The Cleveland Browns are 0-4 on the season. They’re seemingly about as competitive as they were during a one-win 2016 campaign. Needless to say, things aren’t going well for a head coach in Hue Jackson who boasts a 1-19 mark in his tenure with Cleveland.
There’s a certain level of growing frustration in Cleveland right now, and some of that surrounds high-priced free agent signing Kenny Britt.
It’s so bad that some fans of the Browns have called for the team to release Britt after just four games (more on that here).
Now, following a 31-7 loss to the previously winless Cincinnati Bengals, it looks like Jackson is fed up with his veteran receiver. According to this one report, Jackson himself actually wanted to bench Britt on Sunday.
Unfortunately, injuries to other Browns receivers forced the team to keep him in the game.
#Browns HC Hue Jackson on keeping WR Kenny Britt in game being counter productive: I totally agree, but we had some guys down with injuries
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) October 2, 2017
Britt has caught 8-of-23 targets for 121 yards and a score in four games with the Browns this season. That comes on the heels of him signing a four-year, $32.5 million deal with the team during the spring.
If the Browns were to in fact release Britt, the team would still owe him $17 million of guaranteed money. Though, his lack of production coupled with questions regarding true effort may force the Browns’ hands here. They’re a young team and need their veterans to lead by example. Britt obviously isn’t doing that.