{"id":16210,"date":"2025-03-04T11:22:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T11:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=16210"},"modified":"2025-03-04T11:22:49","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T11:22:49","slug":"breaking-why-a-quarterback-reunion-could-help-the-browns-win-now-and-build-for-the-future-jimmy-watkins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=16210","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING : Why a quarterback reunion could help the Browns win now and build for the future \u2014 Jimmy Watkins"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Jacoby<\/p>\n

CLEVELAND, Ohio \u2014 Contour my eyebrows and call me a sellout. Because this week\u2019s Browns quarterback pitch takes a page out of Hollywood\u2019s playbook.<\/p>\n

Namely, we\u2019re selling a sequel here, folks. If you enjoyed Gladiator 2, or Deadpool 3, or Kung Fu Panda 4 \u2014 all somehow real releases from 2024 \u2014 then you\u2019ll love the low-budget, lower-imagination film I\u2019m scripting for Cleveland in 2025.<\/p>\n

From the coach\/play caller who brought you Flacco Fever and the last Cleveland quarterback to score 20 points in five straight starts, I bring you the must-watch blockbuster of next football season:<\/p>\n

Browns and Brissett 2: The Reunion.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, former Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett lacks the star power usually required to greenlight a reboot. Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Denzel Washington (Gladiator), Brissett. See? He doesn\u2019t fit.<\/p>\n

Barring an unforeseen boon, however, Cleveland lacks many A- or B-list options under center next season. With the second pick in April\u2019s draft, you can bet on a budding star. But even then, rookies need time to learn lines.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, then, let Brissett play the hits. During 11 starts with Cleveland in 2022, he completed 64.1% of his passes for 2,608 yards (7.1 per attempt), 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Browns’ offense scored 23.9 points per game and ranked top 10 in expected points added (EPA) per play. And for what it\u2019s worth, Pro Football Focus gave Brissett the sixth-highest grade among quarterbacks that season.<\/p>\n

Call it the (pretty) good ol’ days. They say you can\u2019t go back, but Brissett enters this offseason a free agent. Cleveland needs a new starter. Neither party expects to sign\/offer a lucrative QB contract this offseason.<\/p>\n

Feeling nostalgic yet?<\/p>\n

The Browns are starving for stable leadership after two seasons spent shuffling through Deshaun Watson\u2019s backups. Cleveland has started seven different quarterbacks over the last two seasons. And to reiterate, none of them \u2014 not even Flacco \u2014 started five straight games during which the offense scored 20 points.<\/div>\n

Low bar to clear? Absolutely. The Browns should aim higher than \u201cfunctional\u201d with their future starting quarterback. Here in the present, though, Brissett offers qualities Cleveland has missed at quarterback since … well, since he left.<\/p>\n

Start with his stability, highlighted by two career games missed due to injury. After two Watson seasons lost to surgery, the Browns need a starter who can stay healthy. And before Cleveland pursues aging players like Flacco, Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers or Matthew Stafford, it must consider the injury risks each greybeard carries with him.<\/p>\n

Also worth weighing: Institutional knowledge, of which Brissett harbors plenty from his first stint in Cleveland. If the Browns are pivoting back to the Kevin Stefanski System, it makes sense to sign someone who knows it. If that same someone played their best season in this same offense, even better. And if Mr. someone also has experience tutoring young quarterbacks?<\/p>\n

Perfect fit.<\/p>\n

Humility is the hardest trait to find in veteran quarterbacks. If any good, they\u2019ve been praised their whole lives, told by coaches to trust their talent, had the world spinning on their own axis.<\/p>\n

But at some point, every passer reaches his friction point. His body slows down, or his team finds somebody faster. And like the Golden Quarterback Bachelor, he must decide: Will I accept this clipboard?<\/p>\n

Most vets say \u201cno,\u201d and they don\u2019t let you down easy. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who could be on Cleveland\u2019s radar this offseason, spent last offseason spent last offseason pouting through his agent about Atlanta\u2019s decision to draft a quarterback (Michael Penix Jr.) in the first round.<\/p>\n

Pending free agent Joe Flacco, a popular fan pick for Cleveland\u2019s next bridge starter, told Colts reporters last season that he didn\u2019t sign with Indy to help second-year starter Anthony Richardson\u2019s mentor. Moreover, Flacco said he struggled with the role when the Baltimore Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson in 2018.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t blame Cousins or Flacco for rejecting their dwindling roles. But I wouldn\u2019t choose either as my rookie quarterback\u2019s tutor.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Brissett embraced two backup roles over the last two seasons, during he shared a quarterback room with Patriots rookie Drake Maye (2024) and Commanders youngster Sam Howell (2023). Brissett started just five games in the two seasons after the best of his career. But he never raised a fuss.<\/p>\n

On the list of tools required to help the next Browns rookie passer, peace and quiet belong near the top.<\/p>\n

After all, like many great sequels, we\u2019re making this one to set up another. Brissett to Watson flopped at the football box office. But the former Browns, Patriots, Commanders, Dolphins, and Colts quarterback showed enough as a bridge passer (and quarterback bachelor) to reprise the role. Casting him again won\u2019t sell any season tickets.<\/p>\n

But it might help the Browns thread a rare quarterback needle: Improve your passing attack now, <\/i>prepare your rookie prospect for the future.<\/p>\n

Grab your popcorn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Remember when Jacoby Brissett led a top-10 Browns offense? Good times. They say you can’t live them twice, but I would implore Andrew Berry to try this offseason.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cleveland-browns"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING : Why a quarterback reunion could help the Browns win now and build for the future \u2014 Jimmy Watkins - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=16210\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING : Why a quarterback reunion could help the Browns win now and build for the future \u2014 Jimmy Watkins - Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Remember when Jacoby Brissett led a top-10 Browns offense? 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