It was only a matter of time. The injury big has once again hit #Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III. And once again he is out for at least ten games, some say the season.
The first year Browns quarterback has been placed on injured reserve after sustaining a serious injury to his non-throwing (left) shoulder in Sunday’s season opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. There is a chance Griffin could make it back in early November, but even Jim Carrey had a chance in the “Dumb and Dumber” movie.
Even with Griffin at QB, the Browns were a long shot to win 5 games, let alone finish .500. And it was well known all along the Browns wanted a high draft pick next year. After all, Cleveland has not only their pick, but also the Philadelphia Eagles first round pick in the 2017 draft. Because of this, the Browns should just pull a Cleveland Cavaliers and go “All-In” and start third round pick Cody Kessler the rest of the season.
Forego Josh McKown. We all know we he can do. McKown is a professional quarterback that will not be in the NFL once the Browns become respectable again. So starting him gives the team a false sense of security and no look into the future. Starting Kessler does.
Playing Kessler gives Hue Jackson and the front office the opportunity not only to pay for the number one pick in next year’s draft, but it also will tell them if they need a quarterback or not. A season under Kessler, whom Jackson said after drafting him, “you’ve got to trust me on this one.” Jackson obviously thinks there is an upside to the rookie from USC. Let’s see right now if he’s right.
Keeping McKown when Dallas came calling early as a no-brainer. McKown gave the Browns another coach and a mentor to RG3 and Kessler. Now they have him as a crutch, someone who can come in and play a professional quarterback, but realistically doesn’t help the Browns cause right now, which is to build for the future.
Certainly McKown will be the starter this Sunday in the home opener against Baltimore. However Kessler was quick to point out last week that if their was a plan to keep him on the bench his entire rookie season, he was never told about it. And as injuries go in the NFL, especially if your QB is RG3, then the third string signal caller is always just two snaps away.
Is Kessler the Browns future? Who knows!! But the Browns were convinced last April Carson Wentz wasn’t. Wentz looked like a reincarnation of Dan Marino Sunday, albeit against a weak and young Cleveland defense. So if the Browns and Hue Jackson were down on Wentz, yet high on Kessler, then why wait?
Jackson is known as a quarterback guru. Terrelle Pryor played well at QB when Jackson was the coach with the Raiders. It’s doubtful Jackson will go back to that system now that Pryor is proving to be a consistent threat at the receiver position. Plus look south at Cincinnati. Andy Dalton was thought to be a bust until Jackson got ahold of him. Dalton is now one of the elite.
Jackson said that the team will stick with the quarterbacks they currently have on the roster, but a move could happen. Many think Kessler would benefit from more time on the sideline. Those same people said that about Wentz this weekend entering the Browns game, saying 28 snaps in live action during pre season wasn’t enough. They were proven wrong.
What if Kessler is the guy? Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, but why wait?
Dave Mitchell co-hosts with Mark Donahue the UST talk show “Ohio Baseball Weekly,” highlighting the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. The Show is at 9pm every Monday evening. If you have a comment on this or any other article,email Dave at dmitch@ultimatesportstalk.com or on twitter @ohbbcohost or @ultsportstalk.
