CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I believe Jimmy Haslam is aware of the truth, but the Browns owner needs to remind his coaching staff of a few facts.
Start with the fact that this is not a good team. Not close. Not going to be close to a good team.
Not this year, period.
Which is why the 2-7 Browns have to seriously start thinking about next year.
Perhaps the coaching staff will disagree. Coaches are often worried about their jobs. In Cleveland, who can blame them?
But is finishing 5-11 with Josh McCown any better than 3-13 or 4-12 with Johnny Manziel?
Is finishing 5-11 with Johnson Bademosi playing ahead of Justin Gilbert productive?
Of course, that's assuming McCown helps the Browns win an extra game or two. There is no way to know that.
Finally, this team has lost four in a row. In the last three games, they have been outscored 55-3 in the second half.
WHAT WE DO KNOW
But this much is certain: The team that started the 2014 season with a 7-4 record is long gone.
That is the message that Haslam needs to deliver to his coaching staff.
The Browns finished last season on a five-game losing streak. Pile that on to 2015, and they are 2-12 in their last 14 games. That's nearly a full 16-game NFL season.
The grand plans for respectability and perhaps a shot at the playoffs in 2015 have been shredded by the reality of what has happened on the field. The hopes of duplicating the style that led to last season's 7-4 start have been a dismal failure.
As I wrote a few days ago, some of this is due the Ray Farmer's drafting and free agent signings.
But some of this also falls right into the lap of Mike Pettine and his coaching staff.
I was pleased to hear Pettine finally say this: "These couple of days off should give us the opportunity to focus on what we need to do to correct the mistakes we have been making ... the brutal fact is that we're a 2-7 football team and that is not acceptable from our standpoint."
I wish he would have named Manziel starter. He did not. He still appears to be trying to decide.
POWER STRUGGLE?
I have received several emails from fans who believe Pettine and Farmer are in some sort of power struggle. The contention is that Pettine isn't playing some of Farmer's picks -- especially Manziel and Gilbert -- to prove some point. The same with Dwayne Bowe being inactive for most games.
I doubt that is the case. It makes no sense for a coach to keep talent on the bench when the season is swirling right down the drain.
Now consider this:
1. After the 2012 season, Haslam fired the coaching staff and the key football front office people. He inherited them from the previous ownership of Randy Lerner.
2. After the 2013 season, Haslam fired the coaching staff and the key football front office people. He hired those people.
3. A good way for Pettine and Farmer to end up fired is to fail to work together.
Both men have to be very aware of the recent history of the Browns under Haslam. They have only one game in the next 24 days. Come up with a viable plan for the rest of the season that also will help in 2016.
IT STARTS WITH MANZIEL
That's why they need to hand the offense over to Manziel and design game plans that accent his strengths.
I'm far more of a Manziel Doubter than a Manziel Supporter. But I also can read the calendar. McCown is 36.
And I can count. He has had one concussion this season. He was tested for another in the preseason, and tested for yet another one after the loss to the Rams.
Right now, I can't recall what supposedly is hurting McCown more -- his ribs or his shoulder?
It makes zero sense to play him on November 15 when the Browns travel to Pittsburgh. As I wrote Friday, Manziel has shown significant progress in terms of his approach and poise to at least look like an NFL quarterback.
Does he have the physical ability to succeed?
No idea.
But there are seven games left, and it's time for the Browns to begin to see if Manziel does have starting potential for 2016.
I'm far more of a Manziel Doubter than a Manziel Supporter. But I also can read the calendar. McCown is 36.
OTHERS SHOULD PLAY
Pettine finally gave some snaps (23) to Gilbert at cornerback in the loss to Cincinnati. He had played only nine total snaps on defense in the first eight games.
He had been using Bademosi over the 2014 first-rounder. The problem is Bademosi is first a special teams player. Then, he's a safety. Cornerback is third on his list of NFL skills.
As with Manziel, I have no idea if Gilbert can develop into a starter.
But Joe Haden is out with his second concussion of the season. He also has rib injuries. He's beaten up.
K'Waun Williams should continue to cover slot receivers.
But why not let Pierre Desir and Gilbert handle the other cornerback across from Tramon Williams? Why rush Haden back again? Two concussions in five weeks is serious business.
Undrafted free agent Jamie Meder is showing real promise as a defensive lineman.
The coaches have done a good job of working him in (232 snaps) this season. Here's how the other defensive linemen have played: Randy Starks (333 snaps), Danny Shelton (304 snaps), Desmond Bryant (284), John Hughes (254) and Xavier Cooper (182).
At linebacker, I'm far more interested in seeing what Nate Orchard can do as opposed to Barkevious Mingo. But the Browns can also find some snaps for Mingo.
This isn't about playing all the kids, all the time.
It is accepting the reality of the 2015 season, and how the Browns need to look at some of their younger players for 2016.
