The Cleveland Browns are rumored to be meeting with pass rusher again.
The mind of a fan is funny sometimes. Over the past two years there were a large amount of Browns fans who could not stand Olivier Vernon, complaining about his constant injuries and supposed poor performance. Yet, once Cleveland is rumored to be interested in a more injury prone and less productive player against the run it’s mass hysteria. Enter Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney and the Browns are rumored to be meeting on Monday, although the reports are mixed. Some say a meeting is in the works, another says a deal is imminent, and finally a different report states nothing is yet set up.
To say that the reports about Jadeveon Clowney and the Browns are conflicting is an understatement.
Something else to consider is the Browns cap situation and the fact they are now swimming in cash like previous years. Of course there are ways to create more room, but as things stand now they do not have a heaping pile of cash to offer.
All of this is before considering the underwhelming performance and injury history of Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney has only accumulated 3 sacks in the past two years, including zero last season. Those 11 tackles for loss and 19 QB hits over the same timeframe are not all that encouraging considering his earlier marks in those areas. So ask yourself, is Clowney really the difference maker he is made out to be? That is a definite no. Clowney is a recognizable name that underperforms and battles the injury bug. Underperformance and health issues are two areas that smart franchises distance themselves from greatly.
As far as injuries go, it’s a long list. Jadeveon Clowney is not suddenly going to become a player who stays healthy. It is not if Clowney gets injured, rather it is when and how many games will he miss. It is not a long list of minor inuries for Clowney, but a long list of major injuries that will and have limited his effectiveness.
What it comes down to is being smart financially and from a team building standpoint. The Browns already went out and signed Takk McKinley and Malik Jackson to one-year deals. Ideally these are in place to allow the Browns to select their replacements in the upcoming draft. How does Jadeveon Clowney fit in with these plans? Simply put, he doesn’t. Unless Cowney is willing to come for a MASSIVE DISCOUNT, the Browns should pass. Even though things seem to be pointing in the other direction.
