Do you think there is dysfunction in the Browns front office?
The people outside of Cleveland are convinced there is. In fact, to them, it’s not even a question that Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown and his analytics guys, and head coach Hue Jackson are not always on the same page, especially when it comes to major issues.
That was brought out – a lot, and in a matter-of-fact fashion – by co-hosts Dari Nowkhah and Mel Kiper Jr. on the “Dari and Mel” ESPN radio show last Saturday morning. It was stunning to hear it. My jaw dropped.
The two were discussing the recent NFL Draft and the Browns’ moves, especially in taking quarterback DeShone Kizer in the second round, and what happened in last year’s draft when the club traded out of the No. 2 pick to the Philadelphia Eagles, who gobbled up quarterback Carson Wentz. Kiper made it a point of mentioning that Jackson wanted to stay there and taken Wentz.
Kiper said that when the top football exec wants to do one thing and the coach wants to do another, “It’s a recipe for disaster.”
He’s oh, so right.
I talked about such a rift recently in writing that it struck me that Jackson told a national writer that he wanted the Browns to take Ohio State safety Malik Hooker in the first round, at No. 12 overall, in the NFL Draft a week and a half ago, then Brown traded out of the pick with the Houston Texans. The Browns went all the way down to No. 25, where they selected Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers.
Isn’t information like that confidential? Doesn’t Jackson know that it looks bad when he makes it clear he wanted to stand pat while Brown overruled him and bailed out of the spot?
Or did Jackson divulge his wishes purposely so as to let people know he’s not on board with what happened?
The reason for him saying what he said remains to be seen, but what we do know is that it isn’t good.
Of course, Brown and Jackson are going to disagree on things. That’s inevitable. But in a good organization, the top guys hash things out behind closed doors and when they emerge, they are in agreement. Neither one says anything otherwise – ever.
The Browns had well-publicized dysfunction in their last regime with General Manger Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine. Not surprisingly, the organization imploded because of it.
If that happens again, then another implosion will eventually happen and the Browns will have to start over.
Yet again.
Yikes!
Are you listening, owner Jimmy Haslam? You didn’t stop the last blow-up, but will you had better stop this one before it gets out of control.
Or else.
