OK, for argument’s sake, and perhaps a little more, though we’ll probably never know for sure in that regard, let’s assume that, after getting a peek into the draft room in Berea and seeing the blase, stoic faces on Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski in real time last Saturday during the third and final day of the NFL Draft, that the general manager and head coach of the Browns did not make the dynamic, stop-the-presses, breaking-news decision to select Colorado quarterback Shadeur Sanders at No. 144, stopping his incredible, no-one-saw-this-coming free-fall of all free-falls through the rounds, as if he had been dropped out of a jet airliner. 

Muni Lot Pullover on Amazon

The decision was, instead, apparently made by Jimmy Haslam, against the wishes of his two top football men, hence their expressions of disdain, making the Browns’ draft room the most unhappy-looking one in the league, as if they had just gotten the best they their cars in the opening lot had all been keyed. In all the other cut-ins, there were nothing but smiles, handshakes and hugs.

Haslam is the owner, and he can do what he darn well pleases, whenever he pleases and however he pleases. Sometimes, the breadth of what that is makes the world stop spinning for a moment. Good for Haslam, and the Browns and their fans, that he picked this moment to pull rank. Goodness knows it needed to be done.

Look, if that is indeed the case, then I am disappointed that Berry’s and Stefanski’s fingerprints were not all over this tremendous move. It would have enhanced their reputations. And they need enhancing after the Deshaun Watson move that was the NFL’s version of the Hindenburg disaster.

But other than that, I don’t care who made the decision to pull off the steal of the draft. The fact is it got done.

But I will say this, though, and it is that Berry and Stefanski had better not let the fact that they weren’t the ones behind the move stand in the way of how they handle Sanders. You gotta check your ego at the door, and if you can’t, or won’t, then you may eventually be shown the door.

Steve King

Disclaimer: We may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on this website