The best organizations in the league have succeeded with a sound front office and a highly skilled quarterback with strong leadership ability. In fourteen seasons, the Browns have shown the exact opposite skill set. The front offices and coaching staffs don’t fully support their starting quarterback and a constant carousel of all of these positions occur in a comical and depressing fashion (from Spergon Wynn throwing passes directly into the ground to Phil Savage resigning but then John Collins being fired instead to George Kokinis’s quick dismissal to Romeo Crennel flipping a coin to determine a starter to fans cheering Derek Anderson as he lay injured on the field).
When Jimmy Haslam purchased the Browns last season from Randy Lerner, Browns fans reasonably had mixed feelings. A new owner likely meant another organizational change for the most inconsistent front office in the league. But, after cleaning house, Haslam selected an experienced CEO in Joe Banner. They smartly didn’t hire Chip Kelly either via Kelly’s own decision or their own (the Browns didn’t have the proper quarterback in Weeden to run Kelly’s offensive system, which would have led to yet another starting quarterback in a Browns uniform), and then went with Rob Chudzinksi.
While an odd choice in a way, Chudzinski brought three positive attributes: his history of being a Browns fan, an explosive offensive mind that would fit Weeden far better than Pat Shurmur’s West Coast system, and seasoned coordinators in Norv Turner and Ray Horton. Browns fans need to be able to relate. The fan base has had too many coaches who seemed distant from them either due to their aloofness in press conferences (Crennel and Shurmur) or apparent total disregard for criticism (Butch Davis and Eric Mangini). With Chudzinski once being a fan, he has an understanding of the history and make-up of the Browns' supporters. Turner and Horton serve well as coaches right by Chudzinski's side, and his ability to grab a two-time Super Bowl winning offensive coordinator along with a defensive coordinator who easily could be the Arizona Cardinals head coach right now was impressive.
The hiring of Michael Lombardi as General Manager was a questionable one. With his historic connection to the departing Browns in 1995, Lombardi has left a sour taste in the mouths of most Browns fans. But, the new administration has allowed Lombardi to be quiet for better or worse, and Banner has taken the helm as the representative who speaks to the media on all decisions. During the Bernie Kosar broadcasting "scandal," Banner headed off the issue with an apology to the Rams. Counter that instance with Mike Holmgren taking a week to address the media on the far more serious issue of Colt McCoy's concussion. There were signs that the structure of the organization was better than it had ever been in the Lerner era.
But, when Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J came under fraud investigation from the FBI, it looked like the new administration was already set for the usual dysfunction in Berea. The coaching staff and players have managed to decently weather the storm of any off-the-field Haslam distractions.
When Chudzinski announced there would be a “competition” between Weeden and Jason Campbell, most Browns fans rolled their eyes. It was inevitable that Weeden would be the starter otherwise the new organization was wasting away a first-round pick from the previous year for a now journeyman back-up to take over the helm. The “competition” was looked at as a way to fire up Weeden.
Strangely, at least from preseason standards, it's worked. Weeden's 18-for-25 with 229 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. The offense has looked fluid. Receivers are open and, in fact, wide open, which is something Browns fans rarely saw in Shurmur's quick throwing system. It's still the preseason, but there's reason to believe that with Chudzinski and Turner, the offense will be vastly improved.
Browns fans can only hope Weeden's arm can bring a different type of organization to town.
It's why the “competition” has worked and the announcement of Weeden as the starter at this point shows the organization has some sense. It wanted to challenge Weeden to impress them, and he did so quickly within the first two preseason games. So far, it may be a testament to both coaching and play calling along with Weeden's determination and offseason workouts. But, to announce him as starter now gives the Browns the knowledge of how they are heading forward in the final two preseason games and into the September 8 opener against the Dolphins. Weeden is their leader, and will be the first Browns starting quarterback to start the opener two seasons in a row since 2007 (Charlie Frye was the last, and he was traded the day after the 2007 opener, an embarrassing 34-7 loss to the Steelers).
The ball now falls squarely on Weeden to see if the Browns can finally have some consistency at the quarterback position. Weeden turns 30 this year. The time is slipping away, but he's also in a system that fits his skills better than ever. He has to start off strong otherwise fickle Browns fans will inexplicably be calling for Campbell's name. Cleveland is desperate now not just for a winner, but to actually watch entertaining football. It's time for Weeden to air it out otherwise Browns fans will be letting the air out of another season with a high first-round draft pick.
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