Michael Dixon
The Cleveland Browns sit at 0-10. With six games remaining against potential playoff contenders, the Browns have a very real chance at joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only 0-16 teams in NFL history.
That’s just not something that worries anyone in the organization, namely executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown.
“We are not focused on wins and losses this year,” Brown said, per Jenny Vrentas, MMQB.
In one respect, that’s a healthy approach to have.
Cleveland’s roster is one of the least-talented in the NFL. This was known entering the season. Playing in the always competitive AFC North, there was absolutely no reason to think that this team would contend. So, when the season ends and it’s time to evaluate everyone’s job status, wins and losses shouldn’t be too relevant. It would make no sense to fire Hue Jackson at 0-16, but keep him at 1-15 or 2-14.
This season should be judged based on the progress the team makes. That may not show up in the win-loss record. So, from that perspective, Brown is right.
The problem is that this isn’t exactly a normal team.
The Browns’ struggles are well documented. They have only made the playoffs once since rejoining the NFL in 1999. The head coach and quarterback positions are perpetual revolving doors.
This isn’t like a normal rebuilding team. Those teams experience success for a few years, get old, replace the old talent with youngsters, struggle while that talent develops, and eventually, get good again. If a team like that was going through a bad year, it would be okay to de-emphasize the importance of wins and losses for a year or two.
Cleveland hasn’t experienced any of the highs. Only the lows. This organization remains in a rebuilding project that’s now nearly two decades old.
Normally, it’s fine for a rebuilding team to not care about wins and losses in a given season.
But Browns fans have to be asking themselves a question. If wins and losses don’t matter this year, when will they?
