Former Browns QB Bernie Kosar rips front office

CLEVELAND (AP) — Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar unloaded on the team's front office, saying it lacks vision and switching to rookie Johnny Manziel "is a recipe for disaster."

Cleveland's best quarterback in the past 30 years and one of the most-popular players in team history, Kosar, a Boardman native, delivered a harsh critique of his former team in an interview with WTAM radio Monday. Kosar, whose contract as a preseason TV analyst was not renewed last summer, condemned the Browns' current regime.

"They don't know how to lead and organize and set a culture to play winning football, to win in the NFL consistently," Kosar said. "You can't play football like this."

Manziel made his first start Sunday and played poorly in a 30-0 loss to Cincinnati. Kosar, who led the Browns to three AFC title games, called the Browns' constant rotation of quarterbacks — Manziel is the 21st starter since 1999 — part of a "systemic" organizational problem.

"They've been talking so positively like, 'This is the savior,' and that's what bad organizations do," Kosar said. "They set these quarterback controversies up and it kind of takes the heat off of them and it gives everybody a little glimmer of hope. You can't put these kids in these spots. It's almost abuse."

The Browns declined comment.