BEREA, Ohio _ The scathing comments free safety Tashaun Gipson made about the Browns early this week practically sounded an alarm in Hue Jackson's head.
The coach addressed Gipson's trash talk with his players Wednesday as they prepared for Sunday's game at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"You can bet your bottom dollar I did," Jackson said.
Did Jackson use Gipson's criticism as a motivational tool?
"It's not about that," Jackson replied. "I don't think we need any motivation. We are an 0-9 football team, so I don't think we are looking for anything. The opportunity to play is motivation enough for this football team. We want to win.
"Anytime anybody says something about the organization and the football team, you want your people to be aware, but we have earned this. People are going to say things. You guys (in the media) say things. People say things all the time. We get it. It isn't going to change until we change it. The only way you change it is you start winning.
The Browns have won only once in 25 games under Jackson and the rest of this regime, making them the easiest target in the NFL.
During an interview Monday night with ESPN's Freddie and Fitz radio program, Gipson blasted the Browns' front office for failing to re-sign him, center Alex Mack, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz and wide receiver Travis Benjamin when they became free agents in March 2016, blaming the group led by head of football operations Sashi Brown and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta for the rampant losing in Cleveland.
"I truly hope that we hang 40 (points) on them," Gipson said during the radio interview. "Their offense probably shouldn't score against our defense, and I'm excited.
"People say their next chance to win a football game is probably against the Jaguars, which probably ain't going to happen. They're probably going to finish 0-16.
"So you look at things like that, man, just a blessing to be able to get out of that situation and come to a situation like this where you know what winning feels like."
Coach Doug Marrone addressed Gipson's verbal assault Wednesday when the 6-3 Jaguars held their team meeting.
"That's not something that we like to do as a team," Marrone said of Gipson delivering barbs. "It has been addressed, and we understand that it's going to be very difficult for us to go on the road and win a football game.
"We don't necessarily match up well with Cleveland, so we are going to have play extremely well. I have a lot of respect for the coaches, the ownership and, obviously, the players there."
On a conference call with Northeast Ohio media, Gipson made it clear he intended to take shots at the front office of the Browns but not their players.
"The 0-16 comment probably was a bit too far," Gipson said, "but at the end of the day, I do expect a Jaguar victory on Sunday.
"I think this defense is the best defense in the National Football League and unless you have a Tom Brady at the helm, I feel like any given team against us, we can pitch a shutout."
Several Browns players were at least slightly bothered by Gipson's remarks.
"Anybody would be disrespected from that," defensive tackle Danny Shelton said. "So we've just got to go out there and play our game, be dominant."
"I look forward to going out there and executing my job to try to prove (Gipson) wrong," rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer said.
"It is bulletin-board material," left tackle Spencer Drango said. "So some guys (use it as motivation), some guys don't use it."
Rookie tight end David Njoku will use it to engage in a war of words with Gipson.
"I love the smack talk," Njoku said. "Without smack talk for me, I feel like the game isn't complete. So that just drives me more. I just love it.
"I'm going to be talking to him during the game. Obviously, if we're competing against each other, smack talk is going to happen."
Gipson is the same way. He loves to talk, but not many Browns players know his personality.
The front office has turned over personnel so much the past two offseasons that only nine players on the active roster were on the team during Gipson's tenure: Shelton, linebacker Christian Kirksey, running backs Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson, defensive end Nate Orchard, tight end Randall Telfer, left guard Joel Bitonio, defensive tackle Jamie Meder and long snapper Charley Hughlett.
Gipson still stays in touch with Kirksey and Crowell, and he spoke with Kirksey on Tuesday.
"He's a friend of mine," Kirksey said. "He's a former teammate. He's just saying what he's saying to get his team riled up. I'm going to say what I'm going to say to get my team riled up. The best man wins. The best team wins.
"(When) you hear things like that, of course, guys are going to get riled up, but I feel like it's bigger than (Gipson's) comments for us. We've got our own problems. We're trying to win our games. We're taking the approach that every game is an important game whether somebody commented or not."
Gipson said on the radio he feels sorry for Kirksey and other Browns players who have essentially been set up to fail by the front office.
"I appreciate him for trying to speak up for me," Kirksey said. "But I'm here, and I have a job to do, and it's to go out here and win ballgames and lead this team the best way I can lead it. We'll see Sunday how everything unfolds, but I think this defense and this offense here will be ready for battle."
As for the prospect of going 0-16, the Browns were 0-9 last year when Kirksey publicly guaranteed they wouldn't finish the season winless. He was right. They won their penultimate game and finished 1-15.
"I'm always going to think win," Kirksey said. "I've been thinking win since I came to Cleveland. It's not going to change. The same feeling I had last year is the same feeling I have this year."
