Cleveland Browns Hit a New Low

The Cleveland Browns have finally done it. The Browns have hit an unprecedented low.

It is not just that the Cleveland Browns are a lousy football team. That’s nothing new for a franchise that has not had a winning season since 2007 and that clinched yet another losing campaign following a loss to the Baltimore Ravens this past Monday night. 2015 will go down as an infamous season for what was once a proud brand, a team that has, for the most part, been a dumpster fire since returning to the National Football League in 1999.

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We’ll start with the loss to the Ravens on Monday. Not only was Baltimore without starting quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receiver Steve Smith. The Ravens started Matt “pick six” Schaub, who did, in fact, throw an interception that was returned for a touchdown on Monday. Schaub then gifted the Browns with an interception late in what was, at the time, a tie game. That turnover should have resulted in the Browns defeating their division foes via a game-winning field goal.

Then the unthinkable and rare “kick six” occurred.

Every fan base has to deal with harsh losses. It’s part of watching this form of entertainment. The events that occurred at FirstEnergy Stadium on Monday represented a new type of breaking point for long-suffering Cleveland fans who have endured the type of pain one would expect to see mentioned in a Shakespeare play.

Reactions on Twitter were what one would expect.

The newest of Cleveland gut-punches occurred just hours after a piece produced by Kevin Jones of Cleveland Scene absolutely destroyed 2014 first-round pick cornerback Justin Gilbert. Gilbert, who has been a flop since being selected by the Browns on May 8 of last year, suffered a concussion during Monday night’s affair.

Here is an excerpt from the Jones’ article that Browns fans everywhere will want to read:

"But what’s troubling about the matter is that Gilbert’s personality problems are apparent to anyone who’s been around him for longer than a day. He’s withdrawn and carries a distinct false sense of entitlement that shows itself when he acts downright aloof to how his negative behavior rubs people the wrong way.Browns community and marketing staffers rarely bother asking him to participate in activities with fans — usually a must for recent draft picks.Two prominent Browns defensive players recently read a transcript of Gilbert’s graceless and unprofessional interview with reporters this fall about his promotion to kick returner and complained directly to me.“He just doesn’t get what the NFL is about. At all,” said one veteran. “How could they miss this badly?” said another about the front office."

The chronicles of second-year pro Johnny Manziel have been covered by just about any form of media that is interested in the NFL. Manziel recently went from starting QB of the Browns following solid play on the field to third on the depth chart after head coach Mike Pettine grounded the former “Johnny Football.” Manziel partied during the bye week and then lied to the club when asked about his activities, leading to Pettine sending the 22-year-old to his figurative room to think about what he did.

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Pettine may now have no other chance but to play Manziel. His job could count on it.

Veteran Josh McCown performed better for the Browns this season than any reasonable person could have expected. McCown has also been a warrior who has played through pain on multiple occasions. Monday proved to be too much for the 36-year-old, though, as McCown suffered a broken collarbone during the second half of the game against the Ravens.

Pettine stayed true to his word when McCown went down. The coach ignored chants of “Johnny! Johnny!” from fans in the stands and instead sent Austin Davis out onto the field. Davis, to his credit, played well, hitting Travis Benjamin for a game-tying touchdown late in the game. The former QB of the St. Louis Rams also displayed some horrible time-management that cost the Browns at least a few additional plays.

Pettine, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, told reporters after benching Manziel last week that he had not yet given up on the QB:

"“We told him yesterday, ‘This isn’t a dead end, this is a hurdle,” said Pettine. “Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a few forward.  This is a heavy dose of adversity. We will see how he handles it.”"

Whether or not Manziel will be allowed to come out of his room and play when the Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals on December 6 is not yet known.

As bad as Monday night was for the Browns, Tuesday and the rest of the week could even be worse. Electing to start Davis over Manziel would make Pettine an unpopular figure among many within the Cleveland fan base, so much so that both Davis and Pettine could be booed at the stadium this coming Sunday. Additional garbage on the already-flaming pile was the story broken by the previously-mentioned Cabot that Terrelle Pryor was re-signing with the Browns.

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Fans of the Browns will remember Pryor from his days at Ohio State and also from his brief stint with Cleveland earlier this year. Pryor was attempting to convert from QB to wide receiver during the summer months, but he was more-so a spectator than a contributor because of injuries/fitness. Pryor remained available throughout the regular season until the Browns (allegedly) scooped him up on Tuesday.

Some viewed this potential transaction with the cynicism it probably deserves.

It would be understandable if you would forget even one of the woes hovering over the Browns this holiday season. Here is a helpful list:

1. The Browns have lost six straight games and are 2-9 under Coach Pettine this season.
2. The Browns have, going back to 2014, lost 14 of 16 games.
3. Cleveland general manager Ray Farmer has used first-round picks on Gilbert, Manziel, nose tackle Danny Shelton and offensive lineman Cam Erving. Only Manziel has shown flashes of what you would hope to see from a first-round pick, but he continues to be his own worst enemy.
4. It is likely that the Browns will not win again this season.
5. Farmer, Pettine and Manziel could all be out of Cleveland in 2016. That would be the start of the fourth regime change for the Browns since 2010 (h/t Pro-Football-Reference).

There’s more.

One would have to recall the 1970s to remember a time when the Browns were this pitiful. Even the expansion Browns of ’99 that were set up to fail had hope that first-round pick Tim Couch would one day become at least a serviceable QB if given a pro offensive line and some talent around him. The only thing the Browns have going for them right now is Manziel, who, justifiably or not, cannot get on the field.

This is not “same old Browns.” It’s much, much worse.