Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway played in the team’s preseason opener against the New York Giants, and he played a lot. That was despite the fact that he was cited for marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license, while bullets and a gun strap were found in his car.
As it turns out, Callaway’s significant playing time was the “consequence” Browns head coach Hue Jackson decided to hand out following the rookie’s offense.
“That was part of the consequence of what he has been through, and he knows it. That is what it was. Either you sit him or make him play. I thought it was better to make him play,” Jackson said per ESPN.
“Make him play as long as he could. There were a couple of times he kept waving to come out, and we said, ‘No, stay in.'”
It was certainly an interesting choice by Jackson to deliver that sort of punishment on the rookie. The more conventional consequence would be to prevent someone from playing at all, but he opted to go the completely opposite direction.
Callaway ended up having quite the productive day as he caught three passes for 87 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown from Baker Mayfield.
It’s up for debate whether Jackson’s chosen punishment for Callaway was the correct one considering his circumstances. But what’s not up for debate is that with Josh Gordon still absent and Corey Coleman gone, Callaway is suddenly one of the most important receivers on the Browns. They need him to learn his lesson and make better decisions so that he can play a big role for them this season.
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