Cleveland Browns Lack Of Hierarchy Is Crippling Them

Nov 2, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine, owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Ray Farmer before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Nothing can crumble the effectiveness of an NFL organization quicker than a lack of understanding of who is in charge. Who calls the shots and makes all the critical decisions? When even people inside the building don’t know the answer, it’s never a good sign.

Look at what happened between Jim Harbaugh and 49ers GM Trent Baalke. Their rift led a team that was a sure-fire Super Bowl contender two year ago to 8-8 and suddenly the prospects of having their first losing season since 2010.

Is it any wonder that the Cleveland Browns continue to flounder? At least that is what recent reports hint at with a standoff brewing between their head coach Mike Pettine and GM Ray Farmer.

"“The departure of Dr. Jamil Northcutt as Browns director of player engagement after 15 months won’t make a ripple with their football-starved fan base.Northcutt was a nonentity to fans. A former college linebacker at the University of Mississippi, he didn’t make (or miss) a tackle, or directly influence what happened on game days.But in the politics of Browns football, Northcutt was an inordinately major “player” in the 2014 season – a confidante of GM Ray Farmer and, it turned out, a thorn in the side of Mike Pettine’s coaching staff.And Northcutt’s ouster – which the club is characterizing as a mutual parting – reflects a seeping rift between Pettine and the GM who is facing a four-game suspension for breaking NFL rules by texting, and badgering, coaches in the press box booth during games.”"

This power struggle is nothing new in the NFL. Coaches and GMs aren’t always buddy-buddy and sometimes get into chess matches to get ownership to give them full authorization for the composition of the 53-man roster. Chip Kelly and his apparent maneuvering around Howie Roseman in Philadelphia is just the latest example.

Farmer wants a certain style of coaching from Pettine while the head coach wants control of the players he wants to play. Meanwhile the mercurial owner Jimmy Haslam remains silent on the subject and yet one knee-jerk reaction away from cleaning house again.

Regardless of what happens, this Game Of Thrones-like power struggle isn’t doing the players or the common fan any favors. The Cleveland Browns still haven’t made the playoffs since 2002 and don’t seem like any threat to break that streak in 2015.

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