Browns: 5 players the team never should have let go of

Jeff Garcia

This classic pick is brought to you by the power of hindsight, now in new neon green colors. Why did Jeff Garcia fail in Cleveland? Because Butch Davis tried to turn a mobile quarterback into a pocket passer. Of course, Garcia failed, that’s like putting Lamar Jackson in the old Peyton Manning offense. Of course, Jackson’s going to fail, that isn’t his game.

This was at a time in the NFL where if the coach failed, it was still the player’s fault. Now people are far more cognitive and aware that players don’t always play the way a coach may want. It’s up to coaches to adapt to players, not the other way around. Davis didn’t believe that, however.

He also loss Kellen Winslow just two games into the season, and he didn’t have much help otherwise. His best receiver was Dennis Northcutt, and his best running back was Lee Suggs. With Braylon Edwards and an emerging Antonio Brown (who was on the 04 squad) in 2005, Garcia’s performance would’ve been better. You know, assuming then-head coach Romeo Crennell allowed Garcia to play the way Garcia used to. There’s no doubt in my mind that Garcia is a Pro Bowler and a playoff quarterback in 2006 and 2007 with Winslow, Edwards, and Joe Jurevicius to throw to. Not to mention the addition of Jamal Lewis in 2007.

Don’t believe Garcia could’ve done that? Look at Garcia after he left the Browns, especially his last three years as a starter in Philadelphia and Tampa Bay. He won nearly 60% of the games and went to the playoffs twice. Even winning a playoff game. He played pretty well too, throwing 35 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions while completing 64% of his passes. He even added a fourth Pro Bowl to his name.

The Browns thought they could do better, and replaced him with Trent Dilfer in 2005. Yeah, what could’ve been.