Talented and troubled - Browns Daily Dose

Talented and troubled, they are what they are

The Browns’ No. 1 need heading into the offseason is a speedy, deep-threat wide receiver, or perhaps even two.

The No. 2 need was already going to be defensive line, and now, with the off-the-field problems of Malik McDowell, so potentially egregious that he is unlikely to be back in 2022, that need is even greater.

The Browns will no doubt look to fortify the position through both free energy and the NFL Draft, the latter hopefully with a player in the early rounds.

The Browns defense far exceeded expectations this year — who in the world thought the group would give up the fewest points in the AFC North, especially after getting blown out twice, to the New England patriots and Arizona Cardinals, and giving up 47 in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers? — but to become elite, there will have to be a lot of work done at tackle this offseason.

The McDowell situation is disappointing, certainly, because he seemed to be cleansing himself from his history of off-the field issues, but it is also not surprising because of that history.

The Browns fell prey to something that befalls all teams in all sports, and will continue to befall them. And it is that they draft or sign players who are talented but troubled, whose list of accomplishments is sometimes no longer than their list of transgressions. They do so because they think they have the magic pill to turn these players’ behaviors and lives around, and if they do so, then they will get a great talent at a bargain price — a gem right off the salvage pile.

What a deal, right?

But it seldom works out that way. The teams come to realize that those players are what they are — talented AND troubled — no matter how hard they work to change them.

It’s a shame — it really is — for everybody involved.

By Steve King

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