CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hey, Mary Kay!
Hey, Mary Kay: I have always enjoyed your Hey, Mary Kay section. My question is, will the front office give Hue Jackson a chance to see this team through or will he have a short leash say if they start the season 0-4? Which I hope not. -- Michael Sibley, Palmetto, Georgia
Hey, Michael: With Browns' Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta admitting at the NFL Annual Meeting in March that the Browns took the team down to the studs in 2016, there's no way the Browns can have Jackson on a short leash this season. Granted, the Browns need to start winning, but Jackson can't take a stripped down roster in 2016 and win big in 2017. He'll probably also be starting a rookie quarterback in DeShone Kizer for all or much of the season, and he'll have growing pains. Jackson needs years to turn this team into a contender, and he should get them.
Hey, Mary Kay: I just don't understand the constant push for you and others, to have DeShone Kizer play so quickly? Plus, when you talk QB you rarely even mention Brock Osweiler. Why? I'm confused by the lack of respect the guy gets for having a bad year. -- Tom Goodsite, Sanford, Florida
Hey, Tom: If Kizer were trying to beat out an established, veteran quarterback who either had a future here or had a chance to win big this season, I'd see the wisdom in taking it slow with Kizer. But the Browns aren't going anywhere this year, and they need to see what have in their rookie QB. You don't draft a quarterback in the second round if you don't think he has a chance to be your guy. If they let him play, they'll know what they have as they head into another big draft, and if he demonstrates franchise potential, he'll get plenty of experience. I don't think they view Osweiler as their future, so it makes more sense to me to let Kizer learn on the fly and be ready to roll in 2018.
Hey, Mary Kay: I know that competition brings the best out in everyone, but I don't like that there is a three-way competition. (I actually feel it's really between Cody Kessler and Deshone Kizer) at the QB position. I hope one stands out head and shoulders above the others. When do you see the absolute deadline to declaring a starter? -- David Johnson, Lorain, Ohio
Hey, David: I don't think the three-way competition among Cody Kessler, DeShone Kizer and Brock Osweiler will last very long into training camp. Hue Jackson will need to wrap it up fairly quickly so he can give his starter as many of the first-team reps as possible. In spring practices, Kessler and Kizer split reps with the starters, with Osweiler working mostly with the twos. Does that mean it's essentially already a two-man race? That's entirely possible. I think Jackson will settle on his No. 1 by the second preseason game to get on with it.
Hey, Mary Kay: Being a diehard Browns fan and living in Texas, I enjoy and appreciate your in-depth reporting and information. Thank you. I was wondering how our receiving corps has looked through OTA's and heading into camp? With our QB situation, it is imperative the Browns have as much valued help as necessary at this critical position. With such inexperienced wideouts (Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins, etc) do you feel the Browns will pick up a reliable veteran or two upon the roster cuts during preseason? I don't see Kenny Britt with near the upside Pryor had, and with Corey Coleman not being able to stay healthy, we need reinforcements! -- Don Shearer, Plano Texas
Hey, Don: With Corey Coleman injuring his hamstring in OTAs and Kenny Britt being limited, we didn't see much of the starters during spring practices. What we did see was plenty of 2016 draft picks. Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins, Jordan Payton. All three looked better, faster and more polished than last year. Louis and Higgins, especially, have made big jumps. But the jury is out until the pads come on and the contact is live. I think the Browns could use at least one more experienced wideout, but the pickins' will be slim.
Hey Mary Kay: With the Browns going 1-15 last year and with what hopefully seems to be a way better offensive line for 2017 and a potentially great up and coming defense under Gregg Williams, could the Browns win more than the predicted 4 to 5 win total even with questions at QB? -- Bryan Davis, Florence, Ky.
Hey, Bryan: If the quarterback play is much-improved over last year, the Browns could win more than four to five games - but probably not many more. Ideally, they'd win six or seven this year, and then be poised to contend for the playoffs in 2018. With 24 draft picks over the past two seasons, including three in the first round this year, the Browns should be able to win at least six games. But that will only happen with really good QB play.