After selecting to not tender Chase McLaughlin as a restricted free agent final month, Cleveland re-signed the kicker on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Matt Durisko, Related Press
Whaddya imply the Cleveland Browns had been tanking? Does anyone see the irony on this accusation? The Cleveland Browns had been TRYING to lose video games? Yeah, proper. Since when have they got to attempt to lose video games? They lose video games once they’re making an attempt to win. Making an attempt to win, making an attempt to lose — it’s the identical factor for the Browns. That’s why they’re the Browns.
Hue Jackson, their former coach, has stirred up controversy by stating that his crew tanked video games, claiming the Browns paid him $750,000 in bonuses throughout his tenure because the Browns head coach from 2016-18, when he received solely three of 40 video games. The NFL has launched an investigation into Brown’s accusations.
That is problematic. How do you show such a factor, particularly once you’re speaking in regards to the Browns?
The Browns are clowns. They’ve had three successful seasons within the final 23 years.
It doesn't matter what they do, it seems incorrect, however who is aware of if it was intentional. Let’s say that the Browns tanked so they may nab a few general No. 1 draft picks because of the Jackson years, which they did in 2017 to choose defensive finish Myles Garrett and 2018 to choose quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield helped lead the Browns to a 7-8-1 document as a rookie — their greatest since 2007. In 2020, Mayfield helped the Browns obtain an 11-5 document and their first playoff berth since 2002. However in 2021, he performed with a torn labrum amongst different accidents.
It was clear that accidents harm his efficiency however he courageously performed on, beginning 14 video games. But the Browns determined to throw him to the curb and paid a ransom for Deshaun Watson, who may not even be capable to play if the NFL suspends him.
Is that this a part of their tanking scheme, too?
To acquire Watson, the Browns just about staked the way forward for the franchise on him for years to return. They traded away three first-round picks for the following three years, plus a third-round choose and two fourth-round picks. Then they signed him to a completely assured, five-year $230 million-dollar contract this yr. That ought to nearly cowl all of the lawsuits which were introduced in opposition to him by 22 girls who inform the identical story of sexual misconduct.
The Browns have invested their future in a quarterback who hasn’t performed a sport since 2020 and certain will face punishment (suspension) from the NFL for the accusations of these girls.
The Browns are attempting to win by signing Watson — aren’t they?
Garrett has performed properly for the crew, however in 2019 he ripped the helmet off Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and hit him within the head with it. Garrett was suspended indefinitely (it turned out to be the final six video games of the season).
Was that a part of the tanking scheme too?
In 2019 the Browns traded for Odell Beckham Jr., who on the time was among the many most gifted gamers within the league. His manufacturing declined steadily with the Browns, who barely appeared his approach within the passing sport. Beckham complained and pouted about it, ripping the crew publicly. The Browns waived him late final season and Beckham signed with the Rams. Beckham was a trusted goal for the Rams within the playoffs and he caught a landing cross in a Tremendous Bowl win.
That’s how issues go for the Browns.
Now the Browns are being investigated for tanking video games beneath Jackson, however how can anybody outline or show such a factor? What, for example, is the distinction between tanking and rebuilding?
The Seahawks dumped celebrity linebacker Bobby Wagner — maybe their greatest defensive participant ever — to clear his massive wage from the books and use that cash to rebuild. That’s a typical follow. Is that tanking?
Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Dolphins to a 4-3 begin in 2020, finishing 68.5% of his passes and serving to the crew whole 67 factors in two video games. This was actual progress for a struggling franchise, however days later Fitzpatrick was instructed that rookie Tua Tagovailoa can be the starter so the crew may consider their No. 1 draft choose. Is that this tanking?
Skilled sports activities rewards dropping with excessive draft picks. This promotes parity. It additionally foments intentional dropping at a sure level. A franchise may be dangerous or mediocre ceaselessly, or it might probably lose to win sooner or later, and there isn’t rather a lot that anybody can do about it.
The NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers made no secret of a three-year mission of dropping on objective so they may rebuild. They used the draft picks that resulted from all that dropping so they may draft Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The rationale the NBA adopted a lottery system for the draft and a play-in sport for the playoffs was to deal with the issue of tanking.
Tanking takes different kinds. In recent times, groups relaxation star gamers through the latter phases of the common season or on and off all through the common season. It is a downside for followers, who pay for tickets after which watch their favourite gamers sit on the bench. Kawhi Leonard set the usual by enjoying in solely 60 video games en path to main the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship. Load administration, they name it.
It sounds rather a lot like tanking.