There are two very different sides of head coach Mike Pettine on the same basic subject.

 

In a way, that perplexing dilemma seems appropriate in this very bizarre Browns season.

 

First, let’s look at the good side.

 

Give Pettine all the credit in the world for getting the Browns to play hard last Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium. It was a big reason why they dominated the San Francisco 49ers from start to finish, winning 24-10.

 

With an NFL-worst 2-10 record and a league-high seven-game losing streak heading into the game, it would have been easy for the Browns to roll over and play dead. But instead, they came out from the get-go and punched the 49ers right in the face, and kept punching until San Francisco curled up in a ball and died.

 

The Browns were also focused mentality, keeping those bothersome silly mistakes to a minimum.

 

Given all that, then, it’s hard to figure out why Pettine said what he did yesterday. He proclaimed the Browns were going to let it all hang out when, as two-touchdown underdogs, they go to Seattle and face the red-hot Seahawks on Sunday.

 

Why does a coach have to say that? What should a coach say that?

 

Aren’t teams supposed to play hard all the time? There are only 16 regular-season games – 16 work days – so it certainly isn’t much to ask, or expect, for the players to roll up their sleeves and give it their best shot.

 

When Pettine comes out and makes a statement like that, it makes you wonder if the Browns haven’t always brought their A game this season. They did so against the 49ers, but did they do so the week before in a 37-3 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals?

 

Who knows?

 

People who work regular jobs have to work hard every day, lest they get fired. And they’re making about as much each year as the players do in about three days.

 

So it’s a bad look for a coach, who is also getting paid millions, proudly pointing out that his millionaires are going to be engaged on Sunday for three whole hours.

 

Can you imagine Bill Belichick, Mike McCarthy or Mike Tomlin telling everyone their guys were going to bring it on Sunday?

 

Come on. That would never happen.

 

And it should not have happened here.

 

Pettine should have left his team’s effort against the 49ers speak for itself. By adding to it, he took away from it.

 

Less really is more.

 

As former Browns head coach Sam Rutligliano always says, “Any time you have a chance to say absolutely nothing, take full advantage of it.”