Mid-week thoughts

Casting a quick glimpse at the immediate coaching future of the Browns . . .

This is, of course, predicated on the firing of Freddie Kitchens sometime between the conclusion of Sunday’s game in Cincinnati and the beginning of the New Year.

The gamble General Manager John Dorsey took when he surprisingly hired Kitchens last January has turned out to be an abysmal failure and slammed the brakes on whatever progress was made after the 2018 season.

Unless he refuses to admit he made a huge mistake in elevating someone with no head coaching at any level and just eight games as a coordinator, and retains him, Dorsey (and the Haslams) will cashier their second head coach in two seasons.

This team has not improved the least little bit with Kitchens at the helm. The stunning lack of discipline that pockmarked the season, as well as the eyebrow-raising play calling on offense, were just two of the major contributors.

It called into question early on whether Kitchens had what it took to take control of the team and become its CEO. He didn’t come close at any time. This was a team with no direction.

Players, most notably on the side of the football he commanded, outwardly disagreed with him during games. He either did not know how to quell it or was too fixated on other things to shut it down.

His teams were rarely ready to play on game day. He labeled just about every week of practice throughout the season as either great or very good. And then the players went out and proved they were better practice players than gamers.

Suffice it to say, it’s about time this franchise gets it right with its top football position. A second swing and a miss by Dorsey will not warrant a third opportunity. He’s got to get it right this time.

At the same time, Dee and Jimmy Haslam III must allow their general manager to make the pick himself. They have a savvy enough front office to offer advice, but not a vote. The selection of Kitchens, according to reports, was made following voting with at least one other name besides Kitchens in the mix.

National Football League general managers should pick their head coach. That and shaping the roster is what they are hired to do. Most owners around the league put their faith in them. Their job status depends on their successes and failures.

It is incumbent on Dorsey to sound out all in whom he has trust and then make the final decision by himself without any kind of vote. The Haslams must trust him implicitly.

The Browns need someone with a strong NFL background littered with success. This team is too talented and headed in the right direction to be headed by a neophyte like Kitchens. They don’t need another coach learning on the job.

There will be many strong candidates in that group. Some are former NFL head coaches, a few of whom have achieved success. Several are successful coordinators in the league, while a few more are currently associated with college football.

Once the plug is pulled on Kitchens, I’ll dive into those who might become the next – and hopefully last for a long time – head coach of a franchise that craves for one.