Stefanski Motives for Sticking With Browns’ Dillon Gabriel Revealed

As the Browns continue to struggle and rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel continues to look less and less like the team’s long-term solution at a position that has dogged the franchise for the better part of this millennium, the accusation has been firmly lodged against coach Kevin Stefanski that his decision to stick with Gabriel has something to do with a personal loyalty to Gabriel and/or a grudge against his fellow rookie, 

Shedeur Sanders.

That’s not just the ravings of downtrodden fans on social media or angry talk-radio hosts. The theory has been put forth by former players and media members as well. When Gabriel struggled badly against the 

Patriots, going 21-for-35 with two interceptions and 156 yards passing, and Stefanski said immediately after the game that he was sticking with Gabriel, it was widely taken as proof that Stefanski has some sort of ulterior motive.

The gist, as expressed by a gamut of ex-players from LeSean McCoy to Richie Incognito: Gabriel is Stefanski’s “guy” and the coach never wanted to draft Sanders, thus he is refusing to play him because to do so would be a blight on his judgment.

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Browns Seeking to Give Dillon Gabriel a Chance

It’s a neat narrative, and there’s some logic there. But for longtime Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, it’s a bit twisted. The reasoning for sticking with Gabriel is not an anti-Sanders agenda, it’s just a desire to give the third-round pick a bit more time before turning to the fifth-rounder.

Asked directly whether Stefanski is, “scared to put Shedeur Sanders on the field because if Sanders succeeded, will it make him look bad?”  Cabot replied: “There’s no way that’s the reason Sanders isn’t playing. If Stefanski isn’t playing Sanders, it’s because he wants to see more of Dillon Gabriel, and/or he doesn’t think Sanders is ready yet.”

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Dillon Gabriel Has Struggled

There is a strong argument to be made for Sanders, no question. Though he was drafted two rounds after Gabriel, he was also considered, for most of last season at Colorado, to be a first-round talent and arguably the best QB in the draft. His stock cratered, but only after the season–what he did on the field was widely praised.

Gabriel has not showered himself in glory through his four starts. The Browns are 1-3, and he is averaging 117 yards per game with a rating of 78.2. No quarterback could keep his job with those kinds of numbers.

On the flip side, the Browns do not feel that a four-game snippet is fair to Gabriel–it gives him no opportunity to show that he’s grown–and that’s the reason Stefanski is sticking by him.

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Browns Patient With Shedeur Sanders

For the Browns, putting Sanders on the field would be throwing him to the wolves. It’s not a good unit in general, and he is still getting up to speed on playing pro-style offense. Even Andrew Berry–Sanders is supposedly his “guy” in all this–acknowledged Sanders would need time.

Writes Cabot: “Remember, Browns GM Andrew Berry stated in August that for Sanders, it’s like going from English to Mandarin in terms of learning pro-style concepts and terminology. Three months is a brief period in which to come up that steep a learning curve. He has made tremendous progress in practice, and the Browns are excited about it.

“I would even venture to say that he’s doing better than expected at this point, largely because of his work ethic and high football acumen. I just think they want to put him in position to succeed, and even 18th-year pro Joe Flacco struggled with this offense. Sanders will play this season when the time is right.”