Cleveland Browns fans: It’s ok to be angry with slow start

The offseason was filled with Baker Mayfield for MVP talk. It wasn’t a hot take to predict Freddie Kitchens would win coach of the year. The offense was supposed to be one of the best offenses in the NFL, but to date, none of these things seem realistic for the Cleveland Browns.

Expectations can lead to overreactions. Expectations and failing to meet them can lead to panic. Expectations are an overrated part of sports, but expectations matter.

The expectations set forth for the Cleveland Browns were warranted. The Browns aren’t living up to those expectations, and it is disappointing. Fans aren’t happy, the masses in the media are writing the Browns’ death wish, and the team’s sense of urgency is at an all-time high.

This article isn’t for the media or the team, what I am about to say is for the fans: it is ok to be upset with the start of the 2019 season. I must stress 2019.

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Fans have been critical of the team’s performance but have been far more critical of Mayfield and Kitchens. First, the head coach: Kitchens talked in the offseason about how the Browns would be the most physical team on the field.

He set the standard by having an unprecedented amount of padded practices during training camp, something that the players said they loved. It was a culture change. Physicality is supposed to be the Browns’ calling card, but it hasn’t felt that way thus far this season.

As for Mayfield, he has had the worse start imaginable. Four touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s completing 56 percent of his passes down from 62 percent last season. He’s been horrendous in the red zone completing just 25 percent of his passes and is coming off of an 8 for 22 outing.

Kitchens has looked every bit of a rookie head coach, and Baker has been down-right awful. There are other factors in play, but this is the NFL, every team has obstacles to overcome. This team had elite expectations and have not come close to meeting them. Fans have every right to be upset.

This is not 2018. The Browns shouldn’t get any rollover credit. Cleveland has been dominated in two games this season, losing by 30 points in week one and 28 points on Monday night.

They have also yet to win a home game. It’s disappointing. It’s frustrating. The anger felt by fans shouldn’t be dismissed because of projections for the latter half of the schedule and comparing pass great quarterbacks who were terrible in their second season.

Fans are living in the now. The Browns should have put forth a better performance in the home opener instead of an 18-penalty 30-point thrashing. They had chances against the Los Angeles Rams, and play-calling failed the team. Coming off of the best game of the year and following it up with a four turnover, three-point game is discouraging.

The Browns are by no means done. They have a chance to turn things around, but nothing is guaranteed. At the moment, what the Browns have put on the field hasn’t lived up to the fans, media, and, most of all, their expectations.

It’s early. Kitchens is a rookie head coach. Baker is only in year two. Those things are true. What is also true, despite those things, it is ok to be upset with how things have started. It’s ok to want more now and not in the future.

Cleveland has been counting on the future since 1999. This season was supposed to be the season where the future finally paid dividends. It still might, but in the meantime, Browns fans, it’s ok to be a tad bit angry.