Did Browns' Kevin Stefanski ever worry about losing job to Mike Vrabel?
Almost immediately after the Cleveland Browns hired former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to serve as a consultant in March 2024, some wondered if Browns owner Jimmy Haslam viewed Vrabel as a future replacement for Kevin Stefanski.
Vrabel has now guided the New England Patriots to a 5-2 start in his first season as head coach. On Monday, Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand asked Stefanski if he ever felt uncomfortable or threatened by Vrabel's presence last year.
Kevin Stefanski trusted Mike Vrabel despite job-security whispers
"Vrabes is a good friend," Stefanski responded. "Wanted him around the building as much as we could get him last year. He was excited to get back to work. But, yeah, I think … it’s just the friendship there, and somebody I trust."
Stefanski, a two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award winner, was in charge of a Browns side that was coming off a playoff appearance when Vrabel began his stint with the AFC North club. Since then, however, Cleveland has gone 5-19 under Stefanski's watch. Some around the league thought he went into Sunday's home game against the lowly Miami Dolphins in danger of losing his job, but Cleveland then earned a 31-6 win to improve to 2-5.
Mike Vrabel opens up about his Browns tenure
There's no indication Vrabel had any interest in becoming Cleveland's head coach before accepting the Patriots gig. A January report revealed that the Las Vegas Raiders "never requested an interview" with Vrabel after the 2024 regular season wrapped up because he allegedly told them he intended to accept the New England job.
On Monday, Vrabel told reporters he "enjoyed working with" Stefanski and the rest of the Cleveland coaching staff in 2024.
"I was trying to help the players," Vrabel said about his role with the Browns, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I was trying to help the young coaches. ...I tried to help with player development. But they have a great organization as far as the structure and everything. But I tried to be involved with the young coaches and with the young players, and help them in practice and help them develop."
Vrabel's Patriots will enter Sunday's showdown at Gillette Stadium on a four-game winning streak. As of Tuesday morning, ESPN BET had New England as a 7.5-point home favorite over Cleveland.
Cowboys Have Reached out to Raiders About Bombshell Trade: Report
The Las Vegas Raiders are heading in the wrong direction, and it’s clear that they are far away from being contenders. Many believe that this will lead to the franchise embracing a total rebuild.
If that’s the case, that means some key veterans could be available ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline. The Raiders’ most valuable asset is star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. He’s been the team’s best player for years, but hasn’t been shy about his frustration with their losing ways.
The Dallas Cowboys have been one of the surprises of the NFL this season. Many thought they’d be among the league’s worst teams after they hired Brian Schottenheimer as head coach and traded away star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
However, the team is 3-3-1 and has the No. 1 offense in the NFL right now. The problem facing them is that their defense is among the worst in the league. Now that it’s clear that the Cowboys’ offense is good enough to compete in the playoffs, they may be reevaluating whether or not they want to go all in this season.
According to longtime NFL analyst Trey Wingo, the Cowboys have reached out to the Raiders about possibly trading for Crosby.
How Much Is Crosby Worth in a Trade?
The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Some would argue that Crosby is a better overall player than Parsons due to how he affects the run game, but he’s slightly older.
Regardless, the Raiders are going to want a similar haul to what the Cowboys got. Plus, Dallas wouldn’t have to give Crosby a new contract.
The baseline for a trade has to be two first-round picks. Crosby is 28 years old, a team leader and a relentless worker. He might be the best run-defending defensive end in the NFL, while also being an elite pass rusher. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones cited run defense as a reason they traded Parsons away, but that wouldn’t be a problem for Crosby. It’s possible that the Raiders could ask for even more than what Dallas got for Parsons.
Would Raiders Actually Trade Crosby?
Crosby is the heart and soul of the Raiders. Outside of left tackle Kolton Miller, he’s been with the team longer than any other player.
He’s the face of the franchise and the favorite player in the fan base. However, many fans have accepted that it’s probably best for him to go elsewhere if he wants to win. Right now, the Cowboys are clearly a better team than Las Vegas, despite only having one more win.
Now, the Pete Carroll factor is impossible to ignore. He’s already the oldest head coach in NFL history. Even if it’s a rebuild, he’s going to push for a quick turnaround. Getting rid of your best player is going to make a turnaround take a lot longer.
If the Raiders traded Crosby, that would be an obvious front office decision and could be bad news for the coach’s long-term prospects. It seems more likely the team would wait until the offseason to make such a big move.
