Will Trade Rumors Send a Message to the Browns Locker Room?

The trade reports elicited some passionate responses from Browns fans, as you would expect from one of the most passionate fan bases in the NFL. A lot were against it – nobody wants to admit your team is selling off assets, even though it might actually make sense in the long run.

I’ll start with the linemen, Thomas and Mack. Thomas is currently the longest-tenured Brown after being taken third overall in 2007 and, arguably, the most successful Brown since the franchise was reborn in 1999.

He’s made the Pro Bowl every year, been a perennial All-Pro selection and is a cornerstone left tackle. He signed a long-term deal with the Browns several years ago that keeps him locked up until 2018, and he has said many times – including following Sunday’s game – that he has no desire to be traded out of town.

Mack has been a two-time Pro Bowl center and may have been a three-time Pro Bowl selection had he not broken his leg midway through last season. He’s been the team’s second-longest tenured member, having been picked in the first round in 2009.

Thomas has never missed a snap in his Browns career. Mack even played a game needing an emergency appendectomy immediately afterward – prior to his broken leg, Mack was just as consistent at Thomas was.

Unfortunately, the Browns’ offensive line has regressed this year. With two first-rounders and two second-rounders starting and another first-rounder – rookie Cameron Erving – getting regular playing time, the offensive line shouldn’t be a weakness.

But anyone who watched Sunday’s game and saw Josh McCown almost get killed thanks to constant pressure from the Cardinals’ defense – and those who watched the two previous games against the Broncos and Rams that featured the same thing – will tell you that the offensive line has been dreadful.

Not only is McCown not getting much time and taking a pounding, but the running game hasn’t been able to get untracked all season long. While the triumvirate of Isaiah Crowell, rookie Duke Johnson and Robert Turbin isn’t eliciting comparisons to Kevin Mack, Earnest Byner and Curtis Dickey by any stretch of the imagination, the running game that was so strong for half of last year has gone away.

And, it’s not because of talent – Ben Tate is out of the NFL and Terrence West can’t get off the bench in Tennessee, and both were big contributors last season along with Crowell. Duke Johnson is more of a threat as a receiver out of the backfield – he hasn’t made his mark as a runner yet.

The problem is the line hasn’t been able to open holes consistently for the running back, nor have been stalwarts in the pass blocking scheme. This despite Pro Football Focus proclaiming that Thomas is the best overall linemen in the NFL based on their grading system and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz was graded the best at his position just two weeks ago.

If the line has been awful as a unit all year – especially Sunday – then would two of the highest-paid guys on the unit be missed that much?

Add in the fact that Mack didn’t sign his recent contract with the Browns – the team matched an offer sheet he signed with the Jaguars prior to the 2014 season – and it contains and opt-out clause following this season, which Mack is reportedly willing to enact, and he’s suddenly more expendable than before. Plus, Erving was drafted as insurance at center in case Mack was going to leave or get injured again.

Thomas was rumored to be on the block in 2013, when Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi weren’t shy about purging themselves of players.

The only trade of significance made was second-year running back Trent Richardson to the Colts for a first-round pick, which turned out to be a great trade … if the Browns wouldn’t have squandered the pick on a former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback who can’t even beat out a guy with five injuries.

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