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Believeland: Pettine determined to transform Browns
NFL.com

By Marc Sessler
Around the NFL Writer
Published: Aug. 14, 2015 at 06:02 p.m.
Updated: Aug. 14, 2015 at 06:13 p.m.

From beyond the walls of Berea, they are chuckled about as an afterthought in the AFC North.

It's hard to escape the facts. The Cleveland Browns rented a room at the bottom of their division when they returned to the league in 1999 and rarely sublet it out.

Finishing last in the North in 12 of the past 16 seasons -- and in each of the past four -- the Browns have eaten through 22 starting quarterbacks and a haze of coaches, scouts, football czars, team presidents and front-office henchmen.

Second-year coach Mike Pettine knows all about the grisly past. Despite last year's uptick to 7-9, the team's finest record in seven seasons, the challenge in Cleveland extends far beyond improving the roster.

This once-proud organization -- the owner of four NFL titles -- is widely viewed as a simmering mess after countless regime changes and ineffectual autumns. The Browns of today lack respect and the benefit of the doubt. Going two decades without a playoff win will do that.
Breaking off the rear-view mirror



"Let people think this is a dumpster fire," Pettine told Around The NFL at Monday's Browns practice.

"Let them think this is completely dysfunctional. Let them drive by to see if the building is on fire every day, whereas internally, it could not be a more different reality," said the coach, swatting down rumors of a fractured relationship with general manager Ray Farmer. "Ray and I talk every day, have great conversations. Do we agree on everything? No. But the batting average is pretty damn high. I think our shared vision of this football team -- I think we've made great strides."

Pettine knows the Browns are largely invisible in a division that sent three other teams to the playoffs last season. He also knows that Cleveland still lacks its version of Tom Brady, choosing to use this offseason to strengthen both lines through the draft, deepen the secondary and find a hard-working stopgap under center in veteran Josh McCown.

"I think over 65 or 67 players are different from the 90 we started with a year ago and it's been all about changing the culture," said Pettine, adding: "The quickest way to change the culture is to change the people."

Some consistency would help, too. The three coaches before Pettine -- Rob Chudzinski, Pat Shurmur and Eric Mangini -- never made it to their third season. Years of drafting went to waste, as core players scouted for one particular system stood out as ill fits for the next. Veterans like Joe Thomas, Alex Mack and Joe Haden have seen more scheme changes over the past five seasons than Pittsburgh's roster has endured in two decades.

The Browns have burned through seven coaches since 1999. The Steelers and Ravens have just two over that span, while Marvin Lewis has been with Cincinnati since 2003. Bengals fans might not be sold on their coach, but Lewis has guided Cincy to six playoff appearances during his tenure. All in all, the consistent Steelers, Ravens and Bengals have combined for 48 playoff games to Cleveland's one since 1999.

"We talked about it a year ago, we're going to break off the rear-view mirror," said Pettine. "But, hey, we understand what the history is. We're not going to run from it. We know what it is. But, to me, it was just more motivation for us to say, 'Imagine the response we'll get from the fan base, based on what they've had to go through.'"

The fans are still here, packing out training camp practices despite the fact the team hasn't won a postseason tilt since Bill Belichick and Vinny Testaverde guided the "old" Browns to a wild-card victory over Bill Parcells and the Patriots on New Year's Day 1995. The two decades since have been a black hole of bad drafts, woeful signal-callers and unfurling embarrassment.

"But we carry none of that baggage," Pettine said.

Honestly, I do like Pettine. He's a breath of fresh air and I think he fits our franchise if we have any hope to turn it around.

I also am realistic: we won't win more than half our games this year (8 wins is a good year IMO) ... and if I were to bet, I'd put my money on less than 6. We have very little explosiveness on offense, some unproven guys we're playing on defense, and no QB.

Early in the year damage control and political correctness as Pettine trying to save his job...

I think Pettine believes in his abilities and that we can be a winner. What kind of a leader of men would he be if he didn't? I like him as a HC but he still has a lot to prove. My initial impressions of him in year one is favorable and I hope to see continued improvement.

But let's be honest. There's still a long road to travel for this team. A lot left to be proven on the field. So I'm in "Showmeland" myself. After 15 seasons of hearing the term Believeland, it's time to show me instead of continuing to repeat a saying that hasn't proven true year after year.

