CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The offseason program began for the Browns the way it ended last year – virtually.
“I do not know if we are getting good at it, but it is something over the last calendar year that we have definitely gotten a lot of reps on Zoom,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said, via Zoom, Tuesday. “Hopefully, we are getting better.”
If center JC Tretter and the NFLPA have their way, it won’t be the last year of virtual work either.
Tretter, who was elected president of the NFLPA a year ago, is pushing for an overhaul of the league’s offseason program, which he views is excessive.
Tretter and Stefanski have spoken recently about the issue.
“He is very transparent. I am very transparent,” Stefanski said. “This program is voluntary. Again, we are in Day 2 of Phase 1. It is a virtual program that I think the guys are doing a nice job with. We will deal with anything else that comes down the road, but I am just going to make sure that the communication continues between JC and really any of the players and myself.”
Browns players have joined a lengthy list of players from teams around the league to issue joint statements through the NFLPA announcing that they will not participate in any in-person work this offseason.
“I respect our players. I respect the voluntary portion of this,” Stefanski said. “You also know I am a coach and I think we have really outstanding coaches here who cannot wait to get on the grass with our players.
We will figure it out as it goes, but we are just going to make sure we are in the here and now as we go.”
Stefanski is just like every other coach – he wants his players to remain healthy and safe, but he wants as much face time on the field with them as possible.
“Player health and safety is very important to me, and it is very important to this organization,” Stefanski said. “We have a sports science group that uses all of the information we can to make sure that we are having safe practices and having safe workouts.”
Tretter’s objections are twofold – one, the COVID-19 pandemic is still very much a concern and secondly, Tretter argues that the current offseason program, which consists of weight room and conditioning work, OTAs and minicamps in addition to meetings, is outdated and unnecessary.
Last year’s virtual offseason helped provide Tretter with the evidence to support his position.
According to data released by the NFLPA, missed-time injuries were reduced by 23% and concussions went down 30% in 2020.
“I have heard that position,” Stefanski said. “I can really operate on what the parameters are of our offseason looks like currently, and it is hard for me to go past that.
“I would love to see our guys on the grass. There is no coach that would not love to coach their guys – that is very, very obvious – but I am going to respect the process, respect the position and let those things play out.”
The success of Stefanski and the Browns in the face of adversity last year also help make Tretter’s case about the necessities of in-person offseason work.
After having to install offensive, defensive and special teams systems through video conferencing as a first-year head coach, Stefanski and the Browns went 11-5, ended the NFL’s longest playoff drought and advanced in the post season for the first time since 1994.
“I will just tell you that I respect his position, but I also understand that there are rules here and I am just going to adhere to them as best as I can,” Stefanski said.
This year, Phase 1, which is 100% virtual, runs from April 19-May 14. Phase 2 runs May 17-21 and includes a limited number of non-contact, on-field drills with coaches, including a rookie minicamp. Phase 3 from May 24-June 18 includes up to 10 OTAs and a mandatory veteran minicamp.
As of now, Tretter and his teammates’ position is they will skip the voluntary in-person work that includes strength and conditioning as well as OTAs.
Stefanski declined to say whether they will hold a mandatory minicamp in June.
For now, they’ll just keep Zooming along.
“We want to make sure that we are reaching our guys where they are, and we need to adapt what we are doing from a Zoom standpoint,” Stefanski said. “We have had many meetings on the best way to teach, and the truth is we have to teach and reteach our systems right now on Zoom. That is part of what we are doing. It is a challenge, if you will, but it is a challenge I think everybody has.”
Browns virtual work began Monday, players plan to avoid voluntary workouts
