Browns must stay away from Mike McCarthy

Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is being mentioned as a possibility to fill the vacant Cleveland Browns job. However the team must pass on this opportunity and look elsewhere.

The connections are obvious. John Dorsey previously spent time in Green Bay and the Browns need a head coach. Mike McCarthy coached a young Aaron Rodgers and helped bring a Super Bowl victory to Green Bay. Some picture a similar path with Browns and rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield. The reality is this is rather unlikely.

Mayfield needs to be in an offensive system that is not considered archaic and unimaginative. Imagination, innovation and creativity are some of the basic requirements that need to be met for the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns. These are some traits that McCarthy does not possess. McCarthy was constantly criticized for his role in the Packers disappointing season and deservedly so.

This is not a new development, it appears to be a pattern

Longtime Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday spent one season with the Green Bay Packers, six years ago. Even then Saturday stated that Aaron Rodgers would roll his eyes are play calls from Mike McCarthy. The rift between the two is not new, it appears that it has gone on for some time. Chances are it dates back before Saturday was on the team. This is not the environment the Browns should welcome with open arms for their franchise quarterback. An environment with poor play calls and questionable decision making was sent packing about a month ago. Bringing in a new version of that is a terrible idea.

One of the more important, but overlooked aspects in the head coach-quarterback relationship is mutual trust. The next Browns head coach must have trust in Baker Mayfield and Baker Mayfield must have trust in the head coach. It is a two-way street. That did not appear to be the case in Green Bay and expecting it to change in Cleveland is wishful thinking. There are plenty of other options out there and the Cleveland Browns should leave no stone unturned in finding their next head coach.