KEEP QUIET, BECAUSE IT’S FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM

By STEVE KING

In 1985, both Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner rushed for 1,000 yards for the Browns, becoming just the third set of running backs from the same team to do that in NFL history.

The following year, Lindy Infante arrived as offensive coordinator and immediately switched the Browns to a pass-first offense. Neither Mack nor Byner said a word. They didn’t complain one bit, for they knew that with a young franchise quarterback named Bernie Kosar in tow, the move was for the best of the team. And they were right, for the Browns became one of the most prolific offenses in the game and made three AFC Championship Game appearances in the next four seasons.

In addition, none of the pass-catchers on the team – wide receivers Webster Slaughter, Brian Brennan and Reggie Langhorne, and Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome – ever moaned and groaned when the ball didn’t come their way a lot. Again, they knew that spreading the ball around kept defenses guessing and was for the good of the team.

The same was true with the Kardiac Kids Browns teams of 1979 and ’80. The Browns had all kinds of offensive weapons both in the running and passing games, and a quarterback in Brian Sipe who would go on become the first Brown to win the NFL MVP award in 15 years. He’s still the last Brown to be so honored. They never griped when their touches were limited, because, once more, they all realized it was for the betterment of the team. In 1980, the Browns won their first AFC Central crown in nine seasons and made the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

Why this history lesson?

Because Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens was asked in his press conference on Monday about the team’s offensive stars getting enough touches to keep them happy. Kitchens went into a long explanation that it – getting everyone the ball enough – was going to happen.

Then he ended his comment with the best part of his explanation.

“I am going to make everybody happy,” Kitchens said. “More importantly, hopefully, we win the game and it will make everyone happy. That is the only important thing.”

Amen. Winning – not touches — is all that matters.