Mike Tomlin didn’t need long on NBC to land his shot at Cleveland.
The former Steelers head coach, now working as an analyst after leaving Pittsburgh following last season, jumped in on the familiar postgame ritual after the Browns’ Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. And he did it with a line that fit the moment perfectly.
"In the words of my friend JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Browns are the Browns," Tomlin said on the NBC broadcast on Sunday night.
That came after Cleveland was blasted 34-10 by Jacksonville in a game that never felt competitive. The Browns were overwhelmed, and Deshaun Watson’s rough outing was a big part of why the night turned so sour.
Tomlin’s jab also fits a long-running NFL habit, especially for people connected to the Steelers. Mocking the Browns has become part of the routine around the league, and the AFC North rivalry gives former Pittsburgh players and coaches plenty of reason to pile on. Ben Roethlisberger has done it before, and Tomlin is now free to join the crowd with a little less restraint than he had as a head coach.
Cleveland’s latest stumble only adds to the sense of frustration around the franchise, which keeps finding new ways to trip over itself. The fan base has stuck with it through plenty of dysfunction, even when the product on the field gives them little reason for optimism.
And the schedule isn’t offering much relief. The Browns turn right around and face another tough offense next week, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waiting in Week 2.
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