Browns coach Stefanski nixes OBJ drama
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is determined to eliminate any drama.
In his opening remarks Wednesday, the usually buttoned-up Stefanski announced that star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. would sit out Sunday’s home opener as he continues his rehab from Nov. 10 ACL surgery.
In a matter of seconds, Stefanski halted another week of speculation over Beckham’s status, both in the locker room and externally.
Stefanski had barely gotten through the injury list when he said, “Then I want to update you guys, we’re going to hold Odell out this week ... Just felt like it made more sense to have clarity early in the week from a game-planning and practice standpoint.”
Stefanski can say that’s the reason, and it is surely part of it. But the “Will he or won’t he?” aspect of Beckham’s return was a distraction. Beckham dominated headlines leading up to the Chiefs game. What he was doing during pregame warmups and what was his body language received intense scrutiny. His cryptic tweet Tuesday dominated sports talk radio.
Three-time Pro Bowler Beckham loves the spotlight,
so it may not have been an afterthought when Stefanski later added that he had spoken to Beckham about this week’s decision.
When it was noted that Stefanski is not usually this revealing, Stefanski replied, “Thank you.”
When asked what changed, Stefanski said, “Just that’s how I want to handle it this week. I just want to ... and I talked to Odell about it — this is my decision and felt it was the right thing to do for this week.”
Underlying that exchange was the cool calculation of the reigning NFL Coach of the Year.