Browns should cancel Dez Bryant’s visit to Cleveland

Dez Bryant isn’t a transcendent talent at wide receiver. That’s why the Browns should cancel his visit to Cleveland after his unprofessional behavior.

Part of general manager John Dorsey’s mission with the Browns is to instill a solid culture in Cleveland. Signing Dez Bryant isn’t a move that’s going to help him accomplish that goal.

The fact that Bryant wasn’t even taking Cleveland’s phone calls earlier this week should be enough of a reason for Dorsey to end the team’s interest in signing Bryant altogether.

Instead, Bryant now claims he’s headed to northeast Ohio to visit the Browns next week. That’s a significant departure from reports earlier in the day where Dorsey claimed Bryant wouldn’t return the team’s phone calls.

Bryant quickly responded on social media that he was taking his time to evaluate all of his options, but that shouldn’t have prevented him from extending the Browns the courtesy of actually communicating with him.

This is all too much drama for a player of Bryant’s caliber. He might have been worth all this trouble five years ago when he was a Pro Bowl-caliber wideout for the Cowboys. Last year it was obvious that he’s lost at least a step out on the field.

Let’s face it, Dallas didn’t cut him from their roster for no reason. Yes, the decision was partly related to money, but the Cowboys still took a big risk in letting him go with no obvious replacement on the roster.

Cleveland, in sharp contrast, actually has some talented options at the wide receiver position. Jarvis Landry is overpaid, but he will soak up a lot of catches in the slot this season. Coincidentally, the inside position that Landry occupies is where Bryant would be best suited.

The former Cowboys star can still make tough catches in traffic, but he can’t separate from defensive backs on the outside at this point in his career.

If the Browns do sign Bryant, it will almost certainly be to give them another option on the outside. Josh Gordon and Antonio Callaway both have big time talent, but their off the field baggage is considerable.

Signing another outside receiver would make some sense for Dorsey and company, but Bryant isn’t a player who can produce in that role.

The only hope Browns fans have is that Bryant elects to play for a team with a better chance of reaching the postseason. Unfortunately, all signs point to the egotistical wideout inking with Cleveland next week. He’ll bring headaches along with little production for the Browns.