December 28, 2008

It's Over....Again

The Browns management turnover officially started tonight when word of the firing of Executive V.P. and G.M. Phil Savage became public, and the purge should be pretty much complete on Monday when Romeo Crennel meets with owner Randy Lerner to get his pink slip.

Tony Grossi

Before the game was even finished, General Manager Phil Savage knew he had been fired by owner Randy Lerner. Savage returned to Cleveland by car while the rest of the Browns' contingent bused home.

Lerner did not attend the game. A source said that Lerner was lining up interviews with Bill Cowher and other coaching candidates -- including at least two minorities to comply with the NFL's "Rooney Rule."

Lerner is expected to meet with coach Romeo Crennel this morning and deliver the news that he will not be retained as head coach.

The Browns denied an ESPN report that Crennel was fired Sunday night.

Hiko couldn't watch the Steeler game today, and for the first time in a long time, I didn't watch it either. I was easily talked out of it by my son-in-law the Vikings fan, and watched the Giants-Minnesota game instead. I had no interest in seeing my team lose for the 11th time in a row to the Steelers live and in HD. Sorry, Randy. But send the ticket invoice again sometime during the winter as usual, and I'll get a check to you just like I always do. Will there be someone there to get it?

After ten years of miserable football , Browns fans are left with the fifth pick in the draft, along with the faint hope that Randy Lerner will get good advice, show sound judgment...and just maybe gets a little bit of luck with the decision he is about to make. It's encouraging that he is going after people who have been there, like Bill Cowher, who was seen in Cleveland getting wined and dined as long ago as October.

If he wants to be considered, Scott Pioli of the Patriots will be pursued for the top front office job, and he may finally be ready to step out of Belichick's shadow. It stands to reason too that young offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel of the Pats could come along with him, presumably as head coach. McDaniels is a Canton McKinley grad, but I think his youth works against him as a candidate for the Browns job.

No candidate is hotter around the league than Steve Spagnuolo, Giants defensive coordinator, and he'll be on Lerner's radar as well. Grossi also reports that the Browns have already identified some minority candidates to interview in order to comply with the NFL's so-called Rooney Rule. This is of course to demonstrate the organizational willingness to consider a black man for their head coaching position. Sheesh.

Within a few days Lerner may have a glut of experienced NFL head coaches available to interview. Any or all of Herman Edwards, Mike Holmgren, Marvin Lewis and Wade Phillips could be unemployed by mid-week. That also means lots of competition for the good candidates from people like Jerry Jones.

As for Romeo, he has conducted himself admirably in this disastrous stretch run, with his demise all but assured, and open speculation about his sucessor in the media every single day. He has been as classy and honest with the players and fans and media as he has been hapless as an NFL head coach.

It's about to get very interesting. Click on the Browns link at TCF for takes from Hiko, Gary Benz, Mansfield Lucas and all the guys on the Browns beat. Or talk about it on the boards.


Posted by dan at December 28, 2008 9:11 PM