CLEVELAND — New Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski had a lot to say today, and only about 60 seconds of it was about football.
Everything else was about what's going on in society, and while Stefanski and his players really haven't met much in person due to the ongoing pandemic, they're having a lot of meetings and dialogue virtually, especially about what's going on in America today.
Stefanski told his players to be part of the solution, to get out into the arena, and get out into the neighborhoods. The coach believes people will listen to the players, for citizens of Northeast Ohio are naturally drawn to the Browns.
"Something that [former Pro Bowler] Anquan Boldin said in a meeting a couple of days ago that we were in, 'Attach your name,'" Stefanski said. "That is something that I take seriously. While I am attaching my name and I am leading a football team, I want these guys to know the impact that they can have."
Stefanski himself was active over the weekend, taking his mom and two young sons to a peaceful protest out in Avon.
"It was empowering," he said. "You saw the passion, you saw the frustration, you saw the love. I think it was just a really enlightening moment for me, and I was able to share that with my boys at a young age."
When the team finally does get back into Berea (presumably for training camp this summer), they will have a social justice committee, a leadership committee, and (of course) team captains. In regards to the national anthem, Stefanski said he would have his players' backs, regardless of what the league or fans think.
"I can just promise you this: We will spend as much time as needed to make sure that we are all on the same page and we are a united front from a player, staff, you name it [standpoint]," he said. "We want to make sure that we are constantly staying in the dialogue on these issues because it is not something that is just going to go away."
Stefanski has not coached a down yet with the Cleveland Browns, but every time he speaks, he's very impressive. He gives me the impression that the team is in pretty good hands with him.
From January:
MYLES GARRETT: 'Change isn't always a clean process'