Browns in Free Fall: Inside the Chaos Surrounding Andrew Berry, Kevin Stefanski, and Shedeur Sanders
A Power Struggle Comes Into Focus
What began as a rough stretch of football has now evolved into something far more destabilizing in Cleveland. The Browns are no longer just losing games—they are losing cohesion. League sources and mounting public frustration point to a widening disconnect between general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski, a divide that has placed the organization in a state of near-chaos.
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At the heart of the tension is Shedeur Sanders. Berry wanted him. Stefanski reportedly did not. That philosophical split, once manageable behind closed doors, now appears to be bleeding into roster decisions, sideline execution, and public messaging. When an organization lacks alignment at the very top, the fallout is rarely subtle. In Cleveland, it is becoming impossible to ignore.
The Move That Shook the League
The Browns’ decision to cut offensive linemen midseason sent a clear signal across the NFL. This was not routine roster churn. It was a reaction. It came immediately after Sanders faced a historically high pressure rate—48 percent in a single game against Chicago, the worst mark recorded since ESPN began tracking the statistic in 2009.
That timing matters. Teams do not typically make sweeping line changes during the season unless something has gone fundamentally wrong. Cutting linemen “left and right,” as some around the league described it, reflects desperation, not long-term planning. It suggests a front office under pressure to show action, even if the solution itself remains unclear.
A Quarterback Paying the Price
Sanders is absorbing punishment at a rate no young quarterback should endure. This is not a matter of scheme nuance or slow development. Defenders are winning immediately with four-man rushes. The pocket collapses before routes can develop. Sanders is forced to throw under duress snap after snap, often with defenders in his face almost instantly.
Yet despite the chaos, Sanders continues to stand in, deliver throws, and handle postgame scrutiny with composure. After the Chicago game, he addressed questions about his completion percentage calmly, focusing on improvement rather than blame. That response stood in stark contrast to what followed.
Conflicting Messages at the Podium
The next day, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees stepped to the podium, and the narrative shifted uncomfortably. Asked about operational breakdowns—late play calls, communication issues, and visible confusion—Rees pointed to weather-related headset problems. In a league that plays weekly in some of the coldest environments imaginable, the explanation landed poorly.
Even more concerning was the follow-up: “We just need to be better as a collective group. There’s not one person at fault.” That sentiment might sound unified, but it clashed sharply with how blame has been distributed publicly. Structural failures are treated as collective issues. Statistical dips are pinned squarely on the rookie quarterback.
That double standard has not gone unnoticed.
Mel Kiper Sounds the Alarm
Few voices carry more weight in draft and player evaluation circles than Mel Kiper Jr., and his comments on Cleveland landed like a warning shot. Kiper did not question Sanders’ talent. He did not suggest moving on from the quarterback. Instead, he went straight to the offensive line, calling it the Browns’ most urgent and defining need.
Kiper urged Cleveland to prioritize offensive line help at the top of the draft, framing protection not as one need among many, but as the foundation upon which everything else depends. When a veteran evaluator with decades of perspective speaks that clearly, it reframes the conversation league-wide.
Surviving Instead of Thriving
What stands out on film is not a quarterback overwhelmed by the NFL. It is a quarterback surviving conditions that would derail most rookies. Sanders is taking hits, getting up, and continuing to compete. That toughness is not teachable. It is foundational.
Kiper’s framing was critical: Sanders is viable. Not flawless, but viable under historically adverse circumstances. That assessment directly contradicts growing chatter suggesting Cleveland should already be planning for another quarterback.
The Spotlight Turns to Andrew Berry
Once the quarterback is removed from the center of blame, attention shifts to roster construction. That brings Andrew Berry squarely into focus. The offensive line has not merely underperformed; it has collapsed. Rotations have been constant. Continuity has been nonexistent. And basic protection assignments have failed far too often.
Critics argue these issues are not new. They point to years of questionable offensive line and wide receiver evaluation, positions that now appear to be Berry’s biggest blind spots. Calls for accountability have grown louder with each game Sanders spends under siege.
The Complication No One Can Ignore
The situation is not one-dimensional. Berry was instrumental in drafting Sanders. Without him, Sanders likely is not in Cleveland. Berry’s most recent draft class has been praised as one of his strongest, with multiple contributors already making an impact.
That contradiction has split the fan base. Some see systemic failure that demands immediate change. Others fear another organizational reset in a franchise already defined by instability. Inside the building, that same tension almost certainly exists.
Midseason Cuts as a Warning Sign
The recent linemen cuts were not simply about performance. They were signaling. Signaling that patience is gone. That pressure from above is mounting. That something must be seen to be changing.
Midseason roster moves rarely fix deep structural problems. They create the appearance of urgency while the underlying issues remain. When those issues involve protecting the franchise quarterback, the stakes escalate quickly.
Who Was Actually Blocking?
Against Chicago, Sanders was protected by a patchwork unit. Cam Robinson, a journeyman acquired late, started at left tackle. Joel Bitonio remained steady at left guard but cannot block for five people at once. Luke Wypler handled center duties. Zack Zinter and Jedrick Wills Jr. rotated on the right side, with additional shuffling due to injuries.
At one point, a rookie backup center was forced into action midgame. These were not the opening-day starters. Many were late additions, reserves, or emergency fill-ins. This was the protection plan for a top draft pick.
That reality is difficult to defend.
Effort, Frustration, and Quiet Whispers
Around the league, quiet questions are emerging about effort along the offensive line. No one is accusing players of intentional sabotage, but film does not lie. Missed assignments. Uneven engagement. Clean losses in one-on-one matchups.
Meanwhile, receivers have struggled with drops, including passes hitting them squarely in the numbers. Yet when drives stall, the criticism returns to Sanders. The quarterback absorbs both the hits and the blame.
Why the Facts Still Favor Sanders
Despite historic pressure, missed blocks, and dropped passes, Sanders continues to make NFL-level throws. He delivers accurately while being hit. He maintains composure. He competes.
That is not the profile of a quarterback who “can’t handle the league.” It is the profile of a competitor being failed by the environment around him. Kiper’s defense of Sanders reflects what many evaluators see on tape.
The Draft Debate That Looms
Cleveland owns multiple high draft picks, and the idea of selecting another quarterback has already surfaced in some corners. League insiders view that scenario as a potential disaster. Replacing the quarterback without fixing the infrastructure would simply reset the cycle.
The smarter path, echoed by analysts and local media alike, is clear: invest heavily in offensive linemen and legitimate receiving talent. Give Sanders 17 games with real NFL protection and weapons, then evaluate him honestly.
Anything else risks wasting the investment already made.
Ownership Pressure Changes Everything
No football decision exists in a vacuum, especially in Cleveland. Jimmy Haslam is pursuing a new stadium project that depends on excitement, credibility, and fan engagement. Sanders represents all three. He brings attention, interest, and hope.
But hope without protection fades quickly. If Sanders continues to take this level of punishment, the hype will die, and with it the momentum the organization needs. That reality has placed immense pressure on Berry, the coaching staff, and ownership itself.
A Franchise at a Crossroads
The Browns are standing at a defining moment. They can commit fully to building around Shedeur Sanders—fixing the offensive line, adding real weapons, and aligning leadership from top to bottom. Or they can continue reacting, cutting corners, and repeating the same mistakes that have haunted the franchise for decades.
Sanders has shown toughness, poise, and legitimate NFL ability under conditions most young quarterbacks would not survive. The question is no longer about him. It is about whether Cleveland can rise to his level before time runs out.
Because in the NFL, windows close quickly. And talent like this does not wait forever.
