4 months ago
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns general head Andrew Berry took questions from reporters connected Monday pinch respect to Kevin Stefanski’s firing, nan hunt for a caller caput coach, Shedeur Sanders’ development, and more.
Below is nan transcript arsenic provided by nan Browns media relations department:
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Opening Statement:
“Today is evidently a reliable time for nan organization. It’s a reliable time for me, personally. Largely because of nan relationship, some master and personal, built pinch Kevin (Stefanski) complete nan past six years. I deliberation galore of you person heard maine opportunity that Kevin’s for illustration family. There really isn’t a amended person. He’s nan champion of us. We each beryllium him a indebtedness of gratitude and appreciation for a level of occurrence that he brought nan statement that really hadn’t been achieved since 2002 and that’s thing that we’ll ever remember. Coming into this season, we were realistic that we were a squad and a roster successful transition. And yet this determination is calved from nan truth that we yet felt for illustration we did not spot capable advancement successful areas that were controllable – independent of definite crippled outcomes. Everything that we do is pinch nan thought of bringing a perennial victor to Cleveland and this determination falls successful that bucket arsenic well. There are galore reliable decisions that we person made that we’ll person to proceed to make successful bid to fulfill that promise. And I cognize really difficult it’s been for our fans this year. We person a awesome appreciation for their loyalty, their dedication to nan team. I deliberation backmost to our past location crippled against Pittsburgh (Steelers), they were specified a huge, immense facet successful that game. And past for them to support precocious successful nan year, large rival, had everything to play for, it’s rather nan testament to show really overmuch this squad intends to them and yet what we beryllium them because of that. So, successful position of adjacent steps, really, our attraction is connected identifying and uncovering nan leader and nan partner to bring on this young squad arsenic good arsenic nan young players that we’re going to adhd successful nan adjacent respective months. So that activity is going to beryllium deliberate. It’s going to beryllium immediate, correct aft we decorativeness this property conference. So, pinch that, I’ll unfastened it up for questions.”
You said you didn’t spot advancement successful controllable areas. Are you specifically looking astatine quarterback, aliases tin you specify a small spot more, possibly there?
“Yeah, location are a number of different areas, Chris (Easterling). You know, I deliberation each caput coaches get evaluated connected whether it’s crippled strategy, going into nan game, in-game determination making, surely subordinate improvement if you’re a young team. The QB is, you know, evidently a large portion of it, but location are aggregate areas, and some, rather frankly, I thought we did very well. Others, we didn’t spot capable advancement in.”
The belief is that nan roster was capable to win. Do you consciousness that way? And erstwhile you’re talking astir that deficiency of progress, is that because you judge that nan players you brought successful could’ve performed better?
“Yeah, Daryl (Ruiter), I deliberation it goes backmost to what I touched a small spot successful nan opener. Again, we’re realistic. I deliberation really you measure advancement erstwhile you’re a squad that’s successful modulation versus really you measure advancement for a squad that’s squarely successful their contending window, it’s different. Like, I deliberation that’s wholly fair. How we would deliberation astir a play successful 2020 aliases 2021 versus this year, it’s different. That’s perfectly true. Some of that is result driven, but not each of it. And you effort and measurement that arsenic champion arsenic you tin and make nan determination that you consciousness is champion for nan organization.”
Will you guys question and reply Jim Schwartz and possibly besides Tommy Rees, anybody other successful nan building? If so, what do you spot successful those guys that would lead you to judge they could beryllium could beryllium bully caput coaches?
“I’ll talk astir them individually, since you raised 2 coaches who are connected our staff. So first pinch Jim – Jim’s an outstanding shot coach. We person a batch of respect for him, a batch of appreciation for him, and he has surely earned nan correct for consideration. But that’s thing that we still person to talk and evidently talk pinch him. And Tommy, he’s a very talented young coordinator. He’s held successful very precocious regard, not conscionable successful assemblage football, but crossed nan NFL. But again, those are discussions that we person to proceed to have.”
Andrew, successful position of research, really important is it this clip to possibly getting personification pinch caput coaching experience?
