The Cleveland Browns’ coaching staff is in a state of flux, and according to long-time insider Tony Grossi, time has run out.

Speaking on ESPN Cleveland’s The Really Big Show, Grossi painted a picture of a defensive crew in total limbo following the hiring of new offensive minded head coach Todd Monken. When asked by Aaron Goldhammer exactly when the Browns need to get the Jim Schwartz situation resolved, Grossi didn’t hesitate with a blunt, one-word assessment of the urgency: “Yesterday.”

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The tension in Berea is palpable as rumors circulate that Schwartz already cleared out his office. Grossi noted the awkwardness of the current setup, describing a building where the defensive coordinator and the head coach appear to be on entirely different pages. “You can’t have a guy in the building who doesn’t want to be there,” Grossi noted, emphasizing that the lack of clarity is paralyzing the team’s off-season planning.

Does it even make sense for Schwartz to come back at this point? It could divide the locker room if the season gets off to a slow start. Especially after stars like Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward have publicly backed their DC.

With the NFL Scouting Combine and free agency fast approaching, the Browns cannot afford a distracted leadership room. If Schwartz is indeed moving on, the front office needs to finalize the exit immediately to begin the search for a replacement who fits the new regime. As Grossi made clear, every hour that passes without a resolution is an hour the Browns are falling behind their rivals. 

The time for deliberation is over; the Browns need an answer now.

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