Are Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski feeling the heat inside Browns HQ?

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Second thoughts on Browns bye week ...

1. The partners in charge of Browns football operations each gave off odd vibes a week apart – GM Andrew Berry before the bye weekend and coach Kevin Stefanski the first day after. Last Wednesday, Berry was sullen and unwilling to take accountability for the personnel moves that contributed to the pronounced demise of the 2024 season. Typically soft-spoken even in good times, Berry was harder than ever to hear, projected little enthusiasm about the opportunity over the second half of the season to change the direction of the season, and was unwilling to address any future roster decisions. On Monday, Stefanski didn’t even offer opening remarks following the bye. He simply asked for questions. He declined to make general observations about the Saints, the Browns’ next opponent. Stefanski’s overall message was unchanged from the previous month: “We have to play better and coach better.” There were no clues of any changes advanced made by the organization over the bye week.

2. Now, the obvious response to my observations is: ‘What do you expect with the team mired in the worst season of the Berry-Stefanski partnership?’ I understand the season has been a huge bummer, particularly for the two men in charge. But I would expect a more energetic and enthusiastic approach to the re-start of the season. Something like, “At this point, we’re approaching the rest of the year as if we’re 0-0 and our goal is to go 1-0 each week.” In fact, Stefanski has been using gallows humor for some time in response to questions with obvious answers. I asked Stefanski how he felt the new play-calling apparatus was working after two games. “We’re 1-1,” he answered. “So, I’m right down the middle.” To which I responded, “Well, that’s better than previous.” Stefanski chuckled wryly and said, “Good point.”

3. The vibes I received were of the “dead men walking” kind. Something internally must have happened over the bye, or in the days preceding it. Yes, there is pressure to win and turn things around. But the fact is Berry and Stefanski received contract extensions prior to the season. That alone should have given both the confidence that they could ride out one horrendous season in their five-year partnership. I felt that confidence was there earlier, but not now.

4. Jedrick Wills’ admission that he made a “business decision” prior to the Baltimore game three weeks ago was an unfortunate choice of words by the offensive tackle. The context in an exchange with media at his locker was his reaction to losing his starting left tackle job to Dawand Jones. Wills explained that his troublesome right knee, which needed surgery in January to repair an MCL tear last year, acted up again after it was hyperextended on the first play of the Bengals game the week before. He stayed in the game, played poorly, and was unable to practice the following week. Jones said he told coaches on Friday he couldn’t play. “I had a lot of fluid that needed to be drained, some swelling, some damage to my cartilage, and I have a bone bruise I’ve been dealing with since last year,” Wills said. “I didn’t practice the first two days at full speed, and then we had a padded practice and I didn’t practice. I tried to do some stuff on Friday and it didn’t feel good and they declared me inactive after the Friday practice.” Jones, who practiced all that week at left tackle for the first time in his Browns career, played well in place of Wills. After that performance, the Browns made the decision to make the move permanent, relegating Wills to a demoted role as swing tackle – the immediate fill-in at both left and right tackle.

5. Wills is in the final year of his rookie contract and likely will enter free agency after the season. So, I can understand if he’s been advised to not play unless he’s 100 percent. He just can’t use the phrase “business decision.” Wills admitted he learned from prior experience with injuries that sometimes it’s better not to play through them. He suffered a high ankle sprain on the first play of the 2020 season divisional playoff game in Kansas City and had to leave. In the 2021 opener, also in Kansas City, Wills suffered a lateral ankle sprain. He played through it, poorly, during a time the Browns had no suitable replacement at left tackle, and reinjured the ankle in subsequent games, ultimately missing four. All the while, his play suffered. “You wouldn’t want to go out there and put forth 70 percent effort when you’re injured and have somebody else be able to do 100 [percent],” Wills said. “I don’t want to be out there the whole time thinking about my knee. I have to focus on my assignment and blocking. Like you said in the past with high ankle [injuries], I played and didn’t play as good so why would I do the same thing and risk a worse knee injury.” Wills’ right knee has not been healthy, it seems, since what was described as arthroscopic surgery in January. He missed five games this year and his play suffered in the four he did play. As frustrating as it’s been for fans, and perhaps the quarterbacks, put yourself in his shoes. This season probably will cost Wills millions of dollars in a future contract because of a knee that's never been 100 percent healthy.

6. As expected, Stefanski did not change his mind about keeping Jameis Winston the starting quarterback. Asked if it were for the duration of the season or week-to-week, Stefanski responded, “Yes. Yes. Duration and week-to-week.” In answer to a question about installing a package of plays specifically to get Dorian Thompson-Robinson some play time, Stefanski said it’s been talked about. He declined to fully commit at present to acclimating more younger players into larger roles. “Goal Number One through 100 is to win,” he said. “There may be times where we have young players that have earned a role and earned the ability to go out there and help us win, but [it] does not change the goal.”