Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns are 1-4 in a season where most believe they would not be very good. Despite those expectations, fans are pounding on the door, calling for the heads of GM Andrew Berry (to a lesser extent) and HC Kevin Stefanski. Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers could be a pivotal moment for the head coach.
The Browns seem likely to go into the Week 6 matchup healthy, with another week starting Dillon Gabriel and OT Cam Robinson having more time to acclimate. CB Tyson Campbell, acquired in a trade midweek, has to get up to speed in a hurry, while Gabriel does not have QB Joe Flacco to lean on during preparations this week.
Many believe Stefanski’s job is on the line, relatively quickly, after some poor decision-making in Week 5. There is also some concern that Stefanski and Berry, who have been locked at the hip since taking over their jobs, are not exactly on the same page.
According to Charles Robinson, Stefanski’s seat might be hot in Cleveland, but, like Mike Vrabel and Andy Reid, he’ll have options with other teams quickly. Robinson also noted not hearing anything about a fracture between Stefanski and Berry:
Even the biggest proponent of Stefanski is probably rolling their eyes at the comparison to Vrabel and Reid, who both saw more success in their first head coaching jobs than the Browns coach has. However, it is telling that the league has a strong, positive regard for Stefanski.
Robinson’s note on the relationship between Berry and Stefanski is not surprising, given how the two have seemed to be saying the same things out of different mouths for years. Losing does tend to bring about tension in any relationship and, in the end, the two will be judged based on how they’ve done their job and their job alone.
In the end, Berry and Stefanski both report to owner Jimmy Haslam with neither holding power over the other. The owner will make any decision about the future of both the GM and the head coach. With Stefanski, options will likely avail themselves if his time in Cleveland comes to an end.
