Terrelle Pryor is frustrated. Heck, anyone who plays for, works for or still willingly supports the Cleveland Browns is frustrated. At 0-13, there are zero positives to be gleaned from this team, so everyone involved is rightfully aggravated at the moment.
However, it’s the quarterback-turned-wideout who’s been receiving the brunt of the focus these days.
For the second time in four weeks, coach Hue Jackson had to call Pryor out for actions he felt were detrimental to the team. This time, it was for the receiver getting into an animated argument with quarterback Robert Griffin III on the field during last weekend’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
It’s yet another instance of Pryor catching headlines for odd and sometimes wrong reasons. In a season where he’s made a remarkably successful position switch, he’s instead being talked about for negative attention being drawn both from his team and opposing ones.
Obviously, this is a bit of an issue with Pryor, as well as the Browns in general. To be frank, this team needs leaders. What it’s currently getting from one of its more talented players is the opposite of that, and this needs to change.
Despite putting forth some uneven performances in the past few games, Pryor has clearly set himself apart as one of the potential talents on a team pretty devoid of such a thing. But there’s still a ways to go before we can anoint him as a top-tier NFL talent. That’s not to say he can’t get there.
It is, however, just pointing out the fact Pryor is in no position to call anyone out or act as though he’s above members of his or any other team.
For one, he has to stop getting pulled into these spats with opposing cornerbacks. Both Bengals defensive back Adam Jones and New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins spent the week leading up to their respective games against Cleveland talking trash to Pryor. I get these beefs appear to be two-way streets, and that the Browns wideout has refused to continue the verbal battles once the games are finally over. That said, there has to be a reason two different players have gone so over the top to call him out. It’s led some to believe Pryor is doing his fair share of talking on the field.
My advice to Pryor is simple on this one – you and your team have yet to win a single football game, pre- or regular season. It’s been weeks since Cleveland has even lost a close game. Pryor, or any Brown for that matter, is in no place to feel cocky. As he himself tweeted in response to both Jenkins and Jones, “talk is talk, we will see Sunday.”
Anyone who watches the Browns on Sunday knows there’s nothing to be confident about there.
On top of this, Pryor isn’t limiting his emotions to just opposing teams.
We already covered his clash with Griffin last Sunday. This came a few weeks after Pryor publicly laid into his offensive line for failing to protect quarterback Cody Kessler after a lopsided loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s also been seen ranting and raving on the sideline multiple times this season.
I say again – the Browns are winless. They’re a team in dire need of any sort of display of leadership, someone to step up and try and guide teammates through a historically awful season.
Calling out or showing up teammates is not being a leader. It’s just another problem for a team which has far too many right now.
I get it. There’s no fun to be had in a year when no games are won. Everybody within Cleveland’s locker room is mad and disappointed, rightfully so.
However, in times like these, the last thing the team needs is unnecessary distractions with opponents or finger-pointing. He’s proven to be competitive, and has continued to play hard despite the season having been over for the past month or two. This definitely helps.
Focusing too much on jawing with opponents, or harping on the media’s coverage of it just makes Pryor look distracted. This, of course, does not help.
Provided he’s re-signed, Pryor can be a crucial piece for the future in Cleveland. He’s someone the team can build an offense around. It’s time he takes advantage of this position in a good way, leaving the antics behind and trying to be a leader the Browns badly need.