Kevin Stefanski and the Browns can couch it however they want, but they’re not fooling anyone.
Yes, indeed, the head coach did absolutely the wrong thing when he pulled rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders in favor of Tyler Huntley before Cleveland’s final possession in Saturday’s 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Huntington Bank Field in the preseason finale.
Stefanski is supposed to be the quarterback guru — the quarterback whisperer, as it were — and I truly believe him to be such. With that, then, though, Stefanski knows full well the delicate psyche of quarterbacks, especially young ones. So, when the Rams kicked a field goal late in the fourth quarter to go ahead 17–16, and the Browns got the ball back for one last possession — and one final chance — to drive down the field to score a touchdown, or at least get in a position to try a field goal, to win it, it was just assumed that Sanders would be sent back out there. After all, he had already been playing in the game. Good players in all sports, including football, want the ball in their hands in those types of pressure situations. Sanders is no different, and in fact, his desire on that regard may be more than that of the average quarterback. That was a great spot to play Sanders and see what he could do. Instead, Huntley got the nod. The Browns don’t need to learn about Huntley. They already know what he is — a well-traveled veteran who is nothing more than a backup. The fact he led them down the field for Andre Szmyt 37–yard game-winning kick is immaterial. It serves no purpose. It would have meant everything for Sanders to have done it. Of course, he was upset — tremendously so. What else would you expect?
Now Stefanski has messed with the young man’s head. Not good. Not at all. He has created a big problem when there didn’t need to be one.
Why? Why? Why?
Whatever the real reason, though, the Browns overall, not just Sanders, are worse off for it. To be sure, there is the perception that Stefanski was messing with Sanders on purpose. I won’t allow myself to believe that, but at the same time, perception is 90 percent of reality.
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