“You know, Joe (Reedy), we’ll beryllium beautiful unfastened minded. I deliberation location are a number of different archetypes of successful caput coaches. I deliberation astir Kevin, I deliberation it’s easy to hide now that he has, you know, 2 Coach of nan Year awards connected his mantle, that erstwhile he was interviewed first successful 2019 and he didn’t get nan job, and past again, I conjecture it was 2020 and he did. In some of those cycles, he had nary caput coaching experience, and we were nan only squad that interviewed him. And so, I deliberation our work is to hunt acold and wide. There are bully coaches retired there. You know, we’ve conscionable sewage to do our homework and find nan correct fresh for us. We’ll person nary preconceived notions arsenic we spell into nan search.”
Do you person any, whether it’s regrets aliases whatever, conscionable nan measurement nan violative line, nan deficiency of extent location and truthful on. And past you had rookies down that line, quarterbacks, I conjecture 2 thoughts. One, possibly could person done a amended occupation bringing nan statement together. And B, was it excessively soon to spell to nan rookies pinch that?
“You know, Terry (Pluto), it’s a bully question. I’d say, you know, specifically to, let’s say, nan offense. It’s nary concealed that’s wherever we’re going to put astir of our resources this disconnected season. I deliberation nan reality of it is simply a twelvemonth ago, erstwhile we decided to make nan pivot that we did, you besides recognize that you’re not going to beryllium capable to execute everything astatine erstwhile for nan roster. The violative line, that’s a position group that I do ideate will person a adjacent magnitude of turnover arsenic we spell into 2026. But we besides do consciousness for illustration it was important this twelvemonth and rather honestly going into adjacent twelvemonth to springiness young players snaps if we’re yet going to build nan halfway and instauration that we request to triumph perennially.”
Andrew, immoderate opportunity that Kevin sewage dealt kinda a bad manus going into nan year. Four quarterbacks commencement camp. How would you benignant of bespeak connected that determination successful hindsight?
“Yeah, I’d opportunity honestly, astir teams spell into campy pinch 4 quarterbacks. That rep distribution whitethorn beryllium a small spot different than what we had, but it’s nan astir important position successful sports and it’s thing that we felt powerfully astir investing in. I’d really springiness a batch of in installments to Kevin and nan violative unit successful position of really they brought on those 2 rookies and really they designed practice. But we judge successful title successful each room connected nan roster, and quarterback’s nary different.”
You talk astir uncovering nan correct partner, what are nan qualities that you deliberation are astir important successful this adjacent leader of nan organization?
“Yeah. So I’d say, number one, for illustration you deed it. Like it’s not conscionable activity by position, but I’d opportunity activity much globally. Because erstwhile you prosecute a caput coach, it’s personification who has to beryllium capable to lead your players, lead your staff, lead nan organization, lead done hardship and lead done crisis. And NFL years, they’re for illustration canine years. They’re really difficult seasons. And that’ll beryllium astatine nan forefront because it’s first and foremost a activity position. And past erstwhile I opportunity partnership, caput coach, GM narration is simply a batch for illustration a marriage. And you person to activity broadside by broadside and conflict backmost to back. And I deliberation that’s really, really important because you person to beryllium aligned successful position of really you’re positioning nan team.”
Have you seen capable connected Shedeur (Sanders)? Do you deliberation he could beryllium your starter adjacent twelvemonth aliases do you deliberation you’re going to request personification not connected nan roster?
“You know, Scott (Petrak), I deliberation we saw a batch of advancement pinch Shedeur this year. I deliberation that’s some mentally, physically, playing nan position. He’s still very overmuch a activity successful advancement for illustration galore rookie quarterbacks are. But I deliberation we saw immoderate really bully things successful position of his playmaking, his accuracy, his expertise to widen them pinch his feet. And I deliberation I’d besides springiness him in installments arsenic good arsenic our violative unit for bringing him on successful position of his pouch management, his situational consciousness and things of that nature. Now that each being said, we’re going to do our activity connected nan backmost market. It’s excessively important of a position and it’s thing that has to beryllium solidified. I can’t beryllium present and show you today, you know, whether nan solution for aliases nan starter successful 2026 is soul aliases external. But it’s thing that we’re going to activity done complete nan adjacent respective weeks. And rather honestly, nan caller caput coach will besides person a batch of input into that arsenic well.”
