Browns firing GM Ray Farmer means changes are coming in Cleveland (again)

The general manager responsible for drafting Johnny Manziel in the first round is about to be out of a job. According to reports on Monday from Sports Illustrated, the Cleveland Browns are expected to fire general manager Ray Farmer but keep head coach Mike Pettine.

Farmer joined the Cleveland front office in 2013 as an assistant general manager after a seven-year run with the Kansas City Chiefs as a director of pro scouting. He was bumped up to general manager in 2014, putting him in charge of two separate drafts since taking on the top personnel role in the front office. Aside from the draft struggles, Farmer had also been linked to investigations for sending texts to coaching staff during games regarding play calling. He served a suspension for the first four games of this season as a result.

Clearly, this would signal a new direction for the Browns, which seems to be the case every few years for the franchise that lacks instability on so many levels. So it looks like it will be back to the drawing board as the Browns look to find a leader capable of turning things around. And if the plan is to stick with Pettine at head coach, could this mean a new path for Manziel, the prize of the Farmer era?

Not so fast, perhaps. Before the season started, back in early August, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said there would be no reason to blow things up at the end of the year of things did not go so well.

Oh Cleveland, the sad truth is you are home to one of the most consistent NFL franchises, because the Browns are consistenty a mess.

[Sports Illustrated]