Now Is Not The Time For Cleveland To Ignore Last Years Lessons
Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
— Winston Churchill… and every Browns fan on the planet right now.
The Cleveland Browns surprised the media and their fan base on Tuesday afternoon by announcing they had decided to keep four quarterbacks on the active roster. Moments later, we learned why, as rumors about the organization’s willingness to trade a backup went viral.
As Brown’s fans messaged one another, debating the value of Tyler Huntley, they received another surprise.
What are we talking about here?! You probably texted your friends. There’s no way they trade Jameis Winston, right?
I often find myself in the position of telling my fellow Cleveland faithful to calm down and not overreact. In this case, I intend to dust off my long-abandoned pitchfork and join the mob.
It would be ludicrous to claim that anyone could have foreseen the comical situation Cleveland’s QB room faced last season. But it would be equally silly to refuse to learn from it.
Much like last year, this is a Super Bowl-contending roster. It’s a team that returned almost every single one of its starters. They’re getting their (alleged) superstar quarterback under center for Week 1, Nick Chubb should return soon, and they’ve even added Jerry Jeudy to the mix. Mike Vrabel is in the building! Jim Schwartz is in Year 2 and building on a nearly historic run last season. With Deshaun Watson prone to missing time, this is the exact sort of team that needs a great backup.
I understand that if Watson is lost for this season, it likely means the Browns’ contender status is gone along with him, but not all injuries are season-ending. What if he goes out for eight games in the middle of the year, but is able to return for the stretch run? Cleveland needs the most capable guy possible helming the offense, and there is no question that guy is Winston.
Everybody loves Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s potential and no one’s arguing that Tyler Huntley didn’t earn a spot with some good performances. Still, none of them have anywhere close to the experience and ability that Winston possesses. If the season is on the line and Cleveland needs two wins in three games, which current option are you putting your money on to get the job done — Winston or Huntley? Is this a question anyone should even have to ask?!
There are those who will say this is overvaluing Winston. “He’s thrown a lot of picks in his career,” they’ll moan. “He’s a wild card.” Correct. That’s why he’s a backup. If it weren’t for his willingness to take foolish chances, he’d be a franchise guy somewhere else. But when it comes to QB flaws, I’ll take a guy with the tools to be a big-time quarterback over the safer backup-caliber guy every day.
Especially with a great coach like Kevin Stefanski on the sideline. That’s why you have a Stefanski in the first place. Let the coach find a way to use Winston’s arm talent to sneak through a tough stretch of games. The former No. 1 pick fits what Stefanski likes: A big-armed, big-body quarterback who’s seen it all. He’s a better, younger Joe Flacco. Not to mention the fact he has already emerged as one of the team’s leaders on the field, during pre-game, and in the quarterback room.
You don’t even have to take my word for it. He’s a consensus top-10 backup quarterback in the NFL. CBS Sports ranked him as the eighth-best QB2 in July, saying, “[Winston] remains a lively character with a lively arm, making him a promising fit for new coordinator Ken Dorsey‘s downfield attack.” Fox Sports had him at sixth, declaring, “While it was surprising the Browns did not bring back Flacco, Winston certainly can play winning football for Cleveland should Watson suffer an injury.”
And of course, the only reason we’re talking about the possibility of Cleveland trading Winston is because other NFL teams are coveting him.
Remember the uneasiness that spread across Browns Nation before each new quarterback took their turn starting? That feeling preceded DTR’s starts, and it even was present with Flacco before he went on his magical run. That dread would be vastly minimized if Winston is the one pressed into playing.
Perhaps this is all a smokescreen? Maybe Andrew Berry is trying to get someone to pony up for Huntley? If so, my insane ramblings will be moot. But just in case Winston is indeed on the block, I have to send up the flares and warn of the dangers that come with trading an elite backup.
This team is talented. This team is ready. However, this team has also been a ticking time bomb when it comes to quarterbacks getting hurt. The Browns need to show they learned from last season and cling to Winston as the high-end emergency QB they desperately needed when the injury bug feasted on them last year.
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