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Former Cleveland Browns executive Joe Banner took several shots at the organization on a recent appearance on \u201cThe Rich Eisen Show\u201d.<\/p>\n
Banner, who served as CEO from October of 2012 until February of 2014, didn\u2019t hold back any punches regarding the Browns\u2019 disastrous 2025 campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point, I think they\u2019re trying to end with the highest pick as they can,\u201d said Banner, basically accusing Cleveland of tanking the season. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t make any sense to me trading [Kenny Pickett] and [Joe] Flacco. I know they were upset when they traded him in the division, but why wouldn\u2019t they? That means they lose another game when they play them\u201d.<\/p>\n
While Banner was on board with the decision to play a rookie quarterback in third-rounder Dillon Gabriel this year, he doesn\u2019t have high hopes for him nor fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders.<\/p>\n
They can\u2019t get the benefit of his talent versus young guys. I mean, they\u2019re doing the right thing in seeing if any of the young quarterbacks have what it could take, or they have to pick somebody this year. I don\u2019t think either of them [Gabriel and Sanders] have what it takes, in my opinion anyway…\u201d stated Banner to Eisen during the interview.<\/p>\n
Banner was also tough on the direction the club is headed under current leadership\u2019s drafting philosophy.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd listen, they could lose all five of their offensive linemen at the end of the season if they decide that they are not good enough. They just had a draft that, at least in Cleveland,\u00a0was covered as a great draft, without picking one offensive lineman, even at the end of the draft, to possibly develop. I just don\u2019t understand. That\u2019s just a way off-base team building philosophy,\u201d warned Banner of Cleveland\u2019s 2025 crop, one that included standout offensive weapons Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin Jr., as well as linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a candidate to take the league\u2019s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.<\/p>\n
Banner also expressed some pessimism regarding the talent on the roster outside the quarterback position, which has been dominating the headlines in Cleveland.<\/p>\n
“I think [Kevin] Stefanski is actually a good coach, not a great coach, but a\u00a0good coach. But he\u2019s had six years now. I think Andrew Berry is a smart, hard-working good guy. But, I think he has had a fair chance to really demonstrate that he can build a roster that, if they fix the quarterback problem, can go a long way. I don’t think they’re there yet either.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while he did have some praise for the defense, Banner doesn\u2019t consider it an elite unit, either.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the defense is a B, B+. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s an A, either. But, it\u2019s a very good defense. It\u2019s in the top, maybe third, of the defenses in the league. So, I don\u2019t know. To me, they need to get back to basics. They need to make some front office changes. They gotta get to the point where they can dominate those lines.<\/p>\n
Sign up Banner as one of those who thinks the Browns should take a quarterback high in the first round of next year\u2019s draft, as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, they get a high enough pick that one of the quarterbacks that\u2019s there is their answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, the Browns are on a trajectory\u00a0to pick very high in next year\u2019s first round, when they should have multiple options to choose from at the quarterback position. But given the team\u2019s history of not being able to develop passers at the next level, there\u2019s no guarantee that just picking up the right prospect — if they actually do so — will lead to success for Cleveland.<\/p>\n
Indianapolis, IN \u2014 A Quarterback Controversy that Could Define a Dynasty<\/em><\/p>\n The Indianapolis Colts are humming along with a commanding 8-2 record, sitting atop the AFC South with a two-game lead, and currently holding the No. 1 seed in the AFC. While the season is far from over and seeding could change dramatically in the coming weeks, one thing is clear: the Colts have found something special this season. And much of that success can be attributed to a decision that seemed risky at the time\u2014choosing Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback over the much-hyped Anthony Richardson.<\/p>\n Entering the 2025 season, the Colts were facing what many believed could be a major landmine in terms of quarterback play. Richardson, the team\u2019s 2023 first-round draft pick, had experience in Shane Steichen\u2019s system after playing under him for two years. With all eyes on Richardson as the next great hope for the Colts, it seemed like the most logical move to hand him the reins as QB1. But Indianapolis made a bolder decision.<\/p>\n The Bold Decision to Start Daniel Jones<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead of going with Richardson, the Colts took a chance on Daniel Jones, whose career had been marked by struggles in New York with the Giants and a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings that didn\u2019t leave a lasting impression. Jones had flamed out in New York, failing to live up to the potential that had once made him a first-round pick in 2019. But Indianapolis saw something in Jones that could work in their favor.<\/p>\n Through 10 games in 2025, it\u2019s clear that the Colts made the right choice. Jones has been nothing short of terrific, showcasing poise, leadership, and a level of consistency that has allowed the Colts to thrive. He has breathed new life into a team that had been in search of stability at the quarterback position for years. His solid play has led Indianapolis to a top spot in the AFC, and while the season has a long way to go, the future is looking bright for the Colts with Jones at the helm.<\/p>\n The Anthony Richardson Dilemma: Could He Be on the Move?<\/strong><\/p>\n Of course, the question remains: what about Richardson? His future in Indianapolis is now uncertain, and the Colts face a significant decision next offseason with the fifth-year option on his contract for 2027 looming. The speculation around Richardson\u2019s future has already begun, and some analysts, like Billy Heyen of the Sporting News, suggest that Richardson could be traded sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n One potential scenario is a trade to the Carolina Panthers, where Richardson would join another former high-profile 2023 draft pick, Bryce Young. The Panthers\u2019 decision to stick with Young as their starter despite his lackluster performance has drawn criticism, much like Richardson\u2019s struggles in Indianapolis. Young has started 37 games over three seasons for Carolina, but his record of 11-26, combined with a quarterback rating of just 77.8 and a troubling 37-26 touchdown-to-interception ratio, has led some to question his future as the Panthers’ QB1. Could Richardson be the answer in Carolina? Some think a change of scenery might be just what both quarterbacks need, but at this point, Richardson\u2019s future in Indianapolis appears increasingly uncertain.<\/p>\n The Long-Term Vision for the Colts<\/strong><\/p>\n For Colts fans, however, the uncertainty surrounding Richardson\u2019s future isn\u2019t a major concern. Indianapolis has found its long-term quarterback in Daniel Jones, and that should equate to sustained success for years to come. While the Colts’ decision to start Jones over Richardson raised some eyebrows at first, it\u2019s clear that the team\u2019s leadership saw something in Jones that many others had overlooked. His ability to manage the offense, avoid mistakes, and make crucial throws when needed has allowed the Colts to remain atop the AFC South and firmly in the playoff hunt.<\/p>\n Whether Richardson stays in Indianapolis or moves on to another team, the Colts have made a decisive step forward in securing their quarterback situation. With Jones leading the way, Indianapolis looks poised to build a new era of success, one that could lead to long-term dominance in the AFC. And while the quarterback controversy around Richardson might continue to swirl, the Colts are content knowing they have found their man under center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Former Cleveland Browns executive Joe Banner took several shots at the organization on a recent appearance on \u201cThe Rich Eisen Show\u201d. Banner, who served as CEO from October of 2012 until February…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t