Browns: Now retired T.J. Ward should have never been let go

The Browns are tipping their cap to former Browns Pro Bowl safety, T.J. Ward. Ward, 34, announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday. After being out of the league for a few years, the Arizona Cardinals signed him to their practice squad for 2020 but he never saw a game-field as a member of the Cardinals.

War was a member of the Browns until 2014 when everyone’s favorite GM took over the team; Ray Farmer. Farmer let Ward, D’Qwell Jackson, and Jordan Cameron leave the team, despite all three men being very talented. Ward was replaced by Donte Whitner, and honestly, it’s hard to argue it was the right call.

Ward was a Pro Bowler for the Browns and was coming off of a better season in 2013 than Whitner was. While Whitner had a better 2014 than Ward, that could come down simply to scheme and fitting better in Cleveland than Ward did in Denver.

Ward being let go was one of the biggest mistakes the Farmer regime made and was part of the reason why he only lasted for two seasons. Ward would go on to make one more Pro Bowl in Denver and was a starter and key contributor on the SuperBowl 50 winning Broncos squad.

Now Ward is retiring, and while he’ll never be seen as a Cleveland legend, his time with the Browns, usually share a side of the field with Joe Haden, will be remembered fondly. Perhaps it’s partly down to the fact those were just two of a handful of bright spots that era of Cleveland football had.

Maybe Ward was truly under-appreciated and left a system that was perfect for him, all because a GM wanted his guy instead. Who knows?

Ward did goo work and earned his Pro Bowl spots, and while he’ll never see his no. 43 jersey retired, he will always be remembered as one of the better defensive players during the very lean 2010s.