CINCINNATI, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Freddie Kitchens did not sound like a coach expecting to be fired following a 33-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns entered the season a team expected to finally turn the corner and make the playoffs but under Kitchens, they were one of the biggest flops and finished 6-10.
“It’s not even remotely good enough,” Kitchens said. “We’re not running an operation here trying to be 6-10.”
Kitchens is on the hot seat and in danger of becoming the second one-and-done head coach under the Haslams, who bought the team in 2012.
“I haven’t been told anything so I’m not going to get into speculation,” Kitchens said. “I seriously don’t want to get into speculation because I have not been told anything.”
Despite adding Odell Beckham Jr. in the offseason, the Browns, and quarterback Baker Mayfield, regressed significantly – especially offensively – under Kitchens.
Cleveland scored fewer points, had fewer passing touchdowns, passing yards and wins in 2019 than they did in 2018.
“There’s several things I could’ve done better and I’ll critique myself and be better,” Kitchens said. “[The] Focus is turning towards free agency now, see what we can do and get ready for the draft. It’s a never-ending process and you just move on and keep going.”
He might not get that chance in Cleveland where the Browns are the only team in the NFL not to register a winning season this decade, or for the last 12 years for that matter. The playoff drought is 17 years and counting.
Despite the speculation about his future, Kitchens is proceeding as if it’s business as usual.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” Kitchens said. “We’ve got meetings scheduled through next week and I’m looking forward to going to work tomorrow. Again, I truly don’t buy into the speculation stuff. I’ll work and show up tomorrow and do the best job I can do for the Browns tomorrow.”
There have been plenty of lows this season including losses to Broncos backup quarterback Brandon Allen and Steelers training camp arm ‘Duck’ Hodges but losing to a 1-14 Bengals team – even by Browns standards – is as shameful as it gets.
Kitchens admitted his first season has been a learning experience for him.
“I think anytime you do a job hopefully you’re learning while you’re doing it,” Kitchens said. “And I don’t care if it’s 20 years from now, you should still be learning. I’m pretty sure that some of the best ever are continuing to learn. You’re just always evolving, you’re always learning.”
