The Cleveland Browns did very little to quiet any doubt surrounding the doubt of the future of the franchise. They opted not to draft a quarterback or No.1 wide receiver, relying heavily on the free agent contracts they handed out this summer. Entering training camp, the Browns are well aware of the pressure to improve. Another losing season could mean severe changes in Cleveland, but owner Jimmy Haslam denied the idea that he will blow up the roster if the Browns struggle.
Haslam has certainly heard the criticism surrounding the Browns' roster and coaching staff. Reports surfaced right before training camp via the Cleveland Plain Dealer that there was friction between head coach Mike Pettine and the front office of the franchise. If the Browns produce another losing season, Haslam says he will stand by the personnel in place and not totally destroy everything.
"We're not going to blow things up, OK?" Haslam said, via ESPN.com. "I think we're on the right track, so we're not going to blow things up. [I] Understand why people might ask that after a couple bumps in the road the first couple years. I think we're putting in place a good foundation. If I had said at this time last year we were going to be 7-9, you all would have said, 'That's pretty good.' The problem is we lost our last five. We get that."
The Browns are prepared to start Josh McCown which means the pressure is on Johnny Manziel to take whatever time he has on the field and prove that he can be a face of the franchise in the coming seasons. McCown is a short-term option and Cleveland is giving Manziel every chance to prove he is the long-term option. For now, players are impressed with what McCown is bringing to the field. According to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, McCown will be the reason the Browns make the playoffs.
"He's showing all of the potential of being a top-five quarterback in the NFL," Bowe said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
In order for McCown to be successful, he needs talent surrounding him. According to Bowe, one of those players will be Terrelle Pryor who is transitioning from quarterback to wide receiver. With Bowe and Brian Hartline penciled in as the starting two receivers, Pryor is battling the rest of the depth on the Cleveland roster. Travis Benjamin, Taylor Gabriel, Andrew Hawkins and Kevin Cone are all competing for spots on the roster. Pryor has an uphill battle to make the final 53-man team.