Browns: Why can’t Kevin Stefanski coach Wild Card game virtually?
Why can’t Kevin Stefanski coach the Browns Wild Card game virtually?
Kevin Stefanski has tested positive for COVID-19, so why he can’t coach virtually, sending in plays over zoom?
Unfortunately, the NFL is pretty clear regarding outside communication. NFL policy forbids texts, cals, email, etc. These types of messages must stop before pickoff and can resume when a game concludes.
Browns fans haven’t forgotten former general manager Ray Farmer texting down to the sideline to let then coach Mike Pettine know he should play Johnny Manziel. The Browns incurred a $250,000 fine for Farmer’s action.
Speaking of Farmer, he’s going to be interviewed for the Jaguars GM job!
Stefanski can give a pregame speech up until kickoff, so there’s still an opportunity for the coach of the year candidate to reach out to this team before the biggest game of their lives.
Stefanski did what the nine coaches before him couldn’t do–go 11-5 and make the playoffs. He elected to call the plays in his first year as the head coach and it paved the way for Baker Mayfield’s career resurgence.
Special teams coach Mike Priefer will take on the head coaching duties, and as of right now, Alex Van Pelt will take over the play calling role.
When hired, it was often speculated as to whether Stefanski would entrust Van Pelt with the playcalling duties. Stefanski opted to keep the play sheet, but I think it’s always been expected that he’d take over the play calling role once Stefanski got more comfortable.
That time is now, and not by choice.
Stefanski was asymptomatic when he tested positive on Tuesday, and the plan has been for him to coach virtually as long as he’s felling, well, according to Cleveland.com.
Eight Browns are currently on the Covid/reserve list and those players include B.J. Goodson, Malcolm Smith, Harrison Bryant, Denzel Ward, Andrew Sendejo, Kevin Johnson, Joel Bitonio and Khadarel Hodge.
Next. 4 Browns whose stock dropped vs Steelers. dark
Only Bitonio and Hodge are assured of missing the game because they fall within the 10-day minimum isolation period.