For the Browns, What Now?

A five-game losing streak exacerbated by a growing QB controversy between veteran Brian Hoyer and polarizing rookie Johnny Manziel prevented a rare postseason berth and winning season, but there were signs of progress.

Manziel had gone to rehab to clean himself up. Justin Gilbert was expected to be a year older, wiser and better prepared. First-rounders Danny Shelton and Cameron Erving addressed two big needs.

Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe were veteran receivers signed to help replace the loss of Josh Gordon. Randy Starks and Tramon Williams were signed to help bolster a defense that made positive strides last season.

Hoyer was allowed to walk and 36-year-old journeyman Josh McCown was added. McCown was well-versed in the offense run by new coordinator John DeFilippo and was expected to be more of a veteran mentor that Hoyer was. Folks weren’t expecting playoffs, but another 7-9 or even an 8-8 season would have been acceptable.

Instead, it’s been one trainwreck after another. Bowe has been a colossal waste of $9 million. McCown’s play was actually a bright spot, but it only resulted in one win because the defense – which is the highest-paid and most veteran-landed unit in the NFL – has been the league’s worst. Questions surrounding Manziel heading into the season have never seemed to be answered, only for more questions to pop up. The running game has disappeared.

Draft picks have been squandered – Gilbert has been just as bad, if not worse, than Manziel on and off the field, Erving has looked awful in his brief time starting and Shelton disappears more than a 360-pound Samoan should. The offensive line coach was fired on the eve of the regular season for a domestic disturbance with his girlfriend. And on and on and on and on.

With four games left and two at home against the San Francisco 49ers and the Steelers, the Browns could very easily finish 2-14. Head coach Mike Pettine, who won the fans over for his team’s 7-4 start last season, has approached Pat Shurmur territory very quickly. General manager Ray Farmer, who had to serve a four-game suspension for illegally texting coaches during games last season, had people calling for his head before the season began.

Owner Jimmy Haslam is making Larry Dolan look like a competent owner in comparison, something that seemed impossible when he waltzed into town prior to the 2012 season. Haslam could very well be looking at his third coaching and regime change in four years of ownership, which is a very bad message to send to the rest of the NFL.

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