A former No. 1 general decide, Jadeveon Clowney has had a stable, if not underwhelming profession with the Texans, Seahawks, Titans, and Browns. Set to show 30 years previous on Valentine’s Day, Clowney nonetheless has a number of years of NFL soccer in entrance of him. Though, it appears the Cleveland Browns received’t be a part of that future.
On Thursday, Clowney advised Mary Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he was “95 % positive” he received’t return to the Browns in 2023, with the remaining 5 % being pinned on the prospect that quite a few adjustments are made to the group. “There’s imagined to be numerous adjustments round right here subsequent 12 months,” Clowney acknowledged. “So they may not be again — and I’d.” When pushed for additional clarification, Clowney mentioned “I simply really feel like I should be round any individual that believes in me and my capacity.”
Attention-grabbing. So, Clowney believes the Browns not think about him. I can perceive either side in that case. Clowney had simply two sacks in 12 video games — can be 13 following the staff’s Week 18 recreation in opposition to Pittsburgh — this season after recording 9 sacks in 14 video games throughout his first 12 months with the staff. The staff could also be disenfranchised with their move rusher and sure don’t wish to pay him the identical wage in 2023 that he earned this 12 months. In the meantime, Clowney nonetheless believes he has so much to supply and needs to go to a staff that may admire his skills. If that was so far as the disagreement went, I’d completely perceive.
Too dangerous that’s not the place it ends.
What Clowney is basically upset about
The basis reason behind Clowney’s displeasure is how the Browns have persistently tried to present fellow pass-rusher Myles Garrett essentially the most favorable matchups. Clowney believes the staff is attempting to make a famous person out of Garrett, getting him into the nationwide highlight so as to construct their model. “You’re all attempting to get any individual into the Corridor of Fame when all that issues is successful,” mentioned Clowney. “Everyone obtained right here for a motive, and we are able to all make performs. I do know I’m.”
Simply to be clear, Clowney isn’t upset with Garrett himself, though he did say that he doubts Garrett has even seen how sad he’s been. Relatively, he believes the Browns are so targeted on giving Garrett the very best matchups that successful has turn out to be second precedence. That’s simply dumb, although.
Information flash: Soccer is all about matchups. It’s all about scheming in order that your finest gamers are sometimes paired up in opposition to your opponent’s worst gamers so there’s a greater likelihood of making disruption. Is it unfair to Allen Robinson when Sean McVay places Cooper Kupp in movement throughout the formation so as to get him lined up throughout from a gradual linebacker, or is that simply good recreation planning? Is it unfair to Klay Thompson when the Golden State Warriors run a sequence of decide and rolls so as to get Steph Curry matched up with their opponent’s huge man? My oh my, how devastating it have to be for all the opposite gamers on these groups, to see their group favor padding a sure participant’s stats over successful! Please.
Garrett is without doubt one of the finest pass-rushers within the league, and pairing him up in opposition to weaker opponents would theoretically be the very best likelihood for the move rush to hit the quarterback. Certain, Clowney is enjoying second fiddle, and maybe that’s annoying for him after doing so in Houston behind JJ Watt for the primary 5 years of his profession. Nevertheless, that doesn’t diminish his function. Clowney’s function is to offer a fearsome presence on the opposite facet of the line of defense, stopping the offensive line from shifting all of their focus to Garrett and opening up extra alternatives for Garrett. In flip, Garrett’s elite expertise ought to theoretically open up extra alternatives for Clowney as properly, even when Clowney is compelled to play throughout from harder competitors extra steadily.
The place does Clowney go from right here?
Might Clowney be an elite move rusher on one other staff? Certain. Why not? He did say he would’ve “simply” had double-digit sacks this 12 months if the staff wasn’t always placing Garrett within the highlight. He additionally mentioned he’d get there subsequent 12 months with no matter staff he winds up enjoying for. “I really feel higher this 12 months than I did final 12 months at this level,” he defined. That mentioned, Clowney has by no means reached 10 sacks in a season. At 30 years previous, the clock is ticking.
When requested whether or not or not JJ Watt would line up in opposition to weaker offensive linemen typically, Clowney claimed that as a result of his youth and Watt’s established popularity on the time, he wasn’t ready to decide on the place he lined up. “I used to be [21 years old] on the time,” he mentioned. “It was all proper for him to be deciding the place I line up. He had already been two-time Defensive Participant of the Yr.” I imply, by that logic, shouldn’t Garrett have the fitting to name his personal pictures too?
By the point Clowney arrived in Cleveland, Garrett was coming off his first All-Professional season, and third consecutive season with double-digit sacks. Certain, Garrett (26) was youthful than Clowney (28), however Garrett’s popularity was elevating. I imply, for goodness sake, Garrett recorded 10 sacks in 2019 in simply ten video games in 2019. He might’ve received Defensive Participant of the Yr that season if not for a sure helmet incident with a fairly well-known reindeer. He was turning into considered one of, if not the very best first general decide of the 2010’s. Clowney’s time to show he might additionally earn that distinction had already come and passed by that time.
Look, I perceive that Clowney needs extra of a possibility to show himself, however saying the Browns don’t wish to win as a result of they make use of the identical follow as actually each staff (as a result of it provides them the very best shot at successful) is downright ridiculous. That doesn’t imply Clowney’s function on the Browns was any much less necessary. I’m positive the Browns would like to have him again subsequent 12 months, but when he’s sad with the staff placing their finest foot ahead, that looks like a Clowney drawback, not an issue with the Browns.
And in case you’re questioning how the Browns felt about Clowney’s feedback: He was sent home early from follow on Friday.
