Carmen’s Crew beats Golden Eagles, 66-60, to win TBT title for first time
August 6, 2019Dawg Check: Browns Training Camp Day 11
August 7, 2019The 2019 Cleveland Browns take their first step towards a new season this Thursday, as they welcome the Washington Redskins for their preseason opener. With the start of a new year comes expectations. For the first time in recent memory, talking heads around sports media are favoring the Browns to win their division. Some have gone so far as predicting a playoff run. Not bad for a city that hasn’t seen the second round of the NFL postseason since January 7th, 1995.
But for all the adulation and backslapping the media has provided, there has been a heightened amount of distraction as well. With one of the youngest and most talented rosters in the league, Cleveland has become a hot topic of conversation amongst daytime television hosts, radio personalities, and an unending slush of sports following twitter commenters. Each soundbite has been debated and examined. From Duke Johnson’s trade request to Baker Mayfield’s beer consumption, the Browns are getting what 21st-century media demands: clicks, clicks, clicks.
On Monday, first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens added more fuel to the fire, addressing former offensive line coach Bob Wylie’s comments regarding his lack of merit as Cleveland’s head coach. The man with the infamous ‘set hut’ belly continued on to discredit Kitchens’s work last season as interim offensive coordinator, a stretch which amounted to a 5-3 run.
After addressing the situation with Wylie specifically, Kitchens went on to speak about changes in the organization since he took the helm:
“The days of inside information and the days of unnamed sources and stuff like that have ended. So, you’re not going to get any information like that ever. Anybody. And if I ever see it, they’re fired, immediately. That’s the way we’re running this organization and I can take it. John Dorsey can take it. We won’t crack, I promise you.’’
ESPN platforms such as SportsCenter and First Take highlighted the coach’s statement, often erring on the side of negativity, referring to it as a ‘rookie coach mistake’ and a ‘distraction to the team’. Kitchens did not address the comments during Tuesday’s media scrum.
For Browns fans, a quote like this may drum up memories of instability. Confrontation between the coaches, presidents, general managers, and ownership often came to light after a member of the media consulted an unnamed source. Time after time, the franchise’s ineptitude on the field mirrored the seemingly open line between sportswriters and 76 Lou Groza Boulevard.
Airing out dirty laundry in the public eye magnifies issues and increases tension amongst team personnel, and with expectations raised to their highest level in the history of the expansion era Browns, one has to wonder if this issue will finally be rectified. Just one season removed from an 0-16 campaign, it will be a tall order for a new coaching staff. Continuing to change a franchise’s culture from basement dweller to contender is a unique challenge, one that may require a shove instead of a push.
Recent years have provided far too many examples of this behavior. Anonymous sources illustrated a turbulent relationship between former executive vice president Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson, a notorious 2015 locker room rift over Mike Pettine’s choice at quarterback, and Seth Wickersham’s January exposé of internal discord under Haslam’s ownership. Each of these incidents had an effect on the team, media, and fanbase it pertained to.
The issue itself is important because of its less frequent rate amongst successful teams. Historically winning organizations such as the Giants, Steelers, Packers, and Patriots are known for their ability to handle confrontation behind closed doors. It’s no secret that strong NFL teams work to duck controversy, which not only avoids unwanted distractions but proves the discipline and focus of their operation. This is a luxury Cleveland has been without for a long, long time.
To some, Kitchens’s statement may come across as counterproductive, causing a short but fair amount of distraction in its own right. Those who scorn it often cite it as being unnecessary, out of character for a strong head coach. But a fan’s memory is short, and the persona of what a coach’s character should be is very much fluid. Which brings me to Belichickism, a word I made up specifically for this article. Don’t know what I mean? Let’s take a look:
Belichickism: Noun
Bel·i·chick·ism
• The act of comparing every action by an NFL head coach to the perceived actions of Bill Belichick
Yes, the New England Patriots have been the gold standard of professional football for the last two decades, and because of this, people have a tendency to run a coach’s actions through the lens of ‘what would Bill do’? Would Belichick have made a similar comment during a press conference? Probably not. In fact, he’s statistically more likely to growl a name of a city at you instead, and this difference in reaction can cause anxiety for those who have high hopes for Cleveland’s success.
Going a level deeper, however, it’s important to recognize that proven coaches don’t always keep their mouth shut in similar situations. There has been a litany of them that have had several fiery moments of their own, namely Belichick’s (and coincidentally Kitchens’) one-time boss and mentor, Bill Parcells. Other examples include Super Bowl winning coaches like Brian Billick and Mike Ditka. A brief search on YouTube will uncover moments where these leaders allowed emotions to get the better of them, creating situations that have the opportunity to distract their respective teams. One could also look down to the college level, where Nick Saban has openly admitted that he uses the media to his advantage, while still maintaining a stunning rate of success.
Freddie Kitchens is a man spinning many plates. Most established coaches focus on winning football games. Take this and add one of the greenest rosters in the league, one that’s stocked with explosive personalities. The first time head coach is also comparatively young, having turned 44, and for those of you who have worked in a setting where many of your peers are older, you know that that presents a challenge, possibly within your own organization.
Freddie’s biggest plate outside of his team’s production on the field is the one he mentioned Monday. The Cleveland Browns need to continue changing their culture. Even after a massive roster overhaul and a winning run to end last season, there are those who look at this organization as the ‘same old Browns’. It’s up to Freddie, his staff, the players, and the front office to change this using whatever method is available, and yes, sometimes that includes the media.
In order to develop a competent franchise, you must have discipline, communication, and stability. That’s a high demand for a team that, to put it nicely, has had more holes than the Swiss navy. Coach Kitchens is thinking long term, and despite a few headlines, what he said is important. Is it unrealistic? Yes. Using some Belichickism of my own, even the Patriots have leaks. But as long as the Browns are striving for perfection and producing this fall, it will all be worth it.