Andrew, erstwhile you look astatine what Joe Flacco did successful those 4 games here, and past he goes down to Cincinnati (Bengals) and has 300-yard games, what does that opportunity astir nan wide receivers that you person successful this run?
“Yeah, Jeff (Schudel), violative shot and peculiarly nan passing game, it really does return each 11. I cognize that’s thing that our coaches person said a batch complete nan past mates years because nan violative crippled is astir precision. It’s ne'er conscionable connected nan quarterback. It’s ne'er conscionable 1 position group. Protection plays into it, way precision, way design. Obviously, we wish we had much success, you know, while Joe was nether halfway here, we didn’t and it’s unfortunate.”
But conscionable to travel up, truthful past what do you deliberation of this group of wide receivers that are connected this team?
“Yeah, listen, I deliberation there’s a batch of activity that we still request to do connected nan discourtesy from a unit standpoint. I deliberation that we person a number of players that will proceed to beryllium pillars and are players that we’ll proceed to create and put in. But nan discourtesy is going to person important finance this offseason, Jeff.”
Going backmost to nan defense for a second, I mean, Grant (Delpit) was talking astir this a small bit. But evidently there’s not a batch of group that tally this benignant of strategy that Jim (Schwartz) runs and safeties person go really popular, each that stuff. I mean, really important is it for you benignant of sloppy of to support nan defense successful this benignant of strategy intact? Given nan unit you guys person added complete nan past 3 years.
“It’s a bully question, Ashley (Bastock). I deliberation that number one, I deliberation you deed connected a really bully taxable that 1 of nan costs of turnover is that players tin benignant of get caught and modulation betwixt strategy to scheme. We do person a number of players who are possibly a small spot much defense-specific aliases scheme-specific, but I’d besides opportunity that we person a number of players that are beautiful scheme-versatile. Ultimately, our thought will be, ‘Hey, let’s find nan correct caput coach, let’s find nan correct leader.’ Because schemes, they really do travel and go. But it is adjacent to opportunity that we’re very pleased pinch wherever that broadside of nan shot is. That group is intact, they’re nether statement and we really do for illustration nan style of play.”
As you participate this transitional phase, really adjacent do you consciousness for illustration you are roster-wise, pillar-wise that you guys talked astir to having success. These guys person talking successful nan locker room astir wanting much wins, and being adjacent to immoderate of those. How adjacent do you consciousness nan statement is to having success?
“Yeah, Cam (Camryn Justice), I’ll ne'er put a limit connected our squad successful a fixed year. I deliberation we spot that connected a yearly basis. I deliberation you tin look astatine really different nan playoff section is, this twelvemonth versus past year. I deliberation we have, what, 3 teams that were picking successful nan apical 10 past twelvemonth that are either winning their section aliases going to beryllium playing this upcoming weekend. So, each twelvemonth really is unique. Now, that being said, very overmuch much focused connected process and doing nan things that we request to do connected a regular and play ground to get there. I wish I had a crystal shot and could say, ‘Hey, this is what it is,’ definitively. Do I consciousness for illustration we’re person than person coming than we were a twelvemonth ago? I do. I dream we are a full hellhole of a batch person a twelvemonth from now than we are today. And we person a batch of activity to do. And that’s really wherever my attraction is. That’s what I’m dedicated [to] successful position of doing.”
You said astir GM and nan caput coach evidently being partners. And pinch 8 wins successful 2 years, a batch of times you spot successful pro sports location cleaning. How do you consciousness personally, professionally, astir Kevin going and you staying?
“Yeah. Like I said, Nate (Ulrich), this is simply a very reliable day. And I conscionable opportunity this, I ain nan results nan past 2 years, Nate. I ain it entirely. And ownership evaluates each 1 of america successful nan cognition connected yearly basis. I’m nary different.
And I americium grateful that they consciousness for illustration I’m nan correct personification to lead america done this modulation period. And that’s wherever each my focus, energy, and dedication is going to be.”
Unless you find a quarterback, it doesn’t matter who you prosecute arsenic nan caput coach – it’s conscionable been proven passim nan league, you request an elite backmost to triumph and prolong winning. Do you person a scheme going into this offseason to create nan way to uncovering that subordinate here?
