Cleveland Browns Fans Must Be Realistic About Robert Griffin III

Fans of the Cleveland Browns will be in for a long 2016 if they do not keep their expectations for quarterback Robert Griffin III realistic.

May 25, 2016. This is the day that the Robert Griffin III experiment with the Cleveland Browns died a death.

This take emerged after Griffin supposedly threw a bad pass during a practice session on a sunny afternoon. The pass, one that allegedly sailed over a fence, led to local sports talk radio hosts somewhat jokingly discussing Griffin and what he may or not be for the 2016 Browns.

Needless to say, meaningful National Football League action cannot return soon enough.

In fairness to those who cover the Browns, it’s a weird time to be in the Cleveland area. The Cleveland Cavaliers are a handful of games away from potentially winning the first professional sports title the city has been able to celebrate in over 50 years. Over at

Jacobs Field

Progressive Field, the Cleveland Indians are attempting to close in on first place in the division standings.

The Browns, meanwhile, are just kinda/sorta hanging around this spring.

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This is not to underplay the reality that the next seven months are pivotal for Griffin. Griffin went from being the Offensive Rookie of the Year to a guy relegated to scout team duties during his stint with the Washington Redskins, and this fall could theoretically be the last time that any team gives RG3 an opportunity to enter the regular season as a starter.

Regardless of his health and the status of his confidence levels heading into the summer months, Griffin is not a miracle worker. Odds are that Griffin won’t be in the running for NFL Most Valuable Player honors come the holiday season. Griffin probably won’t be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate.

That’s OK.

Upon signing with the Browns, Griffin had to immediately begin making his way through the QB minefield that has been one of the worst organizations in North American pro sports over the past 17 years.  Front offices and head coaches have come and gone over that time, but the Browns have consistently been a club where QB careers go to die.

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Griffin would not necessarily have to be a victim of a supposed Cleveland curse to struggle during his first year with the Browns. The former Washington starter is working with a coaching staff that is still finding its feet with a new club. Griffin is learning a different offense, and he is working with Cleveland teammates for the first time. Add in that Griffin is attempting to resurrect whatever may be left of his fallen career, and all would do well to keep their expectations for Griffin and the new-look Cleveland offense to a minimum.

Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson seemingly understands this. Jackson made headlines earlier this month when he stated that there was not yet any guarantee that Griffin would start at QB for the Browns in August or in September. Perhaps Jackson was not merely attempting to light a fire under a player who is trying to prove that he still belongs in the NFL.

Maybe Jackson honestly has concerns about Griffin.

There are two things to remember about Griffin and the Browns moving forward. First off, the Browns have options at the QB position. Josh McCown is still on the Cleveland roster, probably because a team such as the New York Jets have not yet come calling for McCown’s services. Rookie QB Cody Kessler shouldn’t see the field in 2016, but he is nevertheless there on the depth chart.

The other thing that everybody must realize is that the Browns are probably going to be a bad football team this year; by “probably,” we mean “almost certainly.”

There is no true impact player within the Cleveland offense. The Browns do not have an All-Pro in the backfield. Suspended superstar wide receiver Josh Gordon may never again be allowed to play in the NFL. Those hoping that rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman will be some combination of Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown are living in a universe that is there own and that does not exist among the rest of us who are in the real world.

Oh yeah. The rest of the AFC North happens to be pretty good.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a future Hall-of-Famer starting at QB in Ben Roethlisberger, and Roethlisberger willk once again be running the top passing game in the division. Andy Dalton is still looking to take that next figurative step and lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a meaningful playoff run. Those who have buried the Baltimore Ravens and don’t envision them as a playoff contender may feel silly for doing so around Thanksgiving Day.

Griffin and the Browns are going to be up against it.

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A topic that has been discussed on local sports talk radio and among fans of the Browns has been about the type of season Griffin would need to have in order to be considered a success. Does Griffin need to throw 30 touchdowns? Must the Browns flirt with having a winning record and with competing for a playoff spot? Does Griffin have to cement himself as the future of a club that has been searching for a franchise QB since 1999?

No.

All Griffin needs to do is demonstrate that he has the goods to start in Week 1, and then show that he can stay healthy to the point that he can start in Week 17.

That’s it.

The Browns are not built to win in 2016. That’s not Griffin’s fault, but neither he nor any other QB on the roster can do anything to alter that. Griffin alone cannot save the Browns.

Those who fail to realize that are setting themselves up for quite the letdown.