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Lent is a time in some religions, mainly Catholic, during which members are tasked with giving up things they like, or are a big part of their life, as a reminder to form a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God, focused on prayer, fasting and reflection.

It began on Wednesday — Ash Wednesday — and will last for 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday, April 5.

For their own benefit and also that of their fans and me and my blood pressure, here’s what I wish — I hope and pray — the Browns give up not just for Lent but rather for good as well:

FALSE STARTS — The Browns offensive line looks like a dance team that has not practiced, with players moving in all different directions and at all different times. No cohesion whatsoever. There are no plays in the playbook for first down and 15, yet the Browns face that time and time and time again.

CELEBRATORY PENALTIES — I like to have fun — and to see others having it — as much as the next guy. But if you’re going to celebrate, don’t be jabbering junk
at your opponent, just beat him
and make him look bad and smile and walk away. Your good time should never cost your team 15 yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS PENALTIES — They call it a block in the back for a reason. If you can’t see his face, then don’t block him. It is possible — other clubs do it; I’ve seen it — to block on special teams without commiting a penalty.

SCRIPTED PLAYS — Everybody has a plan — a play — for that first offensive series until one play results in a seven-yard loss. That’s when you stop and reassess things. And when running plays keep working one right after the other, don’t try to be cute and throw a pass. Call plays that are successful and keep calling them.

WE TALK TOO MUCH — Unless you suit up and play, you can’t refer to yourself as “we” when talking about the Browns. You just simply can’t. It is way too unprofessional and homespun. That’s especially the case when you’re the color analyst calling games on the team’s radio network and the words you utter are heard by thousands of people and set a narrative for the whole organization. In addition, as the analyst, you must understand that you are only the No. 2 person in the booth and the broadcast is instead contoured around the talents of the No. 1 person, the play-by-play announcer. As such, then, you should get in and out quickly with your comments and never, ever talk incessantly, from the end of one play to the beginning of the next, let alone throughout every broadcast every week of every season. Nothing deep-sixes a broadcast faster than that. In your case, less is indeed more — much, much more, in fact. You must always remember this. Are we straight? Do we understand each other? Can we do better, now?

AND FINALLY, PASS ON THE SIDEWAYS PASSES — The Browns use way too many pass routes that head to the sideline as if that’s where the end zone is. It is so boring. It is like watching a turtle race. Instead, passes should be mostly vertical. Throw to where the points are.

Now bless you, young men, go forth, change your ways and be fruitful.

Steve King

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