WILL BERRY AND STEFANSKI ACT THEIR AGE? AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

By STEVE KING

There are many people – and understandably so – who are wondering if the Browns’ two newest hires are too young.

That is, are new executive vice president of football operations Andrew Berry, whose hiring was formerly announced on Tuesday, and Kevin Stefanski, who has been head coach for a little over a week, too young to do a good job?

Advertisement: Shop our new arrivals!

Berry, whose position is, essentially, that of a general manager, is the youngest GM in NFL history at 32. Stefanski is the youngest head coach in Browns history at 37.

So, then, yes, certainly, Berry and Stefanski are very young. But too young?

I am not ready to say that they are is, or that they aren’t. I just don’t know. No one does.

Are they inexperienced? Yes, they sure are. Neither one has ever been in their respective jobs before.

But intelligence and aptitude, just like the lack of such, comes at all different ages.

Romeo Crennel and Bud Carson were both 58 – and old-looking and old-acting 58 — when they were hired as head coach of the Browns, but neither one panned out. Paul Brown was just a day short of 38 when he coached his first game, and Sam Rutigliano was 46 – and a young-looking and young-acting 46 – when he was hired, and both panned out.

One of the oldest head coaches in the NFL is Bill Belichick. I would say he’s pretty good, wouldn’t you? But the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin was one of the youngest when he was hired, and he has been outstanding as well.

We could go on and on – in both directions – but it would be pointless. I am willing to try anything to get the Browns turned around. I just want good, talented people working in those two all-important positions, and if those two guys are, then the Browns have a chance. And if not, then they don’t.

It’s really that simple, which means it’s not simple trying to determine who does, and doesn’t, have the right stuff before they’ve even started.