“Yeah, Daryl (Ruiter), I’d opportunity backmost is nan astir important position successful sports. We each cognize that. And portion of nan equation pinch backmost is nan information part. Part of it is nan improvement portion arsenic well. It’s nan astir important part. It’s nan hardest position to play. It tin return time. But look, that’s nan focus. Solidifying that position, that’s nan biggest point that tin lead to sustainable success. That’s privilege number one. How we execute that pinch nan operation of soul options, outer seasoned options, nan draft; that remains to beryllium seen. But privilege number 1 is uncovering a leader for nan organization. That’s what our attraction is connected successful nan short term.”
Where does Deshaun Watson guidelines arsenic it pertains to this organization? And do you expect him being connected nan roster successful 2026 arsenic has been reported?
“Yeah, Daniel (Oyefusi), first I’ll opportunity we’re very pleased pinch really Deshaun went done and attacked his rehab this past year, really he engaged pinch nan team, what he did successful nan gathering rooms. Very pleased pinch nan advancement that he made successful that regard. Look, I tin ne'er foretell nan future, but correct now we do expect him being connected nan 2026 team. But we person a agelong measurement to spell earlier we get to that constituent pinch immoderate player.”
Andrew, pinch nan number six wide prime successful nan draft, do you guys consciousness pinch what you’re seeing successful nan backmost scenery and nan class, if you take to spell that route, do you consciousness for illustration you guys could get 1 of nan apical picks successful this draft?
“Honestly, Mary Kay (Cabot), it’s excessively early to tell. I deliberation you tin deliberation astir what everyone felt for illustration we knew astir nan backmost scenery this clip past year, astir what we thought we knew astir nan draft. There’s a batch of activity to beryllium done pinch this full draught class. And again, you want to do that successful business pinch your caller caput coach arsenic well. I wish I could springiness you a small spot much successful that regard, but it’s a agelong process to get done nan appraisal of this year’s passers.”
And to travel up connected that, because you are going to beryllium committing truthful galore resources to nan violative broadside of nan shot and because you person truthful galore young guys, mightiness you inclination much towards violative minded coaches and possibly get a younger vibe aliases thing for illustration that?
“No, not necessarily, Mary Kay. I deliberation it’s much you’re looking for possibly a circumstantial accomplishment set, fixed wherever we are successful our build, I deliberation that’s fair. I don’t deliberation that archetype is singular. I don’t deliberation that intends it conscionable has to beryllium a young person. I don’t deliberation that conscionable intends it has to beryllium an violative coach. I mentioned a small spot earlier, nan caput coaching position, it’s truthful different than being a coordinator. And nan caput coach’s work is to make judge that nan discourtesy is tally and developed well, arsenic opposed to needfully having to beryllium nan personification that straight does it.”
Jimmy Haslam indicated that you will lead nan hunt but location will beryllium others connected nan committee. Who will they be?
“Yeah, Tony, I won’t spell into circumstantial names. It’s a bully question. But I will opportunity we’re going to leverage nan expertise crossed our shot operations group. This is an organizational decision. It’s not conscionable a singular personification who does everything. You’re hiring for a position that’s going to person specified a immense regular and yearly effect connected nan team. And we want to make judge that we leverage nan expertise of galore group successful our cognition arsenic we spell done nan process.”
You mentioned that you knew coming into nan play that this will beryllium a twelvemonth of transition. Season ends, and two-time Coach of nan Year, is getting fired because you didn’t spot capable progress. How do you waste that to candidates who are looking to cognize that they’ll person nan basal runway to do what they request to get done?
“Yeah, we understand wherever we are. And I mentioned, we each get evaluated connected yearly basis. I deliberation nan reality is, for illustration we…in immoderate caput coach opening, each statement has their ain challenges, their ain constraints. They whitethorn beryllium astatine different points pinch their roster’s lifestyle. We’ll beryllium looking for thing different than possibly immoderate of nan different openings person based on, you know, wherever they are arsenic a team. And immoderate bully coaches will fresh us, but they won’t fresh nan (Tennessee) Titans. Some will fresh nan (New York) Giants, and they won’t needfully fresh us. But we’re looking for nan correct leader and nan correct partner for our coming situation. And I person a batch of assurance that we’ll beryllium capable to find that person.”
