Cleveland Browns: NFL should look elsewhere for the 2018 Hard Knocks series

Just because the Cleveland Browns could be on Hard Knocks does not mean they should be.

With a winless season over, the Cleveland Browns are a popular topic to discuss. Unfortunately, in nearly all cases, the discussions surrounding them are not good.

Not only do the Browns own two of the top four picks, including the first pick, but they also will be the subject of the winless parade on Saturday. The parade, which is supposed to form a 0, is in protest of the Browns’ winless season and was created by Chris McNeil aka Reflog_18.

There is so much work to do that any outside distraction to the team is not needed nor appreciated this offseason. Now I am not referring to the parade but rather Hard Knocks.

NFL Network’s James Palmer reported that Cleveland is one of six teams that the NFL could choose from to appear on Hard Knocks. Cleveland is joined by the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and the Washington Redskins.

Palmer stated the teams’ requirements on how they don’t have to be considered a Hard Knocks option:

"As you might be aware, NFL owners passed a resolution in 2013 stating that teams can avoid mandatory inclusion on Hard Knocks if they fall under any of three exemptions:1) They have a first-year head coach in place2) They have a playoff berth in the past two seasons3) They have appeared on Hard Knocks in the past 10 years"

As if the Browns and their fans haven’t suffered enough. However, what could intrigue the league to select Cleveland?

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The storylines are obvious: Getting Cleveland to win a game first and foremost comes to mind instantly. In addition, seeing how exactly head coach Hue Jackson oversees the coaching staff and his ways of communicating with his players, especially the quarterbacks would be interesting.

If selected, it may just be the Browns’ assumption that not everything would work out. With that in mind, I’d bet most of the focus would be on the winless 2017 campaign rather than the development and other positives Cleveland could exhibit.

Being completely frank, Cleveland is a mess. Maybe not to the degree some would think but a mess nonetheless. The Browns’ inability to win being led by Jackson and the Haslams could be intriguing television for some. With the way Jackson has “coached” quarterback DeShone Kizer though, a Hard Knocks featuring the Browns would be a train wreck.

I don’t want to watch Jackson’s lack of coaching and developing Kizer take another level. Until they win and win regularly, the more Cleveland is out of the national spotlight the better. Once Cleveland stops being the focal point of the NFL’s jokes then at that time they should be considered.

Besides, just look at the other options. Watching San Fran’s Jimmy Garoppolo, Kyle Shanahan, and John Lynch has to be exciting for the NFL. The same could be said about the Chargers’ Joey Bosa, Melvin Gordon, and Philip Rivers.

Next: 10 offseason moves the Browns must make

There is plenty of time before a decision must be made. Still, for the sake of the Browns’ fanbase, choosing any team other than Cleveland would be ideal. Let general manager John Dorsey work and do what he can to make them a winner rather than breaking the team apart even more with a TV series.

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