Regardless of whether or not it was self-inflicted, the Browns were definitely at a disadvantage heading into this season.
By pursuing and eventually landing Deshaun Watson, the front office was conceding they would be playing without a starting quarterback for a then-undetermined amount of time. It turned out that was 11 games, and Jacoby Brissett has been the helm this year in his stead.
The players, however, did not sign up for this. With that in mind, their 2-5 start has tempers flaring in Cleveland, and they did so in a big way after a 23-20 loss to the Ravens Sunday. It was reported there was yelling in the locker room after the game, undoubtedly a byproduct of a team that has lost by three points or fewer in four of its five losses.
This frustration, of course, is to be expected from a group of professional athletes. Hyper-competitiveness comes with the territory, and yelling isn’t uncommon after losses for most teams, particularly ones with high expectations.
That’s the company line of the Browns as well.
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“That’s normal football,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game, per Mary Kay Cabot.
Other key Browns players provided a bit more insight.
“Sometimes it spills out where people from the outside can hear,” Myles Garrett said after the game. “Nobody’s worse for wear. I think everyone’s very intent on winning and fixing what we have.”
#Browns Myles Garrett on the screaming in the locker room after the game pic.twitter.com/bs2mWLcv2w
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 23, 2022
Brissett also downplayed the team’s frustrations.
“The emotions of a football game is probably on us right now,” he said, per Camryn Justice. “The guys in that room understand that we’re allowed that until the end of the flight then we have to get back to work.”
The Browns have another four games without Watson against the Bengals, Dolphins, Bills, and Buccaneers. Three of those teams have dealt with woes of their own, with the Bills rolling so far this season.
The Browns will be looking to turn things around before then, particularly in a division that is full of struggles. The team’s frustration peaking is reasonable. But there’s still a lot of season left.
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