I cognize Paul (DePodesta) near during nan season, but do you envision his domiciled being filled astatine all? And are location immoderate different imaginable beforehand agency changes?
“Do not envision Paul’s domiciled being filled. I deliberation we person a number of talented group who will sorb much responsibility. Paul’s a immense loss, but we person a batch of group who person gained a batch of really bully acquisition and sparked group successful that regard.”
What did Paul do? We didn’t get a chance to talk to you mid-season. So, tin you show america what he did?
“Yeah, Jeff, I think, you know, this is thing that we’ve covered a batch complete nan past six years. You know, Paul, fto maine conscionable opportunity this – Paul is simply a longtime executive, erstwhile wide manager, incredibly strong, crisp thought partner, immense successful position of strategical reasoning and really built up nan investigation and strategy group arsenic good arsenic subordinate development. Paul did a batch for nan statement complete his clip present and we’re grateful for nan magnitude of clip that he did walk pinch us.”
Jimmy really pushed backmost connected nan conception of for illustration dysfunction wrong nan organization, and he takes objection to that. I deliberation connected nan extracurricular looking in, there’s a divided wherever you remain, Kevin is fto go. It almost gives disconnected this consciousness that possibly location is simply a disagreement betwixt nan two. So, I conjecture what tin you opportunity astir your narration pinch Kevin each nan measurement until nan extremity up until yesterday?
“So, Kevin’s for illustration – I’ve said this a 1000 times. Kevin’s for illustration family. I’ll you a small spot penetration because I cognize I’ve told you each really awesome of a personification he is, but I’ve besides told you like, consciousness of humor. I cognize you guys don’t ever get a chance to spot that, but you know, 1 speedy communicative I’ll show you. As I was driving backmost from nan squad formation past night, I was conscionable reasoning about, what could perchance hap and nan decisions that we had to make. I was like, I really request to – my kids are eight, six and four, and I was conscionable for illustration I really request to show my kids because each clip they’re astatine nan facility, he’s nary longer for illustration Coach Stefanski, coach of nan Browns, but alternatively giving a Berry kid a piggyback thrust aliases chasing them aliases tackling them, things for illustration that. And I retrieve erstwhile I told my four-year-old girl Eden, I was like, ‘Hey, there’s a chance that Coach Kevin, he whitethorn not beryllium coaching nan Browns anymore.’ And she looked astatine maine and she goes, ‘Well, will he play pinch america still?’ And I stock that communicative because for illustration erstwhile you talk astir narration and partnership, that’s a lifelong relationship for maine and him. It goes beyond football. So, if you inquire really was nan narration from nan commencement to really it was today, he’s family.”
Andrew, were location other, immoderate different changes to nan coaching unit made today?
“There were not, Scott (Petrak).”
Will you require nan caller coach to support anybody connected nan staff, Jim (Schwartz) aliases Tommy (Rees)?
“I’ll touch connected what I said a small spot earlier. You know, yet that’ll beryllium nan caput coach’s prerogative. Obviously, we’ll person a number of discussions astir nan existing staff, but that’ll beryllium nan caput coach’s prerogative.”
I conscionable retrieve John Dorsey years ago, he was a very knowledgeable GM, sitting up location and saying astir coaching search, astatine nighttime he was driving home, telling himself “just don’t screw this up”. So really prepared do you consciousness to lead a coaching search, and is location anyone you’re going to beryllium leaning on?
“Yeah, I’m going to leverage a batch of group – group pinch acquisition and group with, I’d opportunity astir apt process expertise, some internally and externally. Being a caput coach successful nan National Football League, it’s a really, really difficult job. And I deliberation it’s, astatine times, possibly a small spot for illustration players, wherever you effort and make nan champion determination that you tin astatine nan clip pinch nan accusation that you have. Bill Pulling utilized to opportunity this, that different moving for Congress aliases governing successful Congress, position of caput coach whitethorn beryllium conscionable arsenic difficult because of each nan different challenges and things that you face. And so, what we’re going to do, we’re going to guarantee that we person a process that is good defined, successful position of what we’re looking for and what nan domiciled will beryllium circumstantial to our organization. And we’ll make nan champion prosecute we can. I’m assured we’ll find a bully coach. And past a large portion of it, nary different than quarterbacks, Daryl (Ruiter), is we’ve sewage to support that individual to make judge that they tin person occurrence arsenic they lead us.”
