Did Kevin Stefanski deserve to be fired?
Yahoo Sports Daily hosts Caroline Fenton and Jason Fitz discuss if Kevin Stefanski was fired too soon in Cleveland. Watch the full episode of Yahoo Sports Daily on YouTube or YahooSports.TV .
Video Transcript
It's no surprise to me that Kevin Stefanski's name is the hot one on the coaching carousel.
So for that, I say, too soon in Cleveland, because with what he was given at the quarterback position, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco and two rookies in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders said, "Kevin Stefanski was doomed to fail."
What did ownership and the Haslams and the powers that be in Cleveland expect from Kevin Stefanski this year with what He was given?
So I'll say too soon on Kevin Stefanski, And dare I add, too little as well?
What would warrant a firing for the head coach but Andrew Berry?
The general manager in Cleveland sticks around.
Because when I take a step back and I look at The biggest issues in Cleveland, sure, when you win eight games in two years, Obviously, everyone is to blame there.
Nobody is blameless when you are as bad, As wretched and as horrific as the Cleveland Browns organization has been over the last several years.
But when I take a step back and look at the The number one issue in Cleveland is not coaching; it's talent.
It's the quarterback situation.
It's not Kevin Stefanski that guaranteed Deshaun Watson, all of that money.
It's not Kevin Stefanski that signed up for This quarterback situation, it's not Kevin Stefanski that, They had Jerry Jeudy as their number one target on this wide receiving corps.
No.
That all falls at the hands of Andrew Berry.
The general manager.
So I say too soon on Kevin Stefanski.
But if the Browns wanted to move on from Kevin Stefanski, fine.
Too little if it's only Stefanski.
It should have been Andrew Berry as well.
Well, and this is where, look, a couple of things that you just said there that I think Stand out.
Number one, Andrew Berry keeps his job, In large part, people will point to the draft class and how much impact they're getting.
Already from last year's draft class, which I agree with completely.
Sure.
My question is, who do you think is developing those players and putting them in a spot to succeed?
The coaching staff.
So to me, if we're going to look at it and say, Well, these rookies really came along during their rookie year, okay.
Well, you're disrupting that entire development process.
Now, by bringing a different cook into the kitchen, maybe that cook will get even more.
Maybe that cook will get even less.
When I look at the entire picture, Two-time Coach of the Year, fine.
Even if you think that's inflated, I don't believe he's ever had a quarterback position, uh, sort of situation that would allow most coaches to truly thrive.
Especially in the AFC, which is so quarterback- dependent.
The fact is, if you don't have a Mahomes, you don't have a Josh Allen, You don't have a Justin Herbert, if we want to include him.
With Trevor Lawrence, you can go up and down the list.
If you don't have a quarterback in the AFC, you don't have a shot.
The Browns haven't had a quarterback for a very long time.
And they're still paying a king's ransom for Deshaun Watson.
So, you know, look no further than the fact that right now, The most appealing coach to many people on the market is Kevin Stefanski.
