Will Sunday be Kevin Stefanski’s final fame with the Browns? The deafening silence suggests yes

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The aerial successful Berea is heavy pinch speculation arsenic nan Browns hole for their Week 18 matchup against Cincinnati. While astir fans are focused connected Myles Garrett’s pursuit of nan NFL sack record, nan existent intrigue surrounds what happens aft nan last whistle — specifically, whether Kevin Stefanski will stay arsenic caput coach.

The grounds suggesting alteration is mounting, and arsenic Browns hit newsman Mary Kay Cabot notes connected nan latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, nan ambiance astir squad office is telling.

“Well, there’s thing swirling astir here, right? I mean, there’s conscionable a vibe. There’s an aerial of imaginable alteration that is hanging complete Berea correct now,” Cabot explained. “And I don’t cognize if it’s going to move retired for illustration that, but ...”

That uncertainty speaks volumes. Typically, erstwhile a coach is unafraid successful their position heading into nan offseason, nan statement makes that clear. The absence of specified assurance from ownership aliases nan beforehand agency has go its ain story.

“It’s this thought of there’s been nary assurances from anyone that that’s not wherever this is headed,” Browns hit newsman Ashley Bastock pointed out. “So it’s benignant of for illustration that soundlessness is screaming correct now and it is benignant of uncharacteristic erstwhile everything is A-OK heading into nan disconnected season.”

This soundlessness is peculiarly puzzling fixed Stefanski’s credentials — 2 NFL Coach of nan Year awards successful six seasons. But back-to-back losing campaigns person apparently put him connected bladed ice, moreover pinch nan backmost carousel nan squad has endured this season.

The podcast hosts discussed various scenarios, including imaginable replacements for illustration protect coordinator Jim Schwartz aliases moreover outer candidates for illustration Miami’s Mike McDaniel. But nan overwhelming consciousness is that Stefanski’s clip whitethorn beryllium up.

“I don’t deliberation immoderate of america person a really awesome grip connected it,” Cabot admitted. “I deliberation if we had to conjecture correct now and we were painted into a corner, I deliberation we would each opportunity it seems for illustration he’s going to beryllium gone.”

The different deficiency of connection from nan beforehand agency has only fueled speculation. Andrew Berry didn’t clasp his customary midseason property conference, and nan departure of Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta earlier this twelvemonth has immoderate wondering if bigger organizational changes are afoot.

While nan Haslams person embraced stableness successful caller years — a departure from their earlier inclination to cleanable location often — nan existent indicators propose they whitethorn beryllium reverting to their aged ways.

For Browns fans, Sunday’s crippled against nan Bengals now carries value beyond nan divisional rivalry. It whitethorn good beryllium nan last clip they spot Stefanski operating nan Cleveland sideline.

To perceive nan afloat chat astir Stefanski’s early and get nan wrong scoop connected what’s happening successful Berea, don’t miss this week’s Orange and Brown Talk podcast, wherever nan squad dives heavy into nan coaching business and previews nan play finale against Cincinnati.

Here’s nan podcast for this week:

Listen and subscribe to nan Orange and Brown Talk podcast connected Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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