I'm with you too with the give me results on the field. With that said, Pettine appears to be the closest thing to a legit HC we've seen since the return. Last year I was hesitant; but after the mess he's had to coach through, I think I may be a believer.

Now if we can get a GM that can pull in some legit 1st RND picks that make instant impact, we'd be golden!

I'm rooting for Mike Pettine. He's legit in my book.

Ugh. I hate "Believeland". We're Cleveland, win or lose.

Ditto; "Believeland" is so tired. Like we eat rainbows and poop unicorns or something. Gag me.

So what? I don't give a crap about the teams good intentions...it's the results that matter. Either put a winner on the field,or don't.

mac, excellent post. Another interesting element of that would be to see if their GMs were also with them for each of those years.

It's also why we have to stay the course no matter what happens this year. That 4 year clock starts all over again if we fire these guys after this year. I know people find it excruciating to watch this crap football, but what's more excruciating - taking our lumps in the early years of this transition or starting the 4 year clock all over again?

I think we finally found our head coach. I like Pettine more than anyone else we have had in quite some time. He seems very competent, football savvy, and from the outside looking in, I feel like he has a good relationship with his players. He's about his business, and I like it. Hope he is here for many years to come, and maybe.. just maybe.. with a little luck he can turn this organization into a NFL powerhouse.

At the very least, he has what it takes to make this team legitimate.

From there, the rest is on the players.

I like him so far, too. He seems no-nonsense and down to earth. Been in the game long enough to know what works. I just hope he's given enough time to preside over the transition and establish himself for a long haul.

If Jimmy doesn't get squirrely in the next couple years, I think we may have something here.

How can you not like Pettine? That being said it remains to be seen whether or not he can turn this ship around. Give the man no excuse to fail. Get him the players he needs to be a success. Once he has the talent then this team will be on a level playing field with the rest of the division. Only then can we judge Pettine fairly.

I detest this stripe of sports journalism. Snarky attitude is the "insult to injury" factor, the extra twist of the knife in the article's back. Always more than one way to say something (especially something 'new' as in news); may be factual, but never objective or unbiased. The "more salt for the wounds" serves what purpose other than to be little or antagonize or insult fans. It cannot shed light on current folks.

THIS type of cheap shot article is a big part of the culture around the Browns that needs changed like a ripe baby. Tired retreads with a litany of past shortcomings do not mean it is hopeless forever, and conveniently denies any current insights. It is too little, too wrong a product, too cheap and easy to pile on, and misses some good stories that are out there. I find his opinions worthless, and wonder what job he was assigned to do. And I do like Pettine. This will be a fairer year to judge his own growth and improvement.

I don't expect much this year or next since we don't have a legitimate QB starting for us. Sorry, I just can't get my hopes up that much. I don't see one coming out that we can draft either because we will play mediocre football and miss out on drafting a top tier QB. The only thing that remains is a lucky pick on a QB that falls to us...and when was the last time we had good luck?

Either way I like Petition even if I don't like his horrid run defence or the sloppy tackling techniques he uses. No such thing as a perfect team or coach. I think pettine can get us to 7-9 wins reliably and that is better than the hell I have been forced to suffer previously. I think if he is left alone that year 5 could be special depending on how long Joe Thomas lasts.

I don't agree with this at all. If, at the end of the 2015 season the Browns finish with less than 6 wins AND 3 out of our last 4 1st round picks in the last 2 years are still backups, Farmer should be re-evaluated, especially in view of his interference with the starting lineup last season. Pettine gets a pass because he can only work with what Farmer gave him.

Not me. I already want Farmer fired...looool

[quoteThere is a lot to believe in. ][/quote]

Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya

Y'all are some funny mothers.....

"Let people think this is a dumpster fire,"

Now that's a quotable quote right there. I think it's my new sig line.

It is a pretty funny quote. I got a good laugh when I read that.

Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya

Y'all are some funny mothers..... [/quote]

No clue what you are saying here???
Actually Vers, I pray for you more than the Browns. Every Sunday.

I never pray for my team except for health sometimes.

You mean I have hope and "BELIEVE" sorry that offend you to the degree that you have to state "Funny mother...and we all know what the rest is... haha...funny

When Thomas was a rookie, he received a piece of advice from wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, a native son of Cleveland playing the final season of his 10-year NFL career:

" The fans don’t care if you win or lose. Of course they want you to win, but what they care about most is that you bust your ass every day. If you do that, they’ll stand behind you no matter what."

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