Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens refused to answer questions regarding his job status during a post-practice press conference on Thursday, instead pivoting to the team's preparation for their final regular season game against the Cincinnati Bengals (via Jeff Risdon of USA TODAY Sports).
Several times throughout the 15-minute session, Kitchens refused to bite on questions that extend beyond Sunday’s game. A prime example came a little over halfway through the exchange with reporters.
After being asked about what he might want quarterback Baker Mayfield to focus on this offseason, Kitchens quickly cut off the question.
“I want Baker focused on the Cincinnati Bengals,” Kitchens reiterated. “I’m not worried about the offseason yet. We’ll talk about that next week.”
At the end of the presser, he was asked if Monday would be any different, an obvious allusion to a potential firing. Kitchens didn’t take the bait, instead talking about how every team does exit interviews with players and he expects to go about normal end-of-season routines.
Kitchens was promoted to the head coaching position following a successful stint as Cleveland's offensive coordinator last season. It was expected that his relationship with quarterback Baker Mayfield would make for a good fit, though that has been far from the case this year.
The Browns rank 18th in total offense, according to NFL.com, and Mayfield has thrown 18 interceptions while running a 79.1 Quarterback Rating (he posted a 93.7 rating last year), according to Pro Football Reference.
Kitchens was also seen having a spat with Odell Beckham Jr. on the sidelines during Cleveland's loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
What's OBJ telling Freddie Kitchens?
(wrong answers only)pic.twitter.com/SrwUtw2YUY
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 22, 2019
The Browns entered preseason camp with playoff expectations, but things went sour in a hurry. Kitchens might only be able to avoid questions about his job status for so long.
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