CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In columns earlier in the week, I was extremely critical of the Cleveland Browns front office and their failure to trade for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

I also have spent the last few days trying to figure out what happened between the Browns and New England Patriots before Garoppolo was dealt to the San Francisco 49ers for the 2018 second-round pick.

The Browns have been trying to trade for him for months -- dating back to before the draft. He was the quarterback the front office and coaching staff both really liked. It's nice when they agree on a quarterback.

League sources tell me the Browns talked to New England last on Friday, Oct. 28. The Browns were told the Patriots had no interest in dealing Garoppolo. The Browns said to please call them if that changed.

The Browns definitely wanted to bid for Garoppolo. They were not discouraged by word that Garoppolo's agent reportedly said his client didn't want to go to Cleveland. Nor that the Patriots backup quarterback could be a free agent in the summer.

The Browns believed:

1. Garoppolo would become excited in Cleveland because he would finally receive a chance to start.

2. The Browns have oodles of salary cap room and could pay him big money to stay.

3. At the worst, they'd franchise him for 2018 and work on a long-term deal after that.

New England was engaged in talks with San Francisco for Garoppolo. The 49ers gave up a second-round pick. They also cut Brian Hoyer, and the Cleveland native signed with New England to be Tom Brady's backup.

The Patriots never brought the Browns into the talks, even though the Browns had been calling constantly about Garoppolo for a long time. The Browns couldn't figure it out, because they have made two trades with New England. The Browns had multiple picks to offer and were willing to do it. They believed they could have easily offered more than the 49ers.

But the Patriots seemed set on the deal with the 49ers, and that happened on Monday. Perhaps adding Hoyer was the reason. Regardless, the Browns were stunned when they heard the news.

That led to a very gloomy Monday night in Berea, and it set up their quest for AJ McCarron.

ABOUT McCARRON

It seems the Browns and Bengals were both not quite sure if they wanted to make this trade at least until the final hour before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline.

The Browns talked to the Bengals that morning. Cincinnati wanted a second- and third-round pick for their backup quarterback. The Browns thought that was extremely high. McCarron has not thrown a pass in a regular season game since 2015. Like nearly every NFL team, the Browns didn't rate McCarron on the same level as Garoppolo.

The appeal was McCarron knew coach Hue Jackson's system. Also, McCarron could bring some stability by not throwing interceptions.

In 2015, McCarron played in eight games, including one in the postseason. He completed 101 of 161 passes with seven TDs and three interceptions. They liked the 63 percent completion mark with limited interceptions.

Bengals owner Mike Brown set the price at a second- and third-round pick. The Browns have three second-rounders in 2018, and were negotiating about which one.

Bottom line was the two teams started on this trade very late. They haggled over too many things that didn't mean much. Then it became a paper-trail story of "He said ... he said."

The deadline passed and no deal ... for any quarterback.

I was strongly in favor of some type of Garoppolo deal. I was underwhelmed by the idea of McCarron.

The best guess is both teams share some of the blame for failing to move quickly on a last-day deal. But because the Browns are the Browns, they are destined to be the organization that is labeled inept after the deal fell apart.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

I was looking at the Browns scores and suddenly realized something: The 0-8 team has lost four games by three points. That's right, half of the losses have been by a field goal.

Granted, that happens to bad teams. They lose close games. But if they split the four games, they are 2-6. Less gloom and doom, less pressure on everyone in Berea.

Here are a few thoughts:

1. The defense was a mess in the 31-28 loss to Indianapolis, although the three DeShone Kizer interceptions didn't help. That game was not as close as the score indicated.

2. But in the other three losses, the defense allowed a grand total of four touchdowns.

3. In those losses to Pittsburgh, the Jets and Tennessee, the defense gave up 14, 17 and 12 points, respectively. The Steelers scored 21 points, but seven came when they recovered a blocked punt in the end zone.

4. In other words, the defense turned in three game-winning performances. When a team is 0-8, everything looks bad. But the defense is better. Gregg Williams has made a difference. When Myles Garrett is healthy, the defense can be dynamic.

5. The run defense has improved from 31st last season to No. 5 this season. Emanuel Ogbah, Danny Shelton, Larry Ogunjobi, Jamie Meder, Trevon Coley and the linebackers have been very strong against the run.

6. This is not to claim the Browns have a great defense, but it has a chance to be pretty good in the near future.

WHAT WENT WRONG

One word: TURNOVERS!

When the Browns made the decision to go with rookie QB Kizer, they never dreamed he'd be throwing interceptions at a record-setting pace.

The Browns record for interceptions in a season is 27 in 1979. Brian Sipe threw 26 of those. At the midpoint, the Browns have 17 interceptions -- 11 by Kizer.

We are witnessing the worst quarterback play in the history of the franchise.

Not all of it is on the quarterbacks. The front office failed to supply receivers. Free agent Kenny Britt has been a disaster. Corey Coleman (2016 first-rounder) showed some ability but can't stay healthy. Other draft picks have floundered.

Perhaps Josh Gordon will help, assuming he stays out of trouble. He will be eligible for the final five games of the season if he continues on his current path.

After a slow start, the offensive line has come together with free agents JC Tretter and Kevin Zeitler fitting in. A year ago, the Browns allowed 66 sacks. This season, they are at 23 ... and eight were in the opener.

The run blocking could be better. The coaching staff also could be committed more to the run.

None of this is meant as an in-depth analysis of the draft picks, etc. Hue Jackson also has had some bizarre moments in terms of in-game decisions. But the biggest cloud over the season leading to zero wins has been the quarterback play. The Browns could not even find a way to have mediocre performances from the quarterback in most games, and that's very discouraging.