A prediction about Kevin Stefanski, Andrew Berry & other Browns stuff — Terry Pluto’s Pregame Scribbles
CINCINNATI, Ohio — Scribbles in my notebook before the Browns play in Cincinnati on Sunday:
1. I’ve heard some people say, “How can the Browns fire Kevin Stefanski if he finishes the season by beating Pittsburgh and Cincinnati – division rivals.” I’d counter with the fact that he’s been here for six years. His last two games should not impact a decision about his future. Either you want him as coach or you don’t.
2. The final games of the season are tricky. Last week’s 13-6 victory over Pittsburgh was significant. Pittsburgh needed that game to clinch the AFC North. Sunday’s game in Cincinnati means nothing to either team.
3. Yes, I believe Stefanski will be fired. I don’t know that for a fact. With the Browns, things can always change – but I’d be shocked if Stefanski comes back.
4. That said, I expect Jim Schwartz to be one of the candidates to replace Stefanski. But I don’t think that’s guaranteed he’ll replace Stefanski. I’m sure the Browns want him to remain as defensive coordinator.
Illustration by Ted Crow for Crowquill. So far it looks like Jim Schwartz’s defense will have to lead the way if the Browns are to be successful.
Ted Crow
5. In certain areas of the media there is an assumption that Stefanski will automatically and immediately receive another head coaching opportunity. It’s certainly possible. You can make a case of him being the two-time NFL Coach of Year. You can mention him being stuck with the Deshaun Watson mess. But it also can be a difficult sell to a fan base (and ownership) for a guy who went into the final game of the season with a 7-26 record in the last two years.
6. I’ve written about how Stefanski has to be emotionally drained after his six years with the Browns. The best thing for him could be to spend a year as an offensive coordinator somewhere, allowing him to get back to what he loves best – pure football. Much of being a head coach involves dealing with the front office, with the media and having to answer for every dumb thing done by one of his players. It’s exhausting. He can use a break for a year from the non-football stuff that is part of being a head coach.
7. You can tell Stefanski was struggling with how he started the last two seasons calling plays, then gave it up around midseason. Calling plays and running an offense is one of his favorite things about football. Perhaps he was pressured by the front office to do it, but in the end it was his decision. They were not going to fire him because he continued to call plays.
8. Current Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Browns job. I’m not buying that – not at all.
Myles Garrett is weary of all the rebuilding. But he has three years left on his contract.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
9. Myles Garrett on next season: “I want things to be successful. I’m committed to winning. As long as the team and organization are doing so and committed to that same thing, I’m all on board. If we’re thinking anything other than winning — tanking or rebuilding — that’s not me.”
10. Garrett turned 30 on Dec. 29. This is his ninth season. In that span, he’s had two winning records and one playoff victory. He also has emerged as one of the best defensive players in the NFL. This season, he has been the best.
11. After demanding to be traded, Garrett ended up signing a four-year, $160 million extension ($123 million guaranteed) last spring. At the time, it made him the NFL’s highest paid defensive player at $40 million annually. That lasted about two months. Since then, Micah Parsons ($46 million), Aidan Hutchinson ($45 million) and T.J. Watt ($41 million) moved ahead of him.
12. Schwartz on Garrett: “When he signed that contract and committed to coming back, he’s really on a mission … You guys don’t see practice the way we do. But you saw training camp … and that was the best training camp you’ve seen from Myles Garrett … I think that has something to do with the success that he’s had. He’s been very driven. He’s been trying to carry the load. He’s not afraid of the spotlight … He’s been a good leader for us. He’s played the run well. I know I bang that drum probably too many times, but I’m just really proud of the way that he plays the run. He’s been a wrecker on offense.”
13. Garrett has three years left on his contract. He also has a no-trade clause. That was the situation for Watson after the 2020 season. He finished playing the first year of a four-year contract he signed with Houston. He was mad at some decisions by the front office. He sat out and demanded to be traded. As he was away from the team, some of the civil lawsuits against him from massage therapists surfaced. He missed the entire 2021 season, then was traded to Cleveland, etc. You can read more about it here, a chapter from my book, “Why can’t this team just find a quarterback?”
14. Sitting out a season was a disastrous decision for Watson. He went 700 days between NFL regular season games. He never was close to the same three-time Pro Bowl player. He got paid, but that’s it. I doubt Garrett would pull a stunt like that.
15. Two of the Browns’ four wins this season have come against teams with winning records: Pittsburgh (9-7) and Green Bay (9-6-1). Their other wins were against Miami (7-9) and Las Vegas (2-14). They also have lost to the Titans and Jets, both are 3-13.
MY PREDICTION: I don’t care about this game other than Garrett getting one more sack for the NFL single-season record. My prediction is Andrew Berry remains as GM and runs the 2026 draft. Stefanski ends up coaching somewhere else next season.
