INDIANAPOLIS -- Justin Gilbert suddenly has every off-field problem imaginable, a walking collage of NFL character issues.

That's not fair to Gilbert. This is pure speculation. But the Browns are leaving fans no choice but to wonder about all possibilities with their first-round cornerback after comments made by team brass at the NFL scouting combine this week.

Coach Mike Pettine said Gilbert, who struggled mightily as a rookie in 2014, is dealing with “more than” the normal rookie problems such as work ethic and focus.

“I don’t want to get into it,” Pettine said. “It’s very personal.”

General manager Ray Farmer said the Browns learned more about Gilbert’s problems after drafting him No. 8 overall but still believe he can be productive.

The Browns' intentions could be good here -- there’s a reason for Gilbert’s struggles -- but the comments add fuel to an already uneasy situation. The Browns are essentially making things worse for Gilbert by making people guess what the personal issue actually is.

All this leaves Gilbert twisting in the wind a bit, exacerbating the negative attention surrounding him after he was disciplined by the team on multiple occasions during the year, with a penchant for missing or being late to team meetings.

No doubt Gilbert has issues to work out -- teammates even called him out for a "wasted" rookie season -- but labeling his problems doesn’t exactly change the pick the Browns made. It’s already happened. Gilbert’s on the roster and the Browns are left hoping for the best.

“The player is in there,” Farmer said. “I think he’s capable and credible.”

I don't think Pettine was trying to expose Gilbert; he was trying to answer questions honestly, which is hard to knock. He’s one of the NFL’s most forthright coaches.

If Gilbert's issue is a sensitive one, however, it's suddenly everyone else's business.

At least Gilbert has been quiet this offseason, failing to match the Instagram intensity of Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon.