Jacoby Brissett wants to lead Browns, even when time as starter ends: 'Everyone loves him'
BEREA — Jacoby Brissett won a 3-point contest among Browns players in June at the Cavaliers' practice facility, and now the shot clock is winding down on his time as the starting quarterback of Cleveland's NFL franchise.
Although it's unusual for a player to hold a leadership role from the bench, Brissett might be an exception to the rule.
“I think that's what makes me who I am,” Brissett said Thursday. “My circumstances don't change who I am. I'm a teammate first, so I'll continue to be that no matter what the circumstances are and figure out something else to do, right?”
Browns rookie wide receiver David Bell is buying the notion that players will admire Brissett and listen to him, even when he's no longer starting. Brissett spoke up and addressed teammates in the locker room Oct. 16 after the Browns had lost 38-15 to the New England Patriots at FirstEnergy Stadium.
“Everyone loves him,” Bell told the Beacon Journal. “He's even a better person than he is a player. A lot of players gravitate towards that, and he definitely has the respect of the locker room.
“Even when the times are tough, he's still real mellow. He knows how to calm us down when we're a little rowdy. So that's probably the biggest thing, just how how composed he is under pressure.”
The Browns (2-5) will be without quarterback Deshaun Watson for four more games ― Monday night at home against the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals (4-3), Nov. 13 at the Miami Dolphins (4-3), Nov. 20 at the Buffalo Bills (5-1) and Nov. 27 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) in Cleveland.
Watson is scheduled to return from an 11-game suspension stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual assault during massage appointments with women. When Watson returns to game action Dec. 4 against his former team, the Houston Texans (1-4-1), Brissett will be second on the depth chart. One week later, he'll turn 30.
“I never really thought about the duration of it, more so just the journey of it,” Brissett said of his starting stint with the Browns. “I've had a lot of fun, and I'm going to continue to have fun going out there and trying to do my best.”
Yes, the Browns have had a disappointing season thus far, and they're on a four-game losing streak, but Brissett hasn't let them down in terms of how he has comported himself as the placeholder for Watson.
“He has been invaluable to me and invaluable to this team,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Just from a leadership standpoint of how he handles himself around the building and the things he does to push his teammates I think is what great leaders do.
“Knowing how much he puts into it on a day-to-day basis and hour-to-hour, the amount of text messages that are flying between him and his receivers and the tight ends, watching tape at night and those type of things, I just think it's really priceless when you are talking about leadership from that position.”
With Watson, the Browns will have a three-time Pro Bowl selection behind center and a huge upgrade in talent over Brissett, who has completed 146 of 233 passes (62.7%) this season for 1,584 yards and six touchdowns with five interceptions for a rating of 82.3.
Still, Brissett has played well in stretches, and the Browns wasted two of his best outings. He went 22-of-27 passing for 258 yards without a touchdown or interception for a rating of 106.5 in Sunday's 23-20 road loss to the Baltimore Ravens (5-3). He also went 22-of-27 passing for 229 yards and a touchdown with an interception for a rating of 98.9 on Sept. 18 in a 31-30 home loss to the New York Jets.
“I’ve played well in spots, and obviously the results are the main objective,” Brissett said, “but [it's about] finding a way to continue to play better and putting this team in the best position to win.
“I thought we had a good plan for Baltimore. Obviously, it was close. But you don’t win games being close, so [I need to] just find a way to make one more play or make one more good decision and figuring out how to attack this team.”
The next team is the defending AFC champion Bengals, and the Browns are desperate to breathe life into dimming playoff possibilities. Their Week 9 bye will follow the Halloween edition of “the Battle of Ohio” against the Bengals.
“The whole thing is just to empty the tank this week and just see what happens,” Brissett said. "That’s how you always play, but even more so knowing the situation, being a division game, needing a win. Just empty the tank, and then when it’s time to recharge, we’ll recharge.”
The Browns took a break from football Monday when Brissett hosted his annual “Halloween Fashion Show” at FirstEnergy Stadium. Brissett and 13 of his teammates participated. Children battling cancer and other illnesses received an opportunity to walk the runway with costumed players. Brissett began the tradition three years ago and has introduced it to his various NFL teams since then.
“Brought a lot of smiles and a couple tears from the crowd, but overall it was a great event. It definitely puts a lot of things in perspective,” said Brissett, who dressed as iconic video game character Super Mario.
Then it was time to get back to business and prepare for the Bengals.
“The only one we have promised together is the next one,” Brissett.
Barring injury, Brissett has four more games as a Browns starter promised to him.
Bell explained he has been learning how to be a professional by observing Brissett, and that won't change with the team's inevitable starting quarterback switch.
“I see him in here every morning, early in the morning. He stays late after,” Bell said. “So that's something that I kind of attract to because he's been the league for numerous amount of years, and for you to be in the league for that amount of years, you have to be doing something right and doing extra stuff. So that's just really what I've been watching and just the way that he has control over the offense.
"When we're in the huddle, everyone's eyes are on him. We've got great and firm belief in him.”
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.
On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
Bengals at Browns
Time: 8:15 p.m. Monday
TV: ESPN/ABC (Channel 5)
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jacoby Brissett wants to lead, even with Deshaun Watson back
