Free agency shows culture is changing with the Browns

The Cleveland Browns have talked about changing the team’s culture for a long time. But with Hue Jackson, they may actually be able to accomplish it.

Every time a new regime enters the hallways at Cleveland Browns headquarters the talk centers around how a culture change will take place.

It was no different this point last year when executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson took over.

This time, however, they may actually mean it.

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The duo got the ball rolling at this time a year ago when they released quarterback Johnny Manziel, who will go down as the absolute worst draft pick in franchise history.

It continued during the 2016 NFL Draft, when the Browns selected players that are skilled on the field and are not embarrassments off the field.

Brown and Jackson kept things moving prior to the start of the 2016 regular season with the trade of Justin Gilbert, a fellow bust from the ill-fated 2014 NFL Draft.

The change moved to another level last week in the opening hours of free agency as the Browns added wide receiver Kenny Britt, right guard Kevin Zeitler and center J.C. Tretter.

In addition to filling some much-needed holes on the offensive depth chart, the one common denominator between the three is that they are all buying into what Jackson is selling.

No quality quarterbacks on the roster? No problem, as Britt told ohio.com:

"“I wanted to be a part of this. I wanted to be a part of the rebuilding. I hope the future is brighter, and it’s going to be here in Cleveland. I know that for a fact. I’m going to work 10 times harder than I ever have. Throughout my career, I have just been learning the bumps and the hills that you’ve got to get over, and I think I have passed through those throughout my career.”"

The money is nice – a reported $31 million in guarantees – but the opportunity to play in Jackson’s offense is pretty sweet, too, as Zeitler told ohio.com:

"“Because Hue is here, I believe. I really enjoyed playing for him in Cincinnati. His passion is addicting. I can’t wait to see what we can all do here. When it came down to signing, the Browns definitely wanted me the most. Hue definitely wanted me. They made the best deal, too, which obviously was a factor. But the fact that Hue is here and everything, it just made sense. I know the offense partially already. It was the best fit.”"

As for Tretter, the opportunity to join an offensive line that has the potential to be one of the league’s best was good to past up, according to the team’s website:

"“You start from my position, being on the offensive line, you look at the guys they have in that room already with (OL) Joe (Thomas) and (OL) Joel (Bitonio). When you can surround yourself with great players, you have to look at that opportunity. Obviously, you add (OL) Kevin (Zeitler) into that and you have the potential to be a truly great line and really mesh together and build something special. That opportunity to come in and play center and play with the guys that I’ll be around and in that room is an opportunity that you can’t really pass up.”"

Of course, this is all talk until the Browns actually start winning on a consistent basis, and that won’t happen until they finally fix the situation at quarterback. The club also has more holes to fill, primarily on the defensive side of the ball, but will have plenty of opportunities to do that in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft.

It is refreshing to see players want to come to the Browns for reasons other than just cashing a final paycheck. While it may not work out – creating a plan is far easier than successfully executing the plan – the Browns are clearly well on their way toward rebuilding the franchise’s battered culture.

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If Jackson and Brown can get players to buy into the team coming off a 1-15 season, just imagine what it will be like when the Browns actually start winning games.