Simplifying the Browns QB situation
By STEVE KING
Arghhhhhhh!
Arghhhhhhh, times two!
All these people have all these reasons why the Browns bombed out this year, finishing just 8-9 and missing the playoffs after heading into the season with expectations of getting to the Super Bowl.
Some of the reasons are well-stated. The Canton Repository’s Steve Doerschuk, who knows the Browns and the NFL as well as anyone, had an outstanding piece on the issue the other day.
But in essence, figuring out why things went sideways is not hard at all. It’s not rocket science, or any kind of science, really, It’s actually very easy.
Quarterback is the most important position in team sports, more so than even pitcher in baseball and point guard in basketball, both of which are extremely crucial, too.
If a team has a good quarterback, then it has a good chance to be good. But if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t.
And the better the quarterback, the better the chance to be good, or special.
The Browns have what — or who, as it were — I still consider to be a good quarterback in Baker Mayfield. We can go back and forth — again — on that contention, and we will.
But the fact of the matter is, of course, that Mayfield was hurt basically all season. He was feeling poorly and there were times that he shouldn’t have been playing, but he did nonetheless. As such, he was ineffective throughout.
And when your quarterback is ineffective, so, too, is not just the offense, but the team overall, as well. Indeed, as the quarterback goes, so goes the team.
It’s hardly a surprise, then, that the Browns sputtered.
Because of all this, the Browns would be smart to go into next season as their starter. If he stays relatively healthy but still struggles, then he probably isn’t the guy and the Browns would do well to begin looking elsewhere for their franchise quarterback.
But I don’t think — and I am firm in that — that a healthy Baker Mayfield will fail.
I just don’t.
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