Mid-week thoughts 

Parsing the remarks of Browns General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski as the players enjoy the bye week. . . . 

First Stefanski, whose club has struggled and staggered through a two-month patch that has seen the defense glow much more often than it hasn't and an offense that, quite frankly, is fractured with no relief in sight.

After the latest offensive embarrassment a few nights ago in Baltimore, Stefanski partnered realism with optimism. "We have confidence in our run game," he said after the Browns pounded out 40 yards on the ground in the 16-10 loss to the Ravens.

"We have very, very (only two verys this time) high expectations in our run game . . . but we were really not efficient (against Baltimore). We can be better, We will be better. I know we can be better." Sounded more like a pep talk to himself.

As for his consistently insistent quarterback, Stefanski left no doubt who will start when the Browns and Ravens hook up again foe the second game of their unusual schedule doubleheader a week from Sunday in Cleveland. "Baker (Mayfield) is our starting quarterback," he declared. "He is healthy and getting healthier."

Let's see now. Mayfield has a fully torn labrum in his left shoulder, a non-displaced fracture at the top of the humerus in the same shoulder, two bad knees (a bone bruise in one), a nagging groin problem and a bruised heel. Otherwise, he's in great shape.

How does Stefanski know Mayfield is healthy? Didn't he notice that "healthy" quarterback limping noticeably back to the bench each time the Browns had to punt against or turned the ball over to the Ravens? He can't be that oblivious.

Healthy and getting healthier?  Really? If that is considered healthy, time to change the meaning of the word. Truth is Mayfield has taken a  severe beating on a weekly basis all season. He even admitted a couple of weeks ago this is the most beaten up he's been in his career.

The coach continued. "We just need to be better as an offense," he said. "Baker needs to play better. I have to coach better. We have to block better and we have to run routes better." Other than that, everything is hunky dory in Berea.

One last thought. "I believe in this run offense," he said. "I believe in the scheme. We have very high expectations of ourselves." That scheme and that belief have generated only 112 points in the last seven games, 71 in six games if you subtract the 41 put up in the Cincinnati victory, with a high game of 17 points. 

Berry, meantime, stepped front and center with the media the other day and made some interesting remarks with regard to the mediocrity his team has achieved and is looking forward to how his team finishes.

"We are going to play five teams I think are playoff caliber," he said."I'm excited to learn about how our team deals with adversity and resolve. . . . We are looking forward to seeing how our groups respond out of the bye."

Berry parroted Stefanski with regard to Mayfield."Baker is our quarterback," he said. "He is healthy enough to win games for us. He has won games for us the past couple of weeks, If he is ready to go, he is out starter."

Berry is not watching the same games I am the last couple of weeks. The Browns barely hung on to beat  winless Detroit in ugly fashion and were drilled defensively by the Ravens. He doesn't see how awful the offense is and that Mayfield isn't the same quarterback he was in the first five games of the season..

"We all think the offense can play at a higher level," he said. ". . . I know the offensive staff is hard at work finding the right solutions that will allow us to play at the highest level going into the last  five weeks of the season." They might start with taking better advantage of four takeaways by the defense.

His most startling remark came at the tailend of a question regarding Mayfield's development this season. "We expect him to play his best stretch of the year after the bye," he declared. If he meant on a relative basis, it's an indictment on how poorly Mayfield has played down the stretch because he got off a strong start..

Berry excused himself from the debate on the controversy surrounding Stefanski's playcalling this season. "That's not my area of expertise," he demurred. "I have a ton of confidence in him as a playcaller."

He also dismissed the notion the Browns might have developed a sense of entitlement entering the season after a surprisingly bountiful 2020 season. "I don't get a  sense there is a level of entitlement or that we have arrived because, quite honestly, we haven't. We haven't gotten there yet.

It bolsters the belief that making the playoffs is hard. Making them the following season(s) is harder.