After serving a four-game suspension to start the season, Monday marks the first day Browns general manager Ray Farmer is allowed to return to the team.
There will not be a parade.
The Browns are 1-3 after losing Sunday in San Diego on a field goal with no time left. The offense has shown signs of life over the last six quarters but the defense has allowed 102 points in four games and has surrendered more yards than any other in the league.
In Farmer’s absence the Browns cut Terrelle Pryor, their summer wide receiver project, and added Austin Davis and Robert Turbin to the mix at quarterback and running back, respectively. Davis is the third quarterback but got a contract extension last week; Turbin is still recovering from a high ankle sprain and has not played.
The roster Farmer has been charged with assembling still has holes. The struggling defense is full of high-priced veterans. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe got a $9 million guarantee in a two-year deal last spring but does not have a catch this season. The Browns were down two cornerbacks Sunday due to injury, and the coaches chose to play backup safety Johnson Bademosi over 2014 first-round pick Justin Gilbert.
Farmer drafted Gilbert and Johnny Manziel in the first round of his first draft. Last spring, he drafted nose tackle Danny Shelton and offensive lineman Cameron Erving in the first round. Shelton is a starter for a defense that’s 31st against the run on this young season after being 32nd last year; Erving is a backup.
There’s a lot of season left, and both Farmer and Browns coach Mike Pettine would like to think they have time to clean things up. But the Browns have won once since late last November, and it’s fair to wonder how patient owner Jimmy Haslam will be if more wins don’t come soon.