When viewed through the prism of the Browns or the Dolphins, the impression of stability is often as important as the stability itself.
So perhaps it says something about the directions of the franchises when Cleveland’s assistant general manager turned down a chance to the the G.M. in Miami.
“I think Cleveland is primed and I think we’re in a position to redefine the history books,’' Farmer told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I think change is on the horizon and I didn’t want to miss what’s going to happen in Cleveland.’'
The 39-year-old Farmer was offered a second interview, but passed on the chance.
“I didn’t finish the process,’' said Farmer. “I assume they would’ve given me the job. That’s the way it was articulated to me. If I took the job, I would’ve reported directly to [Dolphins owner] Stephen Ross and it was a tremendous opportunity. It still is a dream of mine to become a general manager and run my own program and put together my own team, but it wasn’t the right time for me.
“I knew what I had here. I know what I think is going to happen here, and I know what we have in place. So to that degree, the known is better than the unknown.’'
That kind of optimism might be a chance for the Browns to overcome their Brownishness, but it speaks more clearly to how dysfunctional things are perceived in Miami right now.