Browns reach height of dysfunction with players-only meeting

After just two weeks, the Cleveland Browns decided to try and fix a divide with the dreaded players-only meeting, which will only increase the divide between players and staff

This week has been a crazy one for the Cleveland Browns, and it continues to get worse. After blowing a 13-point lead in 1:55 to a team with a backup quarterback, two backup tackles, and no timeouts, they started to let words fly in the media.

Some were just making sure we all knew they didn’t screw up on the 66-yard touchdown from Corey Davis while others were sharing their disappointment in fans for not being happy about an embarrassing meltdown.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, they’ve now reached the pinnacle of dysfunction by holding the dreaded players-only meeting. After just two games.

It’s hard to find a time that a players-only meeting actually kept a team from being a disaster for an entire season, and with how much drama is already surrounding this team, it’s a frightening thought to know it’s already come to this.

Browns divide could grow larger

For those who heard the comments from Denzel Ward, John Johnson, and others on Monday, this wasn’t the first time someone on this roster went public with their frustration. Just last year, Myles Garrett decided to bash the coaches while speaking to the media.

There were those who said it wasn’t hypocrisy from Garrett, who was mad that Baker Mayfield said it was inexcusable to bash a dude in the skull with a helmet because it was just a coach and not a teammate. That’s wrong simply because the coach is part of the team as well and should be treated with respect — especially by leaders. Others said it was fine because he was correct.

Whether or not Garrett was right in his assessment, it should have stayed in-house. Just as the finger-pointing on Monday should have been.

Now the “me-first” attitude has turned into a meeting where players don’t want the coaches around and that will do nothing to fix the divide between players and coaches.

Maybe it helps in the short term. Maybe it helps squash an argument between two or more players. But winning teams don’t hold players-only meetings after two games. Winning teams don’t bash their coaches in public. Winning teams don’t point fingers through the media.

As long as Cleveland continues to do these things that winners don’t do, they’ll never be anything more than a talented team that can’t get out of its own way.