
Freddie Kitchens offered a quote after Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that should outrage all Cleveland Browns fans.
Kitchens said after the game that he didn’t think anyone viewed him as a “finished product” as a head coach. The quote came in the context of his job security.
More Freddie: "I don't know that anyone thought I was a finished product." Says he wouldn't look at coming back in 2020 as a second chance — it's still the first chance. Says he has a good relationship with GM John Dorsey and they have frank conversations.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 29, 2019
The Browns finished the season 6-10, and this was after they were viewed as playoff contenders entering the year. For Kitchens to justify that by throwing up his hands and saying “what do you want from me, I’m still new at this”, is pathetic. He has coached poorly at every turn. The Browns disappointed in every single regard. There was regression across the board; Odell Beckham Jr. was completely underutilized; and the Browns fell short in every way possible. Kitchens was not just a poor coach in terms of game plans and in-game coaching strategy, but he also did a poor job managing his players. He failed in every way. And then he says “hey, I’m still learning here.” The Browns aren’t in experimental mode; they’re trying to win. They need an established coach in there who knows what he’s doing, not someone who is overmatched.
Cleveland has had a bad habit of ditching coaches too early, but they can’t get rid of Kitchens soon enough, especially with guys like Ron Rivera and Mike McCarthy out there. Even Kitchens’ players aren’t exactly endorsing him. What are they waiting for?