Tom Reed: Pettine did Gilbert no favors with revelation

INDIANAPOLIS

Browns rookie Justin Gilbert would have led the NFL in tough love last season if Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon hadn’t deflected some of it with their own off-field transgressions.

Teammates criticized the 23-year-old cornerback for his attitude, work ethic and tardiness. Coaches made similar comments, reduced his playing time and suspended him for the season finale after he was late to a meeting.

Gilbert’s behavior merited the strong response, one intended to make him a more accountable pro in his second year. But the team’s decision to disclose that he’s been dealing with a “personal” issue is unwarranted and unfair.

The problem became public Wednesday during Mike Pettine’s news conference at the NFL scouting combine. The coach was asked if he had a better understanding as to what led to Gilbert’s struggles on and off the field. Was it a poor attitude? Lack of professionalism?

“It’s more than that,” the coach said. “I don’t want to get into it. It’s very personal and I’m not going to get into details about it.”

Pettine didn’t need to go there. Not enough information became too much information, setting off speculation as to what’s afflicting the No. 8 overall pick and what’s at the root of his problems.

It’s a story likely to fester until Gilbert or “sources” close to him address it. The kid doesn’t need that hovering over him, especially if it’s sensitive in nature.

I don’t think Pettine intended to create a stir, and there was nothing malicious in the revelation — such as it is. He’s an insightful coach who often provides honest and candid answers.

Perhaps Pettine was intimating that the personal problem is behind all the knucklehead behavior and everyone needs to take a step back in judging him. But society is often conditioned to assume the worst.

In an off-season already filled with troubling Browns storylines, the mysterious issue with Gilbert becomes another one. It also stokes more discussion as to why the club didn’t recognize or heed red flags surrounding their first-round picks.

General manager Ray Farmer said Thursday that Gilbert’s issue revealed itself over time as the coaching staff got to know him. When the player arrived in Berea last May, Farmer said, “everything seemed standard.”

The Browns have made changes to their scouting department and hired a new team psychologist since last year’s draft. Farmer was asked if Gilbert’s problem should have been detected earlier.

“You always have that second-guess moment of ‘could I have known, should I have known?’” he said. “And I would tell you in that respect you always look to improve your decision-making process. So yeah, you’d like to think you can catch it or you can find it, but that requires resources or things that you’ve got to really, truly dig into. You don’t find out everything about every guy.”

Farmer, like Pettine, believes Gilbert can play once he works through his off-field issues.

“I think the player is in there, I really do,” the general manager said. “I think he’s capable and credible.”

Gilbert looked terrific in training camp and showed flashes during an otherwise disappointing campaign. He certainly exhibited more promise than Manziel in their rookie season.

The quarterback, to his credit, checked himself into rehab to deal with a possible substance abuse issue. As for Gilbert, all we know is it’s more than attitude and lack of professionalism. That leaves a lot to the imagination.

Pettine did a nice job getting the Browns to seven wins this season, dealing with the dysfunction and distractions that would have overwhelmed many coaches. His leadership and sense of calm in times of crisis cannot be taught. His news conferences have an FDR fireside chat quality to them.

But in trying to shed some light into Gilbert’s murky season, Pettine probably did him no favors.

Tom Reed covers the Browns for The Plain Dealer and Northeast Ohio Media Group.