CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have made a decision that left the Orange and Brown Talk podcast crew stunned: Rookie kicker Andre Szmyt will remain the team’s placekicker heading into Sunday’s crucial divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, despite a disastrous debut that may have cost Cleveland their season opener.
“I just think this game is too important to go into it with the shaky kicker. I wouldn’t have done it. I wouldn’t have done it,” Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot declared on Wednesday’s episode. “There’s no evidence that he can get this turned around for his next kick.”
The decision seems particularly puzzling given Szmyt’s performance against Cincinnati, where he missed two critical field goals — including a potential game-winner from just 36 yards. What’s even more surprising to the podcast crew is that the Browns didn’t even bring in competition to push Szmyt or provide a backup option, despite other NFL teams conducting kicker workouts this week.
“A bunch of other teams worked out kickers on Tuesday, and the Browns weren’t one of them,” noted Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock. “And I still sit here and don’t understand why the leash just seems to be as long as it is right now for Andre Szmyt, who has one real game of NFL kicking experience.”
The ripple effects of sticking with an unproven kicker could extend beyond just missed points. Host Dan Labbe pointed out how a single missed kick early in the Baltimore game could drastically alter the entire strategic approach.
“I think that changes your entire approach to this football game. All of a sudden, with one missed kick, now you just can’t trust him at all. And now you have to completely game plan around this idea that you’ve got this kicker that you don’t trust,” Labbe explained.
The podcast discussion highlighted how the Browns’ decision could prove particularly problematic in the hostile environment of M&T Bank Stadium. With raucous Ravens fans, potential “icing” attempts from special teams-minded head coach John Harbaugh, and the weight of the moment, Szmyt will face significantly more pressure than he did at home against Cincinnati.
Cabot believes the Browns might be banking on their youth movement strategy, suggesting that the team sees Szmyt as part of their long-term core as they build toward future Super Bowl windows. However, she still characterized the decision as “disturbing” given the game’s importance.
The consequences of this decision could be severe. Should the Browns lose a close game due to kicking issues, they would fall to 0-2 with an increasingly difficult schedule ahead — potentially putting their playoff hopes in early jeopardy.
Even opposing teams have noticed Cleveland’s kicking situation. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor admitted after last week’s game that “we knew they were having kicker problems,” indicating how the Browns’ weakness is influencing opponents’ decision-making.
The podcast crew acknowledged that there may not be a wealth of veteran kicking talent available on the market, but the fact that the Browns didn’t even explore alternatives has them questioning the team’s process.
Want to hear the full breakdown of this controversial decision and what it could mean for the Browns’ chances in Baltimore? Check out the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, where the crew dissects this and other critical storylines heading into Sunday’s crucial divisional matchup.
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