Cleveland Browns Continue to Look Like a Circus After Shanahan Departure: Leave it to the Cleveland Browns to make headlines every single postseason without actually being a part of any games. They did it again this year with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan forcing his way out of Cleveland and the firing of quarterback coach Dowell Loggains. Once again the Browns’ dirty laundry became public and embarrassing. There is an argument to be made —and a very good one—that the Browns may be better off without Shanahan. The last thing a team that has quarterback identity issues and a 13-year playoff drought needs is a disgruntled coordinator. Add that to the fact that most thought Shanahan would jet after a season or two for a head coaching job anyway and the damage to everyday operations is minimal. Shanahan did have a tendency to be stubborn with his game plans and get away from the run too often. The real damage was done by the flamethrower that Shanahan unleashed on his way out the door. Or at least the one we can assume he pulled the trigger on. “I regret how the inner workings of the organization were represented publicly over the last few days,” Shanahan said in his statement released by the team. “Ray and Mike both have the work ethic, experience and talent to work together to turn this organization into a winner. In light of the circumstances, I have decided to resign.” In the time leading up to Shanahan’s departure, there were media leaks and rumors that he wanted out of Cleveland, did not like the dynamic between the coaches and front office and even that the front office had sent texts to the sideline during games to complain about play-calling. That last allegation is especially damning because it brought about an investigation into what exactly happened and if that text was actually sent according to ESPN. Fox Sports Jay Glazer also said that Shanahan did things the wrong way on the way out, via ESPNs Dustin Fox. Kyle Shanahan getting a bad rep. #Browns https://t.co/OvVL9Y7IdH — Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) January 9, 2015 Even still, the Browns end up looking like a three-ring circus. They are the ones that cannot keep their offensive coordinator happy. They are the ones that have the quarterback who seemingly cannot stop partying. They are the ones that look like they have an overzealous owner who won’t stop meddling in team operations. Whether any of those things are true or not does not matter; perception is reality. If people look at the Browns and view them as the “same old team,” then that is exactly what they are. Remember, perception is the very thing that makes offensive coordinator candidates decide which job to take, free agents decide where to sign and fans decide how to view the organization. It is tough to view the Browns anyway but sideways right now. Even with a poor perception hanging over their heads like a black cloud, the Browns coordinator job is a very attractive one. It comes with two things that every quarterback coach or coordinator looks for: a built-in excuse and room for quick advancement. Whoever becomes the next offensive coordinator will inherit quarterback Johnny Manziel. He alone is why they should want to take the job. If Manziel falls flat on his face, then it will look like no one can help him. If this coordinator and Shanahan could not reach him, then owner Jimmy Haslam will part ways and move in a different direction at quarterback. The coordinators hands will be clean. If—and right now, it looks like a big if—the coordinator is able to turn Manziel into a serviceable NFL quarterback, then he is a legend and on the fast track to becoming a head coach. He will have taken a “lost cause” at quarterback and made him worth the first-round selection the Browns used on him. When the next round of head coaching hires comes his name will be kicked around. It will take a coordinator who is able to look past the bad PR that surrounds the Browns currently. It will take a man who is confident in his abilities and buys what the owner is selling. It will take a man who believes the circus has left town despite the trail of elephant dung throughout the media the last few weeks. Read more NFL news on BleacherReport #Football #NFL #AFCNorth #ClevelandBrowns
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:11:59 +0000