a reliable member of the Browns for two seasons, but it is just another example of talent that was allowed to walk in the name of rebuilding.
It was not like Gabriel demanded a large contract, or was a major distraction off the field. No, he was just a casualty of being on a team that drafted four wide receivers, none of whom have been major factors this season.
Gabriel was never a big playmaker for the Browns in his two seasons in Cleveland, but he is clearly capable of making big plays given there is a competent quarterback to throw him the ball.
The frustration surrounding this situation is not just about Gabriel, but all the players the Browns let go this past offseason. So many former Browns are playing all around the league on successful teams, while the Browns are 0-12 and in danger of going 0-16.
No one expected the rebuilding year to result in a playoff appearance, but this is way worse than even the most hopeless of preseason predictions. Instead of using the foundation in place, the front office decided to blow everything up and start over, which seems to happen every few years in Cleveland.
Fans can use the bye week this Sunday to tune in and watch some former Browns flourish in their new cities while also wondering if all the cap space will go to good use, or be wasted as it has been in the past. Anyone remember Dwayne Bowe?