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Steve,

1. Berry and Stefanski never drafted a first-round potential franchise quarterback. Yes, they had Baker, but Mayfield was not their choice. If you recall, Baker wasn't all in with Kevin. I am sure you remember 2023.

2. I like how you always bring up the cap! This is the last year Watson will get his actual pay. They will extend his salary cap money for the life of the rookie quarterback contract. Then they will waive him in June. Your numbers are overstated. You absolutely know that is the plan.

3. Never adjusted? Why does he need to adjust? When Cincinnati traded for Flacco, the Bengals installed much of Stefanski's offense to make it an easier transition. With talent, Stefanski's offense works. Actually, Kevin did adjust his offense last year when he hired Ken Dorsey. They tried to make the offense a better fit for Watson. Sadly, Watson was unable to perform at his previous level. This year, they transitioned the offense back to Kevin's style. Instead of filling with expensive free agent talent. They added through the draft. Obviously, it will take longer before you see results.

4. Six offensive positions need to be addressed. I disagree. With the level of play of the defense, you don't need a high-level offense. Get the right quarterback and add another receiver, preferably one with speed. Bond fits the bill, but he may be a little inexperienced. This offensive line is asked to handle 8-9 in the box. That's a tall order. Until you get a quarterback and receiver combo to apply pressure in the secondary. Every defense they face will load the box. The offense has shown signs of life these past two games. If they can limit the unforced errors, I think we will start to see progress. If Bitonio retires, you will need his replacement. You don't know the status of Jenkins, Wypler, and Zinter. Joel's replacement may already be on the team. If you move Dawand Jones back to right tackle and play Cam Robbinson at left tackle, your tackle positions are stable. Berry will need to fix the tackle depth.

The goal for this offense going forward is efficiency and to consistently score 24 points. A strong run game and more speed at receiver will get you there. Once they draft their quarterback, they can begin adding complementary pieces through the draft.

Berry fixed the defense in two years when they transitioned from Woods to Schwartz. The defense then was horrific. It had no depth and was a hodgepodge of players who did not fit together.

bugs, I think you're confused with some of your statements.

1) True that Stefanski and Berry have not drafted a first round QB. I never said that they did. However, in Stefanski and Berry's 6 years now, they have had 4 first round QB's to turn this team around - Baker, Watson, Flacco and Pickett. Baker didn't get along with Stefanski and Berry and thought expendable because he wasn't their pick. Watson is an on-going saga. If Haslam allows Stefanski and Berry to select a first-round QB in 2026 and then they get fired in 2026 or 2027 - what's the chances of that draft pick hanging on with a new regime where that pick wasn't their guy?

2) Let's assume you are correct that the Browns are going to waive Watson in 2026. Berry has no choice but to restructure Watson's 2026 contract prior to the new year or be broke and unable to sign FA's, rookies or extend players. In this case, Watson's base salary cap number will be about 1.5M and his prorated bonus charge will go up to $46,616,514 for a total cap charge of $48,116,514. Since the waive or cut doesn't take effect until after June 1, 2026, The Browns will carry that total salary on the books until the waiver or cut takes effect. As far as stretching out the cap charge, that's a false narrative on your part. Once a player leaves the employment of the team, the entire balance must be cleared out in 2026 unless designated a post June 1 cut, then the balance is due split between 2026 and 2027. Those dead cap numbers will be approximately 81M in 2026 and 51M in 2027 on Watson. This formula applies to the players I was discussing on the offence. For example, if Bitonio retires his dead cap charge is due on or about March 1 and would be $23,504,000 all due in 2026. Same for Conklin whose dead cap charge would be $12,659,327. Same for Teller if not signed to a new deal prior to March 1 - his dead cap charge would be $19,404,000. If Njoku isn't signed to a new deal prior to March 1 - his dead cap charge would be $13,935,000. Just for giggles, Pocic must be resigned by March 1 or his dead cap charge is $4,368,000.

3) I disagree but you think what you might. Stefanski and Berry's record speaks volumes.

4) All I have left to say on this is your counting of Jones who has had 3 knee injuries in 3 years to anchor RT is wishful thinking. Robinson currently has a PFF rating of 43.4 and ranked 75th of 77 tackles ranked to date. Lucas is ranked 76th. JMHO, this plan is a plan to fail if you believe that's Berry's plan at the tackle positions, no question. That's 7 probable offense replacements not including QB or WR yet with no money available.

[quote]bugs, I think you're confused with some of your statements.

1) True that Stefanski and Berry have not drafted a first round QB. I never said that they did. However, in Stefanski and Berry's 6 years now, they have had 4 first round QB's to turn this team around - Baker, Watson, Flacco and Pickett. Baker didn't get along with Stefanski and Berry and thought expendable because he wasn't their pick. Watson is an on-going saga. If Haslam allows Stefanski and Berry to select a first-round QB in 2026 and then they get fired in 2026 or 2027 - what's the chances of that draft pick hanging on with a new regime where that pick wasn't their guy?


Talk about confused statements.


