The Cleveland Browns, like any other sports team, has had their share of players they never should’ve let go of and these are five of theirs.
The Cleveland Browns aren’t unique to this situation. Like every team, when a transition of power happens, certain guys get left behind, and sometimes that’s a problem. Now, four of these players are active and could’ve helped the 2020 Browns team. One of them hasn’t been an active player in nearly 12 years as of press time.
Each of the four active players fills a need on the current iteration of the team and would be welcomed back by (most) fans. They’re all on this list for one reason or another, ones that will be broken down when they come up. The reasoning why they were let go will also be a factor, as sometimes dumb decisions should be called up.
Letting all five of these players go were dumb decisions. There’s no doubt about that. Now, let’s get into it.
Taylor Gabriel
Sure Rashard Higgins has his fans, but even they can’t deny that Higgins is a consistent performer. In his time with the Browns, he’s had what, a handful of noteworthy games? Enter Taylor Gabriel. Technically a free agent, though he opted out of the 2020 season, Gabriel spent two years with the Browns under Mike Pettine. He had 621 yards receiving in his rookie year, becoming the second most popular target of then quarterback Brian Hoyer; just behind Andrew Hawkins.
Gabriel posted a 4.40 40-yard-dash coming out of college but went undrafted until the Browns signed him. That was during the Ray Farmer era. The minute Sashi Brown came into town in 2016, however, Gabriel was on his way out. Since then has 1,998 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns. Numbers that would’ve been higher if he had been with the Browns over the last three years, especially since he plays so well out of the slot.
There’s always a chance that the Browns pick him up in the offseason on a discount, but nothing will ever erase the decision made by Brown to waive him in the first place.
Carl Nassib
Despite being a good all-around defensive end, John Dorsey didn’t want another man’s holdovers. A rotational player with starting potential, Carl Nassib was a third-round pick out of Penn State and has played right in the line with expectations of a third-round pick. He has 131 career tackles, 19.5 sacks, 13 pass deflections, and three forced fumbles to his name. He’s not heading to Canton, but he’s played well against the run and the pass and at just 27-years-old as of press, still has a lot of football left ahead of him.
Nassib is an instant upgrade over Olivier Vernon, and at a far more affordable price. Unlike Vernon, Nassib isn’t known to be an injury-prone player, playing in at least 14 games in every season of his career. Tack that onto his versatility as a player, being able to lineup as a defensive end in a 4-3 or as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 and you can see that Nassib would have been a wonderful player in Joe Woods defense, which often utilizes standing defensive ends in nickel packages.
Having Nassib and Porter Gustin on the same team would also allow for more stunting and more rotations, relying less on the disappointing defensive tackles that have been Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi. If Gustin can lineup inside, why not Nassib on occasion; especially on passing downs.
Joe Schobert
It’s been made painfully obvious how this writer feels about Joe Schobert’s departure from the Browns. It was a mistake, plain and simple. Schobert has proven time and time again that he can play at a high-level and the Cleveland Browns reaped the benefits that came with him. Think about this, the only two major changes on defense from the 2019 Browns to the 2020 Browns were Schobert and Damarious Randall’s departures. The Browns were 7th against the pass last year. This year they’re 23rd.
Don’t think Schobert made a difference? He did. Sure you’ll claim the Browns have been better against the rush this year, but the simple fact is that teams aren’t running the ball against the Browns at the same rate this year.
How many of the top rushing teams did the Browns have to face in 2019? Well, there were the Ravens (1st), Titans (2nd), 49ers (3rd), Seahawks (4th), Bills (8th), and Cardinals (10th). Of those six teams, four of them posted over 170 yards rushing or more. Four of the top five rushing games posted against the Browns came after Garrett’s suspension, including both Bengals games, who was the only team not in the top 10 in rushing yards to rip apart the Browns.
The Browns did great against everyone else, having six games of under 100 yards given up. Only one of those games after Garrett’s suspension, which was against the Dolphins; who ranked 32nd in rushing for 2019.
This year the Browns have only faced two teams in the top 17 in rushing so far. Anyone wanna take a guess who those were? The Raiders (9th) and the Ravens (1st). The Steelers (19th), Cowboys (17th), Colts (22nd), Bengals (23rd), and Washington (29th) don’t measure up.
So of course the stats are better this year, they’re facing horrible rushing teams and despite that, are still getting gashed.
So yes, Schobert would’ve been a big help to have back.
Joe Haden
This one personally hurts. Joe Haden was one of the Browns best defensive players until Sashi Brown reared his ugly head again and cut Joe Haden for not taking a pay cut. A pay cut, mind you, that the Browns didn’t need him to take. The Browns had $110 million in cap space (you read that right) to start the season and tried to have Haden take a $4 million pay cut for no reason.
It was a move that destroyed the locker room and pretty much sealed the deal on the season before it ever began. It made no sense, even in hindsight, considering that Brock Osweiler was making $16 million and he wasn’t even on the Browns anymore. The Browns didn’t need to cut Haden.
What’s even worse, is that Haden has returned to his Pro Bowl ways, only missing five games over the last three years and earning a Pro Bowl spot in the 2019 season. He’s very likely going to make another in 2020 at this rate.
To imagine what the Browns would have looked like with Haden and Denzel Ward will forever haunt fans, especially when you realize Haden wanted to retire a Brown. If Haden was still on the team today, the loss of Greedy Williams wouldn’t have mattered, and Terrence Mitchell may actually be useful. The entire defense could actually be good.
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.