Cleveland Browns should not be shocked by Antonio Callaway

Antonio Callaway’s substance issues are a major reason he fell to the 4th round. It’s not surprising that issues have persisted with the Cleveland Browns

Antonio Callaway‘s substance issues are the major reason why he fell to the fourth round in the2018 NFL draft,  so it should not be amazing that the issues have apparently persisted.  This isn’t a reason for the team to panic, and this reviewer does not believe it is time to pay the young man to go play with the Pittsburgh Steelers while getting paid by the Browns on a guaranteed contract.

Players like Callaway are a risk. Sometimes you take that risk and try to manage that risk as well as possible. John Dorsey acted wisely to draft a player in the fourth round who has a chance to become a top NFL performer.

Above all else, substance abuse is a life-threatening condition. Sometimes it is fatal. It behooves the athlete as well as the employer to seek the best possible treatment and assistance, with the help of professionals with experience in rehabilitation and recovery.  Concern for Antonio Callaway the man takes precedence over Antonio Callaway the football player.

In the 1980s and forward, the Browns were at the forefront of sports rehabilitation under the award-winning Inner Circle program established by coach Sam Rutigliano of the Browns and Dr. Gregory Collins of the Cleveland Clinic.

However, the Browns cut ties with the Cleveland Clinic in favor of University Hospitals in 2014. While the University Hospitals are likewise highly regarded, very little is known about the Browns’ plan and capabilities for rehabilitating troubled players. DPD reached out to University Hospitals asking for general information about sports-related substance abuse treatment facilities available to the Browns, but they have not commented. Presumably, the substance abuse program used by the Browns is also world-class, but very little information has been made available about these resources.

Looking at just the numbers, the Browns did not invest very much in Callaway, only a fourth-round draft pick. If they were to cut him, they would lose about $532,000 in guaranteed contract money. That’s not much money for an NFL team. If there is even a small chance that Callaway can fulfill his potential, it’s a worthwhile gamble to make. Most fourth-round draft picks are role players, so if there is a player with the ability to make the Pro Bowl, it is worth taking that chance.

Since Callaway is apparently going to be suspended by the league, there’s no reason to cut him now. The league is very generous to the team in such cases. The team doesn’t pay salary, and they are not charged for a roster spot. Nothing bad happens to the team for keeping him on the roster on the suspended list, and nothing good happens if they terminate his contract.

Substance abuse thrives in chaotic environments. A structured environment with rewards for positive behavior and punishments for negative behavior would be a fundamental requirement for someone like Callaway. It’s troubling that the Browns used the opposite strategy with Callaway early on. Instead of making him work for everything that he got, coach Hue Jackson came up with the unusual strategy of punishing him by giving him extra game reps.

A game rep is a most precious commodity for a young player, and they suffer in summer camp trying to earn those reps. Jackson’s unique plan was to take away reps from those who earned them and give them to Callaway to get him out of breath and punish him for not being in top shape. That has got to confuse the kid.

Jackson also went ballistic when Josh Gordon filmed a commercial without appropriate permission and aggravated a hamstring pull. Gordon, of course, was an All-Pro talent with a major substance problem and could not be counted on.

What should be done with players like Callaway and Gordon? This analyst’s unsolicited advice is to never build a team or even a game plan on players with uncertain availability, but use them as third or fourth receivers. Don’t expect too much, and don’t lose your mind if they flop.

If someone with a drug problem fails a drug test, the Browns should not be shocked and amazed. Next man up, suit up and let’s go. In the meantime, do what you can to support the player with professional help and medical advice. Don’t set yourself up like Hue Jackson to fall apart when problems arise. Don’t give players away. Let the Steelers and Patriots develop their own players, not just get them from Cleveland.

If the Browns are ever to compete, they need to have patience in the players they draft and not give up on them at the first sign of trouble.

From the Browns’ standpoint, this may be a blessing in disguise. There were too many good receivers (yes that is hard to believe for a Browns team but it is true). Nothing bad will happen if the commissioner invites him to sit out a few games.

Maybe he can get his life in order while he is sitting out, and hopefully, the treatment will be successful this time and he could be better than ever. But he should still be made to earn his game reps.