Cleveland Browns predicted to be a ‘dysfunctional reality show’

Not everyone is a fan of the moves made by the Cleveland Browns this offseason as Fox Sports’ Jason Whitlock says the will be a ‘dysfunctional reality show’

You can’t please everyone all the time. This offseason, the Cleveland Browns have continued their great turnaround from a 0-16 team in 2017 to the favorites in the AFC North. Since that winless season, they added a franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield, a shutdown corner in Denzel Ward, one of the better slot receivers in the game in Jarvis Landry, and two former New York Giants stars — Odell Beckham, Jr. and Olivier Vernon.

Cleveland also shored up their defensive line by signing defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and built depth at linebacker with the signing of Adarius Taylor who was a captain for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year.

While these moves have been met with great reviews, there’s one person who seems unimpressed. Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports tried throwing some cold water on the Browns by saying these moves feel like the stuff we see in movies, but that this is no film. Instead, his prediction is that this season will turn into a dysfunctional reality show’.

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"“The Browns do have a first time head coach, an undersized quarterback with a boulder on his shoulder, two number-one receivers who both want the ball all the time. Things could get ugly quick in Cleveland.” — Whitlock said via Troy L. Smith of Cleveland.com"

While Whitlock is entitled to his opinion, we can be honest and say he’s wrong. First off, the idea that Mayfield is undersized is played out. He was measured at 6-foot-1 at the combine which means he’s taller than Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, both of whom have won Super Bowls. He’s also just one inch shorter than Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and is the same height as Case Keenum. We can go further and add Steve Young, Tony Romo, Kurt Warner, and Brett Favre to the list of 6-foot-2 quarterbacks who have had their share of success in the NFL.

There’s simply no reason to think that Mayfield’s height is a concern. He even proved as much when he broke the NFL rookie record for touchdown passes with 27 while throwing for 3,725 yards in just 14 starts.

His next assertion is that both Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, Jr. will want the ball. Apparently, he doesn’t understand this is how every receiver is. However, Landry proved in 2018 that he can work just fine without the ball as he was one of the more willing blockers at the position in the entire NFL. Not only that, but Landry and OBJ are great friends who will genuinely take joy in seeing one another get their share of the touches.

Surely Whitlock is thinking of the old adage that there’s just one ball and it can’t go to everyone. Except it can.

There may be only one football but offenses run 60-75 plays per game. There will be plays drawn up for OBJ and for Landry. And each will get their turns to make things happen with the ball in their hand.

The other issue Whitlock is taking is the fact that Freddie Kitchens is a rookie coach, but is this a bad thing? Doug Pederson was a first-time coach with the Philadelphia Eagles and won a Super Bowl in his second season. Sean McVay was also green but took the Los Angeles Rams to the title game in his second season.

Every coach has to start somewhere and the idea that you need multiple seasons as a head coach to start winning is about as tired as the ‘Baker is too short’ argument.

Unfortunately, people will still try and bash the Browns but the fact is this roster is far more talented than they were a season ago. That’s a positive thing and there’s no reason to think it will blow up, especially considering the majority of this roster was together in 2018 and it was one of the tightest groups of players this fan base has had the pleasure of watching since they returned to the NFL in 1999.