Copyright cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Eight weeks into the 2025 season, we have more questions than answers about the Cleveland Browns. We have one person — coach Kevin Stefanski — to answer the big ones. And Stefanski, by his own admission, is the wrong person to ask. For example: How concerned were the Browns about trading Joe Flacco to a division rival earlier this month? “I think we talked through all those things,” Stefanski said days after the move. “I would let Andrew speak to that. I don’t want to speak for him, but I trust in his decisions.” Fair enough. Stefanski coaches the roster. Berry constructs it. Just a quick follow-up, though: When can we talk to the architect? The Browns revealed this week that Berry will not hold his usual bye-week news conference amid a 2-6 start and multiple midseason trades. To be fair, no other AFC North general manager speaks during their bye. But to be real, the Steelers, the Ravens and Bengals have fewer midseason questions to answer (even during injury-riddled starts for the latter two). For the second straight season, Berry’s Browns lack discernible direction. The defense he built can win games, but his broken offense can’t move the ball. And the quick fix doesn’t exist. Somebody should explain how Cleveland made this mess and, preferably, map the path out of it. I’d start with the man in charge of charting course. More Cleveland Browns coverage The Odyssey of the Browns & Deshaun Watson – Terry Pluto’s new book, excerpt 3 of 5 Lululemon is having its first NFL moment — Browns fans are getting luxury treatment What do the Browns need to fix during the bye?: Tuesday’s Sports 4 CLE Let’s not make this about the media corps, which, frankly, gains little insight from Berry’s question-dodging sessions. We are mere conduits between the GM and Browns fans, who deserve to have their concerns heard in a public forum. And the best way to do so — for both parties — is for Berry to address reporters (he wouldn’t enjoy a Dawg Pound Q-and-A). Among the inquiries for which Berry owes the fan base an answer: What did the Browns see in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders that made them comfortable punting on Flacco and Kenny Pickett for late-round picks? Why didn’t the Browns spend any 2025 draft picks to bolster an aging, oft-injured offensive line? How come Flacco looks so much better with Cincinnati (seven touchdowns, zero interceptions) than he did with the Browns? That’s just one side of the ball. And even if, in some cases, we know the answers — Flacco looks good because his new receivers are better — explaining these decisions is part of Berry’s job description. By the way, so are the victory laps he could run concerning the rookie class he’s assembled. If Berry held is usual bye-week presser, reporters would ask about rookie standouts Quinshon Judkins, Carson Schwesinger and Mason Graham. The Browns would get a chance to explain their side of the Greg Newsome-Tyson Campbell trade, too. Not every press conference question is punitive. Stefanski addresses Cleveland’s 2-6 start three times per week — Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays — and he survives. Berry only speaks a handful of times per year. By skipping a rare chance to own failure, he directs even more pointed questions at his partner. Good thing the Browns care little for external optics. Because it looks from the outside like the Browns lack direction at 2-6. And it looks this week like their GM is ducking accountability for the ugly start. I would love to “let Andrew speak for that,” in Stefanski’s words, but we won’t hear from Berry until January, when the Browns’ hard part is over — and when the Bengals, Steelers and Ravens usually plot their postseason game plans.
