Getty Image / Scott Taetsch
The 2022 season was a lost season for the Cleveland Browns. The team sits at 7-9 with one game to play and is eliminated from the playoff picture.
That’s an all-too-familiar refrain for Cleveland fans. Since re-entering the league in 1999 after the original Browns moved to Baltimore, the team has made the playoffs just twice.
There’s been so much dysfunction surrounding the franchise that it’s hard to keep track at all. They’ve gone through an astonishing 34 starting quarterbacks since 1999. When you consider that franchises like the Patriots and Packers have had around a half-dozen in that time frame, it becomes even more stunning.
That carousel continued this year, as the team traded for embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Texans. Of course, Watson was suspended for the first eleven games of the season after dozens of allegations of sexual misconduct towards massage therapists were launched against him.
They were still somewhat in the playoff hunt when he returned from suspension, but losses down the stretch eliminated them.
These aren’t the same old Browns, though. This team has a lot of talent, led by stars in defensive end Myles Garrett and running back Nick Chubb. The offensive line is one of the best in football, too. And, coach Kevin Stefanski, who led the team to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2020, is thought of as a good coach.
Stefanski appears to be frustrated with the organization. After all, it’s the Cleveland Browns. They’re nothing but frustrating. But, something must have clicked for him, as he decided to speak out about it.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski made a pointed comment on Friday
This week, edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney spoke out about whether he thought he would be playing for the team next season.
Clowney is “95%” sure he isn’t returning
Weird number to use or did he do that on purpose? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/BPvHEmqutO
— Brownie The Elf (@elf_brownie) January 6, 2023
And, he made other inflammatory comments as well.
The wildest thing from this article is Jadeveon Clowney suggesting the Browns are prioritizing getting Myles Garrett into the Hall of Fame over winning games https://t.co/ty10nEjEsH pic.twitter.com/qgJcYkvyku
— Sir Yacht (@SirYacht_) January 6, 2023
Naturally, Myles Garrett had to respond.
Myles Garrett, on Clowney saying the #Browns are more concerned with getting Garrett in the hall of fame than winning games: pic.twitter.com/PWFpc420E8
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) January 6, 2023
And, the Browns sent Clowney home from practice.
The #Browns have sent Jadeveon Clowney home, he will not practice today. His status for Sunday's game is TBD.
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) January 6, 2023
Later in the day, Kevin Stefanski made a pointed comment that almost certainly has to be about this situation.
#Browns HC Kevin Stefanski: "I don't send messages to the locker room. I just tell people to their face what I think."
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) January 6, 2023
Sheesh. Things are sure getting messy again in Cleveland. But, this is just more of the same for Browns fans. Cleveland will finish their season Sunday against the Steelers.