Cleveland Browns: Where to go from an embarrassing 4-4 start

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Sep 26, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) makes a reception against the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

The OBJ experiment may need to end

At some point, there are couples who just need to accept that the relationship isn’t working out, and should amicably part ways. This is the case of Odell Beckham Jr. and the Cleveland Browns.

Just look at this clip from Sunday. Does 13 look happy? No. Should he be happy? Probably not. Why was he here in the first place? Still not quite sure.

Cleveland is a run-first team. That isn’t an arguable point. When the team does pass, it was bootlegs for eight to 10 yards for first downs (until this season, that is). Yes, OBJ could make any team better. He is a generational talent with amazing speed and pass-catching ability. But when the scheme doesn’t fit the player, it has to hurt. And it is hurting – it’s hurting everyone.

OBJ isn’t the only one to blame here either. Both the WR and tight end rooms have underperformed and under-delivered thus far. With those groups alone taking up over $40 million in cap space, it’s simply unacceptable. And if it continues, don’t expect either of those rooms to look the same in the coming years. But out of all of those players, there’s one that is being paid the largest sum of money and has arguably delivered the least.

Could this be fixed? Sure it could. Could the offense use some more flash and diversity that a player like OBJ provides? Absolutely. But at this rate, with an injured team that could use depth, and a large chunk of the Browns salary going to underperforming wideouts, maybe now just isn’t the time with this player. Maybe another comes down the road vis draft or free agency. But The OBJ experiment is fading, and it’s fading quickly.

As Stefanski said Sunday, like he has many times before, the coaches need to “do a better job of putting their players in a position to succeed.” Well, they’ve tried that with him, and maybe it’s time for the front office to place OBJ elsewhere – just not in FirstEnergy Stadium. No hurt feelings. No need for animosity. No “he and Baker have no chemistry.” No “OBJ is washed.” Just a clean split to benefit both sides.

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