#HeyTony: When will the Browns players and coaches be together for the first time?

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.

Hey Tony: When will all players and coaches be together for the first time?

-- Chad, Erie, PA

Hey Chad: On Wednesday, the NFL notified teams that virtual offseason programs will extend through May 29 and must be completed by June 26. That is another way of saying that no teams will be allowed to return to their facility and practice fields until training camp. And training camps won’t officially be OK’d until states lift their respective restrictions. There is a possibility that teams located in states slow in lifting their restrictions (e.g. the Rams, Chargers and 49ers) may have to relocate training camps to nearby states. The NFL is not going to open training camps until every team is able to do so. Let’s hope this can happen in late summer.

Hey Tony: How can we go into this season with this linebacker group when we have to stop the Ravens and others? I think we are in trouble! Are there any big time backers still out there or might get let go?

-- Mike, Parma, OH

Hey Mike: On Wednesday, I gave a list of five unsigned veterans who might interest the Browns. The only linebacker was Nigel Bradham, late of the Eagles. The Browns rank 30th in spending on their linebacker position group. The Eagles are 31st. Both of those organizations clearly devalue the position and use a lot of two-linebacker formations.

Hey Tony: How do you think the last year and a half would have played out for the Browns if John Dorsey hired Kevin Stefanski instead of Freddie Kitchens in 2019?

-- Chris, Westlake, OH

Hey Chris: This is a fascinating question. But the fact is in January of 2019, both men were risks as coaching hires. Kitchens had eight games as an offensive coordinator and was successful in developing a palpable chemistry with Baker Mayfield. Stefanski, too, was an interim coordinator -- with the Vikings. And although he had some success with his team, he had no exposure to Mayfield and the Browns. I think naming Stefanski over Kitchens in 2019 would have been a huge risk. I think Stefanski’s one season with Gary Kubiak in 2019 was a tremendous experience that expanded him professionally.

Hey Tony: Do you think the Browns will be in shape (fitness wise)?

-- Chris, Mansfield, OH

Hey Chris: This will be an unusual year for every team because the conditioning portion of the offseason programs effectively has been eliminated. You would like to think that all players are conscientiously working on their conditioning away from the auspices of their teams. We’ll see what we will see.

Hey Tony: Much has been discussed about our new tackles being useable in the wide zone but are our guards (Joel Bitonio, etc.) compatible with the new o- line scheme or is this not as big an issue with the guard position?

-- Alan, Alliance, OH

Hey Alan: Bitonio and center JC Tretter are capable of running the wide zone. I assume so is right guard Wyatt Teller. If not, you will see a change at right guard.

Hey Tony: Do you believe in your heart that there will be a Browns season this year?

-- Rick, Massillon, OH

Hey Rick: Yes. But it will be different – perhaps drastically different – from a normal season.

Hey Tony: Upon looking at my closet of jerseys such as Trent Richardson, Johnny Manziel, Peyton Hillis, Corey Coleman, Jordan Cameron and many more, is it safe now, or is it ever going to be safe to purchase a new Browns jersey?

-- Cameron, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Hey Cameron: I would think a Myles Garrett jersey would have lasting power. Maybe a Nick Chubb, too. Otherwise, I would hold off.

Hey Tony: If you had to pick one surprise player on the Browns who might be traded away before the trade deadline, who would it be?

-- Leonard, Troy, OH

Hey Leonard: My guess would be Terrance Mitchell.

Hey Tony: Can Mack (Wilson) be the next Clay (Matthews) and (Nick) Chubb be the next (Kevin) Mack? Diehards relate to the last great, who can be next?

-- Bryan, Sandusky, OH

Hey Bryan: Wilson is much different in skill set than Matthews, so don’t hold your breath on that one. As for the running back comparison, let me just say that Chubb is more of an all-around back than Mack was and already has exceeded Mack’s highest season total rushing yards. A big but here … Mack came through in a must-win game in 1989 to secure a playoff spot. Chubb hasn’t had that opportunity yet.

Hey Tony: Do you think Jarvis Landry will ever get the C on his jersey?

-- Randy, Lakewood, OH

Hey Randy: I don’t see why not.

Hey Tony: No excuses in Baker Mayfield’s third year? He has a line, receivers and a backfield. Will this be his breakout year?

-- Dean, Perrysburg, OH

Hey Dean: To me, a breakout year for a quarterback is one in which he leads his team to the playoffs. His statistics are incidental. What’s important is taking his team to the end zone in the final drive, or securing a victory with first downs. Specifically, a breakout year for any Cleveland quarterback would be leaving Heinz Field with a victory. Yes, it’s a team game. But if the game is close in the fourth quarter, the quarterback has to make the plays to possess the ball, extend drives and score the winning points. Will this be Mayfield’s breakout year? Let’s hope so.

Hey Tony: With all this talk about signing OT Jason Peters, what about the club finishing on the defensive side? We still need LBs and Safeties.

-- John, North Canton, OH

Hey John: I would say the Browns need a solid, veteran linebacker. The safety positions have been fortified by the signings of Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo and the drafting of Grant Delpit.