The Cleveland Browns are in disarray at 2-6 heading into the bye. Beyond the scoreboard, poor roster decisions, questionable play-calling, and a disconnected locker room have fueled the chaos. And now, owner Jimmy Haslam faces yet another challenge.

Paul DePodesta joined the Browns in 2016 as Chief Strategy Officer, aiming to fix the franchise with his analytics-driven approach from baseball. Fans initially believed in the process, but after years of mixed results, he’s now leaving Cleveland to become the Colorado Rockies’ new general manager. He’s going back to his roots, but the Browns remain stuck.

However, not everyone thinks Haslam should panic. In fact, analyst Tony Grossi has a pretty direct plan for the owner to keep control of things. “Move Andrew Berry into that DePodesta analytic/control the salary cap role with a raise and making him more important, that way Haslam doesn’t have to fire him,” he explained. Then comes the bold part.

“Fire Stefanski and you get to pick your (Football Minded) GM and Head Coach combo! Take advantage of this and it’s a win for Jimmy!”

The suggestion is bold, but it might just give Haslam a lifeline heading into the second half of the season. Still, the situation isn’t kind. Since DePodesta joined the front office, no other NFL team has spent more money on players. And yet, no division titles.

Only two playoff appearances. Three total playoff games. Not even close to sniffing a Super Bowl. Maybe DePodesta saw what was coming: that sooner or later, someone would have to take the fall for years of underachievement.

Still, fans feel there is a glimmer of hope. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry have built what many call one of the best 2025 draft boards in years. But the recent update on them isn’t what fans would want.

Jimmy Haslam takes away Kevin Stefanski’s authority!

During a segment on 92.3 The Fan, local hosts Anthony Lima and Ken Carman broke down what many in the Dawg Pound have been sensing: the Browns’ head coach may have lost some of his power. Especially when it comes to the most important decision on the field: who starts under center.

According to them, GM Andrew Berry is slowly taking control.

“I don’t think (Stefanski) is on equal footing as Andrew Berry. He hasn’t lost power but Andrew Berry has gained it and I think that’s a detriment to the team.”

That comment from Carman hit home for a lot of Browns fans. Because if the head coach and the GM aren’t aligned, the whole operation gets messy fast. And right now, that’s exactly what seems to be happening behind the scenes.

The quarterback question is at the center of it all. The Browns’ 2025 draft brought in two promising arms: Dillon Gabriel, Stefanski’s QB1, and Shedeur Sanders. The problem?

Gabriel’s production has not justified the faith his coach continues to show in him. Meanwhile, Sanders sits and waits, while frustration grows in the stands and inside the locker room.

On top of that, Stefanski’s play-calling hasn’t helped his case. His loyalty to Gabriel despite the poor results is adding fuel to the fire. For now, it looks like Stefanski might still have the title of head coach, but not the authority that comes with it. And that kind of power struggle never stays quiet for long.