Hope for Josh McCown starts in the Browns offensive line
March 3, 2015“I guarantee every team in the league would take his defense and be thrilled.”
March 3, 2015Through all of the distractions that the Cleveland Browns had to endure with regard to quarterback Johnny Manziel, it was fellow first-rounder Justin Gilbert who drew the ire of his veteran teammates. One of the veterans who spoke about Gilbert was fellow cornerback and first-round draft pick Joe Haden, a player who also came in to the league with a boat load of expectations, a passion for flashin’, and subsequently missed time due to poor decisions.
Fast forward to this offseason and we’ve seen encouraging words from head coach Mike Pettine, but in a world where actions speak louder than words, we now see the No. 9 overall pick in the 2014 draft working out with Haden.
“I don’t want to be the guy who beats them down,” Haden said of Gilbert and Manziel following the team’s 7-9 season. “I really like them, I like them as teammates. People make mistakes and I’m all about giving people a second chance. This, having everyone on their backs like this, I hope it can tighten them up and change them.”
Gilbert, who was suspended for the team’s Week 17 finale, showed flashes throughout his rookie campaign, but largely failed to live up to the expectations that come with being the first cornerback drafted in one’s particular class. Widely criticized for his immaturity and lack of preparation, Pettine, this past February, stated that Gilbert was dealing with “more than” immaturity during his rookie season and cited a “very personal” issue that contributed to his struggles on the field.
Gilbert played in 14 games as a rookie, defensing eight passes, recording 29 tackles and hauling in an interception which he returned for a touchdown. In a season that was marred with more downs than ups, Gilbert remains the poster child for what could turn out to be a disastrous first-round for Browns GM Ray Farmer. Haden, however, believes that the supremely talented corner can turn things around—he just has to take the requisite steps to make that happen.
“They have to look in the mirror and want it for themselves,” he said. ” . . . You have to show up and do everything the right way. You know it’s going to take awhile to get that respect, not respect, but accountability to get people believing in you that you’re going to do your thing. It just takes time.”
The kid is a physical freak. It’s just been about putting all of the pieces together. Spending offseasons with a two-time Pro Bowler is a great first step in the right direction.
26 Comments
Looks like Tarzan, plays like…
slow loris ==> http://goo.gl/nKfFKR
A media blurb involving a member of the Browns organization not involved in some form of clusterf*ckery? The turnaround is at hand!
But seriously, “Spending offseasons with a two-time Pro Bowler is a great first step in the right direction” is a pretty great thing at this point.
This is (so far) the best news to come out of the off season. Haden loves the social life, but he’s figured out how to balance that and football properly. Hopefully, Gilbert pays attention.
This doesn’t look safe
Seriously. This is the exact news I wanted to hear on Gilbert. Hopefully there won’t be another peep until the first camp, and we start reading the plentiful “Gilbert is primed for breakout season” articles.
Between this and JFF getting the help he needs, I have to say that the 1st rounders are at least taking positive steps toward needed change. Good on them.
That’ll work.
The issue was that he didn’t work hard enough to even play. when he did play, he showed some decent skills late in the year including…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3Wjr09dZJc
The guy was rated by pretty much everyone as a first round talent last year and by many as a top 10. If he doesn’t have any talent he fooled a lot of really smart NFL people (we have no idea what the “deeply personal” issues were that Pettine referenced or the role they played in Gilbert’s rookie season).
Let’s hope he doesn’t turn out to be our version of Vernon Gholston.
Much love for Haden. He’s matured tremendously and acts and speaks the role of a leader.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Ray and Mike knew about Justin’s issues and drafted him anyway because they had a player in Joe Haden that can relate and help Justin deal with those issues.
Likelihood of having two Joe Hadens on the field: HIGH!!
😉
I’m thrilled. Because what is the normal course of things in other orgs – promising young player working out in the off-season with his older, better teammate – is cause for notice, even celebration here.
Really amazing what an awful off-season the Browns have had. And it’s not even DUI/Resisting Arrest season yet. When the league hands down Farmer’s punishment we’ll get to revisit texting again. I need an off-season from the off-season because it’s already March and the draft is nigh.
Great to hear.
I wish Josh Gordon would have had someone who could have taken him under his wing!
Sarcasm font on.
The Browns can draft Dorial Beckham Green since they have the ghost of Josh Gordon to mentor him.
Sarcasm font off.
Great job Justin Gilbert.
Thank you for the positive news on the Browns. This is probably the most positive story of the off season so far.
I’m too lazy to back this up with fact-checking, but going on feel and fading memory alone, it seems the Browns have had quite a few great offseasons (or so it seemed at the time) that resulted in squat on the field.
Perhaps this is some Bizarro Browns where the offseason is bad and the season is good?
good article … i think we can all agree we haven’t seen the best of gilbert & manziel yet & that’s what gives me hope for these two.
Gilbert was the #8 pick. We traded back to get him at 8 using a 5th rd selection to move up 1 spot.
Don’t show him how to workout, show him how to open a playbook and “give a crap”
Remember the 2006 off-season when the Browns signed LeCharles Bentley, Joe Jurevicius, Kevin Shaffer, Ted Washington, and Willie McGinest, then drafted Kamerion Wimbely, D’Qwelll Jackson, and bunch of others (including LAWRENCE VICKERS) – and then finished with a 4-12 record?
That was fun.
When Bentley dislocated his kneecap o the first play of camp, I wasn’t even upset or shocked. I knew something was coming, and I actually took a little comfort when it happened. I knew it was out of the way.
Low expectations are a Browns fan’s best friend. On that basis alone, Browns’ management is killing it this offseason.
Beautiful in its poetic simplicity.
lmao !!
noo, just the old link is too long thats why i made it in google links