The more the Browns lose, and the more troubles that befall them, in this nightmare of a season, the more I am convinced that they have absolutely the right head coach for the job in Hue Jackson.
What?! Huh?!
I know what you’re thinking: “The Browns are 0-12 and sinking deeper into the abyss with each passing moment, and the coach gets a vote of confidence – a real, legitimate vote of confidence? How can that possibly be? Are you serious?”
Yes, I am, more real and honest than I can say. It’s not hard to figure out, really.
After all, if Jackson can keep his head together and not have his knees buckle in the worst and toughest season he’ll ever experience, then how much better will he be when he Browns are back on the right road?
This season was never about winning – never, ever – and Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown said as much recently. It was about tearing this thing down to the bare walls and building it back up again slowly, but surely with a bunch of talented though young, wet-behind-the-ears players.
That’s a lot easier said than done. It’s miserable for everybody involved, especially the coaches, whose careers are built on winning games. To ask Jackson to be a sacrificial lamb for this adventure into a swamp filled with deadly alligators, and for him to accept, knowing full well in his heart of hearts what was going to happen, even if he’ll never admit it, shows how tough, and how comfortable in his own skin, he really is.
It’s easy to lead when things are going well, but it’s tough to do so well when things are in the sewer. We already knew Jackson was a good football man. Now we know what kind of leader he is.
That’s what you need to take out of this season, that the face of the franchise can face anything and get through it.
