Cleveland Browns: Terrelle Pryor Doesn’t Need to Be Paid Just Yet

Fans of the Cleveland Browns should enjoy watching Terrelle Pryor for now, and worry about his future at a later time.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor had a breakout performance against the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday. Pryor was undeniably the best overall offensive player on the field and was the main reason the Browns had a chance to defeat the Dolphins. Even if they fell short, it was a perceived star-making performance.

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With that said, everybody needs to dunk all hot takes about the Browns immediately signing Pryor to an extension into a tank of ice water. Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland recently wrote the Browns “should be proactive and lock up a playmaker whom they created.” Dan Kadar of the Akron Beacon Journal offered his reasoning for why the Browns “must give Terrelle Pryor a contract extension now.”

One would think fans and observers of the Browns would know better in 2016.

It was less than two years ago when quarterback Brian Hoyer had a stellar outing in leading the Browns to a victory over division rivals the Baltimore Ravens on a Thursday night. You may remember NFL Network personality and former player Deion Sanders saying “pay the man!” on-air regarding Hoyer’s future with the Browns.

The Browns, of course, did not “pay the man.” Midnight struck during Hoyer’s Cinderella story. He moved on from the Browns following the 2014 campaign. Hoyer has since been nothing more than a journeyman who failed to keep a gig with the Houston Texans. Now, he’s currently a backup to Jay Cutler with the Chicago Bears.

The Browns wisely didn’t cave to demands made by pockets of fans two years ago. That trend should continue as it pertains to Pryor for now.

Pryor had one great game. One. Granted, that excellent performance occurred when Pryor was playing alongside rookie quarterback Cody Kessler, a project who wouldn’t be close to stepping onto a field during a game if Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown were healthy—and also if the Browns would’ve signed a veteran backup immediately after RG3 suffered a shoulder injury.

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That game also occurred against the Dolphins, a lousy football team that probably should be 0-3.

Before lighting up the Dolphins and carrying the Cleveland offense on his back, Pryor was targeted a total of 17 times in the first two games of the season. He had six catches, 100 receiving yards, and zero touchdowns.

Let’s not put Pryor into the Pro Football Hall of Fame just yet.

Pryor, a former quarterback who had to make the switch to receiver in order to remain in the NFL, is still evolving as a player. Nobody knows with any certainty what Pryor will be come January. Pryor has all the physical tools needed to be a superstar at his position. He isn’t there yet, though. And anybody who would say otherwise is jumping the gun and possibly looking for something positive to say about a member of what may be the worst team in the NFL.

Those who believe the Browns should sign Pryor to an extension before the end of September are likely the same people who think Josh Gordon will fall back into his All-Pro form upon returning from a four-game suspension. Gordon hasn’t been an elite performer in meaningful games since 2013. He hasn’t really been an active NFL player since the end of the 2014 campaign.

Gordon and Pryor are both question marks for different reasons.

A lot can, and will, happen between now and the end of December. Pryor could earn himself a spot on the Pro Bowl squad. His production could decrease once opposing defensive coordinators begin to scheme against him. He could tear his ACL on the final play of the season and be sidelined for an entire year. We just don’t know.

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The Browns have plenty of time to decide what to do with Pryor past 2016. Cleveland would still be able to woo him for months if the club waited until after the campaign to begin negotiations. By then, the coaching staff and all who follow the team will have a better idea about Pryor can and will be in his new position.

Fans of the Browns are understandably impatient for a variety of reasons. However, they all need to understand there’s no rush to guarantee anything other than playing time to Pryor right now.