#HeyTony: How well is the NFL managing the season in this year of the pandemic?

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

Hey Tony: Do you think it would be better if the NFL would extend the season a week or two instead of playing games with rosters affected by Covid?

-- Shawn, Medina, OH

Hey Shawn: The NFL has reserved the week after Week 17 for games rescheduled because of Covid outbreaks. It is trying to delay rescheduling games for Week 18 as long as possible for this reason: What if they canceled Ravens at Steelers, which already has been rescheduled for Sunday, and then another Ravens or Steelers game has to be rescheduled? You can’t have a team play twice in Week 18.

Hey Tony: Why is the league so hesitant to adjust the playoff and Super Bowl schedule by a few weeks? I'd rather see a Super Bowl in March than watch playoff caliber teams perform with Covid-depleted rosters now.

-- Leonard, Troy, OH

Hey Leonard: The NFL and players union anticipated a rocky road to the finish line in 2020. So they agreed to expanded rosters and relaxed rules to promote players from the practice squad. In addition, the league is poised to eliminate the bye week after the conference championship games and even move the Super Bowl forward one week to accommodate rescheduled post-season games. I think they’re doing the best they can to keep the season on track while impacting competitive balance as little as possible. It’s not easy.

Hey Tony: You mentioned before the season that success would be tied to seeing improvement from the first half of the season to the second half. With the bar higher now, what defines success? A win total? Playoffs? A playoff win?

-- Matt, Columbus, OH

Hey Matt: My definition of success is a better than .500 record. The playoffs would be great. But even if the Browns finish at 9-7 or 10-6 and lose a wild card berth on tie-breakers, I would call this season a success. They’ve already exceeded my prediction of 6-10.

Hey Tony: In the last three games in inclement weather, Baker Mayfield has weathered the storm. In games like these, shouldn’t that be the objective when you have the running attack we do? Why are so many people down on Baker after these games?

-- Mike, Batavia, NY

Hey Mike: Mayfield is 7-3 as the Browns’ starting quarterback. He is having his best season – by far. That’s the most important statistic, despite what the analytics Websites would tell you. The job of the quarterback is to manage the team to wins. Fantasy football should incorporate wins in its quarterback point totals. Analytics Websites don’t account for wins, either. They are so wrong.

Hey Tony: I’m still hopeful about Baker, he has so many strengths. But I wonder, did the Browns decide too quickly that he was the one they wanted? Several quotes indicated they knew early that he was the one. Were they thorough enough in assessing all the candidates?

-- Tom, Chicago, IL

Hey Tom: Two people decided the Browns were going to draft Mayfield – John Dorsey, then the Browns GM, and Scott McGloughan, a Dorsey associate whom he hired as a consultant. Each settled on Mayfield very early in the draft process. Once they did, nobody was going to change their minds.

Hey Tony: While we all want a franchise QB, isn’t it just as important in Cleveland to have great RBs. After all, that is historically when the Browns have had success?

-- Jack, Lancaster, OH

Hey Jack: Yes, the Browns’ once-glorious history is more steeped in the running back position than in the quarterback position. But in this era of the NFL, a franchise QB is more important. At this point, the Browns have great running backs. They are enough to win games, but, alas, probably not enough to win a championship.

Hey Tony: Stefanski has been doing a great job, but what can he improve on to take the next step to a top tier HC?

-- Evan, Dallas, TX

Hey Evan: Use common sense to take the ball first on bad weather days and not bow to the analytics department and defer after winning the coin toss. Seriously, analytics does not account for anything except the mathematical odds of adding a potential extra possession in a game when deferring. It is the biggest myth in the game today that teams are better off automatically deferring after winning the coin toss.

Hey Tony: Other than LB can we assume the Browns will draft best player available in the upcoming draft, or do you see other needs?

-- Jason, Weeki Wachee, FL

Hey Jason: The Browns’ biggest needs are at pass rusher and linebacker. ‘Best player available’ is another NFL myth that should be retired.

Hey Tony: Seeing the injury issues with Greedy Williams, I’m wondering what the Browns will do with him next year as this new management team didn’t draft him.

-- Mike, Fort Worth, TX

Hey Mike: There is only one thing to do with Williams and that is bring him back. He is under his rookie contract and was hurt his second season. Relax. He has two more seasons to prove what kind of player he will be.

Hey Tony: Who deserves the most ‘Thanks’ for turning the Browns around? What aspect about the team is still ‘Giving’ them the most critical issues? Finally, isn’t game ‘Day’ so much fun this year? Thanks. Giving. Day.

-- Kelly, Commercial Point, OH

Hey Kelly: Very creative take on Thanks-giving-Day. Coach Kevin Stefanski deserves the most ‘thanks’ for turning around the Browns. The issue still ‘giving’ them problems is the linebacker position. As for game ‘day,’ winning is what it is all about.

Hey Tony: With the Browns scheduled to play the NFC North and Detroit next year, is there a chance to see the Browns play them on Thanksgiving 2021 especially if the Browns make the playoffs this season? The Browns last played on Thanksgiving in 1989.

-- Kevin, Houston, TX

Hey Kevin: I’d love to see the Browns play on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit in 2021. You’re right. They are overdue.

Hey Tony: When will we know if the Titans game will be flexed?

-- Richard, Pittsburgh, PA

Hey Richard: I believe that decision has been made not to flex the Browns-Titans game.

Hey Tony: Why can’t reporters ask football questions when given the chance like: “Pass defense struggled today, what will you do to address the that?” Rather than Qs like: “Can you talk about how much that fumble meant to the team?” Or other nonsense.

-- George, Medina, OH

Hey George: There is one game a week and six days without a game. So I believe what happens in the game should be dissected in detail after games. The following days should be used to explore strategy, trends, lineup changes, etc.