How accelerated tin you get to wherever your squad is watchable again and conscionable a amended product? That’s connected you now, basically. You’re location – truthful really do you grip that?
“Yeah, Terry (Pluto), I deliberation it goes possibly a small spot to Cam’s (Justice) question, that I surely would expect america to make advancement complete nan adjacent almanac twelvemonth pinch who we prosecute and really we put successful nan roster. In position of our eventual goals, I can’t put a patient timeline connected that, but we surely do beryllium nan fans much than what we’ve fixed them successful nan past.”
What assets aliases things do you person that could possibly pitchy expanse that point going forward?
“So, I look astatine it, really we’re positioned – we’re positioned with…we’ll person ample headdress room astatine nan opening of nan year. We person a defense that is elite, and everyone too possibly 1 starter is nether statement for aggregate years. I look astatine immoderate of nan young halfway violative players that we brought successful this year, and I look astatine nan truth that we’ll person 10 picks, 2 successful nan first round, and I deliberation it’s astir apt going to beryllium 7 successful nan apical 150. It gives america an unthinkable opportunity to proceed to return a large measurement forward.”
When we talked to Myles Garrett present connected Friday, he mentioned that much rebuilding is not going to beryllium for him, and he needs immoderate assurances that you guys are 100% committed to winning arsenic accelerated and arsenic soon arsenic possible, and arsenic thoroughly arsenic possible. So, do you person immoderate interest that he mightiness effort to inquire to beryllium traded again successful nan arena that thing for illustration that happens? Can you authorities that you wouldn’t do that aliases wherever would you stand?
“So, I deliberation nan first point I’d say, Mary Kay, is Myles and I person bully and predominant dialogue. I deliberation erstwhile group perceive nan word rebuild, and astir apt specifically here, really their thought is teardown, right? The thought that you’re trading distant a number of premier players aliases veterans and you’re accumulating resources and things of that nature. When we deliberation astir wherever we are successful our transition, it really is astir building up nan offense. Many of nan trades that we’ve made are really astir possibly players who won’t beryllium a portion of nan early core, and getting early worth for erstwhile we’re successful our premier model pinch this roster. If we do waste and acquisition a productive seasoned successful his prime, it’s astir apt much successful lines of what we did pinch Greg Newsome, wherever we were capable to get Tyson Campbell, a subordinate that we thought was an fantabulous strategy fit, he’s successful his premier and nether statement for 3 years. It would beryllium much of a strategical determination for illustration that. So, our attraction is connected continuing to build. Winning is ever nan focus, but we besides want to make judge that we return nan due steps to guarantee that, ‘Hey, we don’t person these up and down seasons, but that we tin prolong it.’”
With nan rookie people being truthful productive for you guys this season, amid nan changes, do you person an attack to guarantee that immoderate changes for illustration this aren’t detrimental to their continued maturation and their improvement arsenic you look for moreover much accumulation from them adjacent season?
“It’s a awesome question, Cam. That’s surely apical of mind. Young players, they don’t ever person linear progress. I wish they did, it’d make it a batch easier for each of us. But that will surely beryllium a attraction arsenic we get to meet nan campaigner excavation complete nan adjacent respective weeks.”
So, this is your first coaching hunt since you’ve been here. Would you opportunity this is nan astir important determination of your profession arsenic a beforehand agency guy?
“I’d opportunity this, Jeff (Schudel), I deliberation we person a batch of important decisions coming up. You know, I deliberation astir apt nan 2 astir important decisions that tin beryllium made by an statement are caput coach and quarterback. So, whichever bid you want to put it in, I deliberation that’s fair. But look, my attraction – I’m 100% dedicated, successful position of uncovering nan correct personification that continues to lead our franchise forward.”
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