Lets see you want to Blame the Browns for NOT winning with Joe and Pickett. You want to fired Kevin and AB and replace them with others who you are sure will ruin a QB. Yep that makes about as much sense as wiping your butt before you poop.

Question for you GM - and you may or may not be able to answer this. But it sort of goes to the heart of "it doesn't matter who the HC and GM are if Haslam owns the team".

We **Think** Haslams grubby paws are all over the Manziel pick. The Watson trade (after the FO concluded it was a move that would make the team better). And now **probably** the Sanders selection.

To my mind that doesn't excuse Berry completely regards the salary cap and roster that we have in 2025 - but it's certainly one mitigating factor. The question is - has Haslam learned anything? I thought or at least I got the impression that Haslam was not interfering with the day to day stuff anymore. I got the impression that he's maybe realized that as an owner if he pulls the trigger and ends up being the ultimate decision maker on anything footblall related - he's probably going to fk it completely up... but ... is that just wishful thinking? Is he so much of a meglomaniac that he can't help himself ALA Daniel Snyder (all be it in fact worse then DS)?

Any sort of feedback appreciated.

Flacco was on the couch and Pickett was a failed draft pick. Ryan Leaf was a first round QB too.

GM, you're highly respected on this forum and I agree.

Now if you're truthful, you know from experience that whenever a new regime takes over - about IDK 60 or 70 percent of the time they will want their own guy as the QB to lead their attempt to become a winning team. That's not to say they would ruin a QB, it's just common knowledge that happens more often than not, right? I mean we have just suffered through our own experience with Mayfield. Right or wrong, no matter which side you stand on - it's a fact that it happened.

You point out the Pickett and Flacco situation but the main focus detailed Mayfield and Watson. In any case, you cannot dispute that all 4 were 1st round picks. Damn, I forgot they had Winston too - that's actually five 1st round picks under Stefanski and Berry in 6-years. Not a single one of them have sustained consistant top performance under Stefanski and Berry - WHY? The OL - who's responsible for its deterioration? WR - who's responsible for its deterioration? QB performance level of deterioration? I mean really, who do you hold accountable for when it was determined by the Browns FO in 2021 that the only thing they were missing from the offense was a top 5 QB and then 5 years later the whole offense is total crap, Haslam? I'm pretty sure that Haslam didn't tell Berry make sure that 4 of the 5-starting offensive lineman's contracts would all expire the same year with no adequate backups on the team. Berry has and to a lesser extent Stefanski because he's been responsible for getting those backups ready to replace the starters.

This is what I know for a fact. Berry and Stefanski were handed a playoff caliber team in 2020. They are both responsible for taking that team. dismantling it to produce one of the worst NFL teams in the last 2-years. That's not just an individual opinion; their record speaks for itself. It's my opinion only but allowing these two to continue especially since the QB selection is so important. Wasting another 1/2 season or more on these two who I believe that it's inevitable that they are on a very short leash and will be terminated soon. If I'm correct, that means allowing them to select a future franchise QB is a wasted pick because he won't be the new regimes selection.

Flacco was retired and Pickett had already been rejected by the team that drafted him. Ryan Leaf was a first round draft pick too.

Berry and Stefanski were handed a playoff caliber team in 2020?

You definition of a playoff caliber defense is one that allowed on average 24.6 points per game, 144.7 yards rushing per game, 216.9 yards per game, and 361.6 total yards per. Interesting. I wonder why they fired the HC and GM.

They produce one of the worst NFL teams in the last 2 years. Isn't the defense ranked in the top five? Hard to be worst if you ask me.

You seem to forget that Berry and Stefanski inherited an aging offensive of play makers. There was absolutely no quality depth on either side of the ball. Special teams was not very good.

Your idea of a quality first round pick is Pickett? Do you want to include Josh Rosen? He was a first round pick too.

Whatever Berry/Stefanski was handed the numbers below show the difference.

With Baker
2020 - 11W/5L. 50 TD. 25,5 Points per game
2021 - 8W/9L. 43 TD. 20,5 PPG

2020 - 2022 average of 2,8 TD/game. Win % .579
(If we factor that Baker was injured almost the whole 2021 the numbers are sensational)

Without Baker
2022 - 7W -10L. 42 TD. 21,2 PPG
2023 - 11W/6L. 42 TD. 23,3 PPG
2024 - 3W/14L. 29 TD. 15,4 PPG
2025 - 2W - 8L. 17 TD. 16,2 PPG

2022 - 2025 average of 1,9 TD/game Win % .358

Baker has since he got healthy shown that he can deliver similar numbers as he did in 2020.
Playoff numbers. Division winning numbers. Top 5 caliber QB TD numbers.

Berry/ Stefanski has in average delivered bottom 10 team numbers, the last two seasons bottom 3 numbers.
They got their personal picked QB in Watson and Gabriel.
Berry has had six seasons to draft and sign his own roster.
Stefanski has six years as a HC without any division titles, two playoff losses.

What’s your verdict?
Do you think the numbers lies?

You forgot the aging play makers especially receivers on offense.

It'll explain the decline.