Cleveland Browns: Hue Jackson’s pride, defiance will be his downfall

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson continues to be defiant and believes more in himself than traditional NFL wisdom, which will be his downfall

It’s confusing how Hue Jackson has kept his job as long as he has. The Cleveland Browns head coach is 1-31 in the Land and he continues to prove why that is.

His ‘punishment’ of Antonio Callaway was ridiculed by former players as he let the young man get plenty of reps that could have gone to another player making the team. So not only did Jackson help Callaway’s position after he got in trouble, but he also took those opportunities from someone else.

That’s not the only thing he’s messing up. The way he’s gone about the quarterback situation this season is a mess. He’s been adamant about not letting Baker Mayfield see the field with the starters and reiterated that on Monday when asked again about the top pick getting time with the first team.

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"“No, no, no, no, no, Everybody’s asked me that a ton of times. Why? I’m going to tell you the reason why. We are learning a new system, and I think Tyrod needs every rep that he can get with the ones.” Hue said via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com“I think Baker’s doing outstanding with the twos. If something happens and we need to put him there, we will. Right now, that hasn’t happened.”"

The reason Jackson has been asked a “ton of times” is because no other coach goes about business like he does. No. 3 pick Sam Darnold has had time with the first team as has No. 7 overall pick, Josh Allen. Yet for some reason, Jackson remains defiantly against letting the young man work with higher quality talent.

Since 2010, every single No. 1 pick at quarterback has played from day one with the exception of Jared Goff — the coach who did that was Jeff Fisher and he’s now out of the league. Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Jameis Winston all started from day one. So too did Robert Griffin III, Marcus Mariota, and Carson Wentz who went No. 2 overall.

Usually, when you make that kind of investment, it’s to let them play and change the team. Yet Hue decided before ever seeing Mayfield or Taylor in his system what he would do.

Regardless of how you feel about the situation, that’s the wrong way to go about business. Jackson essentially said he has no concern about who is better, he will play who he wants.

Perhaps when he made that statement he thought Mayfield needed time, but now that Mayfield is showing he’s pro-ready, Jackson remains defiant yet again.

As Nick Hardwick said when Jackson punished Callaway with playing time:

"“This is not a smart coach people. 1-31 doesn’t happen by chance.” — Hardwick, via Twitter"

The worst part is, Jackson’s not even being asked to start the No. 1 overall pick like everyone else does. He’s just being asked if he will get practice reps with the first team.

That kind of pride and defiance will lead him to a seat right next to Jeff Fisher in no time.