BEREA: The Browns are tied for the NFL’s worst record this season and own the league’s longest active losing streak with six consecutive defeats, so speculation about coach Mike Pettine being in jeopardy of losing his job in early January is justified.
Based on the way the season has unfolded, no one should be surprised if owner Jimmy Haslam cleans house and hits the reset button on the coaching staff and the player personnel department led by General Manager Ray Farmer.
Pettine knows as well as anybody his job could be hanging in the balance.
“I feel very upset about the record,” Pettine said Thursday during a news conference. “That’s on us. We own it. This is a bottom-line business and where we are isn’t good enough.”
Since Pettine led the Browns to a record of 7-4 last year during his first season as an NFL head coach, the team has gone 2-14.
“Thanks for reminding me of that,” Pettine quipped when a reporter rattled off the Browns’ record in their last 16 games.
With five games left this season, the Browns and Tennessee Titans are in the basement of the league with records of 2-9.
So Pettine was asked whether he has talked to Haslam about what he needs to do to keep his job for a third season.
“Anybody that knows me and anybody that knows Jimmy Haslam knows our conversations are always blunt,” Pettine said. “The time is so valuable during the season that when we get into a conversation, we hit topics head on. There’s no dancing around them.
“The question is: Do we have plan to fix [the team’s problems]? Is it fixable? I feel like we do, but we’ll have to wait and see. I can’t get caught wrapped up [in talk about job security] now. As the season winds down, [my future] could potentially come up between [Haslam and me]. I’m full speed ahead to getting it fixed here in Cleveland, and I know the results aren’t anywhere near where they need to be.
“But that doesn’t mean that we’re not making strides, we’re not getting it set up that it can be done. So, to me, it’s a belief that we can. We got five games left and we’re going to go out and wear the Cleveland logo proud and try to win football games.”
Winning Sunday will be easier said than done when the Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals (9-2). They defeated Cleveland 31-10 on Nov. 5 in Cincinnati.
Nevertheless, All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas has been impressed with how Pettine has conducted himself despite facing an uncertain future.
“The steadiness that he has is something you see in a lot of the great coaches over the years, and that’s one of the things that I respect most about him,” Thomas said. “He believes in what he does. He’s got his system. He’s got his philosophy and he doesn’t deviate from that based on public perception or emotion or things that can take you away from your plan, which I think is what you have to have if you want to be a successful coach.”
IR candidates
Pettine revealed he expects the organization to consider placing cornerback Joe Haden and wide receiver Andrew Hawkins on injured reserve with concussions.
“When you deal with a topic as sensitive as concussions, the longer guys are out, I think those conversations will come up,” Pettine said. “We’re not there yet. You also have Hawk who’s been out for some time, too. With the season winding down, those are potential discussions to have. It’s a sensitive topic and something that ultimately has to come to the table.”
On Sunday, Haden will likely miss his sixth game this season and fourth in a row because of a concussion. He has suffered two concussions this season, one Oct. 11 against the Baltimore Ravens and the other Nov. 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Hawkins is expected to miss his fourth game with a concussion and second in a row. Hawkins also has suffered two concussions this season. The first one occurred Oct. 25 against the St. Louis Rams, then another Nov. 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In addition to Haden and Hawkins, wide receiver Taylor Gabriel and cornerback Justin Gilbert are in the league’s concussion protocol. None of those players practiced Thursday.
Last week, Pettine revealed Haden, a Pro Bowl selection in each of the last two seasons, had yet to clear the first of three major hurdles in the protocol.
“It’s very concerning because you never want to play with a concussion because that has to deal with your head,” Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green said Wednesday during a conference call when asked about Haden missing time. “He’s been a great player for so long, and my heart goes out to him because I know he wants to play. But he has to be safe first. He has to look at the long term and let this thing heal so he can come back and after football, he’ll be alright. I’m just praying for him. I know he’ll be back, though.”
Comeback recognized
Two-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack was chosen by his teammates to receive the 2015 Ed Block Courage Award. The honor is typically bestowed upon a player who comes back from an injury.
Mack missed the final 11 games last season after suffering a broken left fibula in October against the Steelers. He hasn’t missed a snap this season.
“It is the first major injury I have had,” Mack said. “... College, NFL, it was a really long run of being able to be healthy and make it on the field every day. To have that taken away was tough.
“It was a lot of work coming back from not being able to walk to getting the ankle and the leg feeling good. ... I just don’t take the days for granted. You only have so many days to play football.”
Another honor
The Browns nominated inside linebacker Craig Robertson for the NFL Players Association’s Byron “Whizzer” White Award, which recognizes players who go above and beyond to perform community service. The winner among the 32 nominees will receive $100,000 for his foundation or a charity of choice and will be announced at the NFLPA’s Super Bowl news conference.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ.