It’s hard to erase the image from the Browns’ Week 1 clash against the Bengals. A kicker’s chance to shine, the game teetering, a hush over the crowd, and the football veering wide right for the second time. Sometimes a single play becomes a crucible for an entire franchise’s expectations. If heartbreak had a soundtrack in Cleveland, it would echo with the thud of Andre Szmyt’s missed kicks in his NFL debut. After that 17-16 loss, Cleveland now sets its eyes on Baltimore. But for Browns legend Bernie Kosar, something has to change fast.

Appearing on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show, Bernie Kosar didn’t hold back. “I… still want to believe in second chances and forgiveness, and you all deserve a second chance and forgiveness except in NFL football.” Kosar channeled an ethos forged under coaches Schnellenberger, Johnson, and Shula and noted there shouldn’t be a free pass for NFL blunders. As Kosar further added, “there’s no tolerance for mistakes, and fear is a massive motivator, okay? And you may think you’re talking about you and the kicker… when the kicker made the mistake, but you’re really talking to the whole locker room. Everybody needs to know that you could die with a mistake, okay?”

Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar delivered an uncompromising assessment, demanding accountability from the struggling kicker. While Kosar believes in second chances in life, he draws the line when it comes to kickers whose mistakes affect team morale. Kosar argues that kicking miscues creates negative ripple effects throughout the entire locker room, making tolerance for continued struggles unacceptable at the professional level. “You say you wanna die, you don’t say, ‘That’s the NFL. Maybe one ball will get dropped.’ No, not one kick gets dropped. Not one ball gets dropped. Not one football gets misthrown. Not one tackle gets missed that you don’t want to impale yourself… it is how you win.” Kosar’s stance is clear: if a ball glances off a hand, if the game slips through on a simple mistake, you’re gone. Clearly, the Week 1 disaster left a lot to be desired for Bernie Kosar.

Statistically, the Browns dominated the Bengals, gaining nearly 200 more yards than Cincinnati. Joe Flacco threw for 290 yards and made good passes despite shaky support and deflected interceptions that weren’t on him. Yet, it was Andre Szmyt’s struggles that became the difference. First, he missed an extra point after a touchdown in the third quarter. Second, and more devastating, was the critical botched field goal from 36 yards out with 2:25 left in the fourth quarter. For Bernie Kosar, those missed kicks were lightning rods for the entire team. Accountability, in his experience, doesn’t allow for sentimental comebacks. But the Browns seem to be going in another direction.

Even as Kosar reflected a tough-as-nails culture, a new narrative was taking shape inside the Browns’ facility. HC Kevin Stefanski and special teams coach Bubba Ventrone faced a choice: cut bait after Week 1, or double down on their investment. For Szmyt, surprisingly, the answer was grace.

Lifeline for Andre Szmyt

Rather than sourcing the waiver wire, the Browns stuck with their rookie. Bubba Ventrone explained in favor of Andre Szmyt, “I think we’ve had good operations. I don’t think that’s an issue. The practices have been good. The pregame warmup was good. I think that he’s in a good headspace. I feel like he’s confident. He’s got a lot of confidence. He understands that he needs to deliver and make his kicks.”

Szmyt himself didn’t hide. He owned the mistakes and showed that he’s eager for the coming matchup. “It feels good that they believed in me. I kind of flushed last weekend, just focused on this weekend. – Not letting the highs get too high and not think the lows get too low. So now obviously it sucks, but you move on and move on to this week.” But the biggest vote of confidence came from the HC himself.

Kevin Stefanski put the situation simply: “He will [kick Sunday], yeah. A young player who will only get better. Obviously, he wants to come through in those moments. We expect him to come through in those moments, but just like any player on our roster, he’ll continue to get better.” The Browns will give Szmyt a chance to rebound rather than panic and sign a veteran free agent kicker. However, head coach Stefanski’s message was clear. Significant improvement is required. Going forward, Szmyt will be operating with minimal room for mistakes. The coaching staff has essentially put him on a short leash, indicating that future struggles could quickly lead to a change at the position.

Bernie Kosar’s call for accountability stands in stark contrast to the franchise’s show of patience, at least for now. The tension is palpable, a Cleveland legend still living by the code of ‘win or walk,’ a rookie kicker hoping for redemption, and a team on the edge between rebuilding and relevance. Szmyt gets a second chance, but the message from Week 2 against the Ravens will be sharp. For the Browns, as well as Szmyt, every kick on September 14th will carry more weight than ever. The question: can Szmyt follow through?