Fansided

Cody Kessler can’t save Cleveland Browns

By Megan Armstrong

Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (5) throws a pass as Chicago Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (94) chases during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bears won 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (5) throws a pass as Chicago Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (94) chases during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bears won 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cody Kessler is the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback, until he remembers that he’s Cody Kessler and flames out.

Cody Kessler, God bless him, is not going to save the Cleveland Browns. Kessler, listed as the third-string quarterback when this season began just two short weeks ago, has now officially been named the starter for Week 3 in Miami.

Let’s recap how the Browns have gotten themselves into this very Brownsy situation.

Robert Griffin III was named captain in the preseason, fractured his coracoid bone in his left shoulder with little time left in the Browns season opener against Philadelphia and has since been placed on injured reserve where it’s thought he could miss the entire season.

Enter Josh McCown, the 37-year-old grizzled veteran that so many teams have had to fall back on before. Last season, he started eight games for the Browns. The team went 1-7 during that stretch, but McCown’s play from a statistical standpoint—2,109 yards, 63.7 percent completion, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions—was certainly serviceable. The 1-7 record is plastered on McCown’s back, as he was the starting quarterback, but it doesn’t seem on paper that it was really his fault.

And so, McCown was called on again for Week 2 after Griffin III went down. McCown led the Browns to a 20-2 lead over the Ravens in the first quarter, which sparked the question: “Can McCown salvage the Browns season?”

Before anybody could answer that question, McCown injured his left shoulder, too. Out for at least one game.

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Cody Kessler, tag you’re it. Kessler was drafted out of USC 93rd overall in the third round by Cleveland in 2016. He is 23 years old and has never started an NFL game. If 37-year-old, experienced McCown can’t save the Browns, how could Kessler? How can he be expected to?

Cleveland quarterbacks and former USC quarterbacks have a soft spot for each other in recent years, actually, if you think about it: Matt Barkley, Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel. The major exception to the rule has been Carson Palmer. These players have had major upside and potential at USC, only to eventually in one way or another flame out in the NFL—or at best, become serviceable backups. Never quite living up to what was projected to be or produced while a Trojan.

Kessler has yet to prove on which side of fate he belongs. At USC, Kessler was a four-year starter and threw for totals of 10,339 yards, 88 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. Solid, to be sure. He could be exactly what a team needs, eventually.

But in Week 3 of his rookie season?

But in Cleveland?

With the Browns well-documented quarterback curse?

Good luck, Cody. Godspeed.