Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Cleveland Browns: 3 players who could have disappointing years

By Chad Porto

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 24: Rashard Higgins #81 of the Cleveland Browns is unable to make a reception in the end zone during the game against the Miami Dolphins at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Miami 41-24. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 24: Rashard Higgins #81 of the Cleveland Browns is unable to make a reception in the end zone during the game against the Miami Dolphins at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Miami 41-24. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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BEREA, OH – MAY 17: Cleveland Browns draft pick Joel Bitonio #75 works out during the Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp on May 17, 2014 at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
BEREA, OH – MAY 17: Cleveland Browns draft pick Joel Bitonio #75 works out during the Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp on May 17, 2014 at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /

Joel Bitonio

There isn’t anything going on for Joel Bitonio to reasonably make this list. He’s only 29-years-old, he’s coming off of two great seasons on two very bad offensive lines and he’s probably the best linemen the team has. He’s also been relatively healthy, playing every game in four of six seasons in the NFL. He’s solid, dependable, and reliable. He’s a Cleveland Brown through and through. That’s why he’s on this list, however, because it feels like he’s due.

It’s not that the Browns are cursed, but they probably are. Bitonio is a fantastic guard and a great guy by all accounts yet there’s this feeling of “something has to break”. Will it be Bitonio as an elite guard in the NFL? What if he gets hurt? What if Jedrick Wills fails to live up to his hype as advertised and Bitonio gets blown up along with him?

Bitonio is getting older, and he did have some issues with injuries. It’s not crazy to think he regresses or loses a step in his age-29 season. Just look at Eric Steinbach, he fell off overnight and was cut after his age-30 season. Peyton Manning went from one of the best quarterbacks in the world to getting benched the following year. It’s never clear when it’s someone’s time. The Browns haven’t had to worry about Bitonio and that’s exactly why the football gods may smite his excellence because he hasn’t been a problem. It’s like Joe Thomas. We came to just expect Thomas to be there. Then the year before the team finally shows life, he gets hurt and retires.

That’s just what you expect as a Browns fan, that when pieces finally fall into place someone doesn’t get to enjoy it. To be cleary, this is in no way shape or form a declaration that anything should happen to him or that he’s been anything other than marvelous over the last three years. It’s merely an admission of fear for him. Will the injury bug bite Bitonio in 2020 or worse, will those old injuries finally start to take its toll?

It’d be the most Browns thing ever, rebuild an offensive line and the lynchpin regresses. The team and its stadium weren’t dubbed the Factory of Sadness for no reason.

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