Head coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear the other day as training camp opened – he said it in kind of matter-of-fact fashion – that Jacoby Brissett will be the starting quarterback for the Browns if, as expected by everybody in the free world, Deshaun Watson gets suspended by the NFL and is unavailable.

Next, Jacoby Brissett. #Browns pic.twitter.com/V1GTWUQLuw

— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) July 29, 2022

Everybody knew that already – it was not news at all – but I wonder what Stefanski was thinking – really, truly thinking — as he made the proclamation for the first time officially, to hear those words coming out of his own mouth.

I am guessing – no, I am as sure as anything, and I bet you are, too – that he was close to being physically ill. He probably – and purposely — hadn’t eaten for quite a while beforehand so that there would be no food available to come up.

Here he is beginning his third season in his first job anywhere as a head coach. Every assistant longs for the chance to be a head coach, and Stefanski finally got his chance when the Browns hired him away from the Minnesota Vikings following the 2019 season.

His first season in 2020 was a huge success as the Browns made the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. He was the Coach of the Year.

Yea!

But his second season in 2021 was an unmitigated disaster as the Browns, thought by everybody to be a serious threat to go to the Super Bowl, did not even qualify for the postseason.

Boo!

Now here it is 2022 and the Browns have a ready-made team to get that Super Bowl appearance, but they have a career backup in Brissett playing the most important position in team sports, and the coach likely has the expectation that Watson will be facing a long suspension.

The Browns have a real chance with Watson.

The Browns have no absolutely no chance whatsoever with Brissett.

Sickening, huh?

Steve King