Was Stefanski kidding?

Maybe it was a wise crack by Kevin Stefanski at his post-practice gaggle with reporters as he announced Friday that Baker Mayfield and "select starters" would see their first action of the season Sunday night in the Browns' nationally-televised (NBC) exhibition finale in Atlanta. 

Then again, maybe it wasn't.

Asked if the surprising move meant the Cleveland offense would also include the entire starting line in the huddle to make certain Mayfield receives strong protection, the head coach cracked wise. "You guys have to tune in Sunday night (to find out)," the usually bland Stefanski said slyly. "NBC wants me to keep it a secret."

An opportunity for conspiracy theorists to jump all over that seemingly flippant remark. Did the Peacock network, sensing the Browns and Falcons would sit their starting quarterbacks in a meaningless game, suggest it would be a good idea for Mayfield and Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to at least start?

Can't see NBC hyping Case Keenum of the Browns and Falcons rookie quarterback Feleipe Franks leading up the game and expect many viewers. Mayfield and Ryan haven't taken a snap in the first two exhibitions and no word yet out of Atlanta as to Ryan's status for the game

But if Mayfield and Ryan indeed do start, it would be within reason to assume Stefanski wasn't kidding about NBC. Gotta give Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth something to talk about rather than fumbling around to find something nice to say about players who probably won't make the final roster.

When asked to be more specific about his "select starters," Stefanski did not bite. "I"m not going to go through who's playing and who's not," he said and moved on.

But you can be certain that as long as he's in there, Mayfield will operate, barring injury, behind Jedrick Wills Jr,, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin along the offensive line with D"Ernest Johnson, John Kelly and Demetric Felton carrying the infantry load.

The guess here is Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry will watch from the bench with Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, JoJo Natson, J'Marcus Bradley and rookie Anthony Schwartz (until he aggravates his pulled hamstring) representing the wide receivers room. Tight ends getting work will be Harrison Bryant, Jordan Franks and maybe David Njoku for a series or two.

On defense, middle linebacker Anthony Walker, free safety John Johnson III, strong safety Ronnie Harrison Jr., cornerback Denzel Ward, defensive tackle Malik Jackson and edge rusher Takkarist McKinley probably will see the field for first time this season before the bench takes over.

While Stefanski did not come right out and call it a rehearsal game for the regular season, that is exactly what it is. He obviously didn't want to begin the season in Kansas City with an offense shaking off rust from relative inactivity outside of training camp.

A gamble? Sure, but you can also bet the playcalling for Mayfield will be as vanilla as possible with a significant number of high percentage passes in the package. He almost certainly will be instructed  to "don't' do anything stupid." Stefanski wants to exit this one with no regrets.

(Yep, blown to smithereens. The prediction, that is.)