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By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 06:48 p.m. EST, Nov 26, 2008
If any doubt existed about coach Romeo Crennel's future with the Browns, it probably should be erased after hearing Phil Savage's radio show Wednesday morning.
Savage, the Browns' general manager, left a person scratching his head when he spoke about Crennel during his weekly appearance on WTAM.
''I've said it on this program a number of times,'' Savage said. ''Hey, my responsibility is the 53-man roster, and then it's Romeo and the rest of the coaching staff's decision how to utilize the 45 players that are dressed on Sunday. Who starts. Who plays. When they're gonna play. How they're gonna be utilized.
''If I'm going to get involved in those decisions, then I may as well put a headset on and double my salary.''
He said there were frustrations from some things that had happened on the field, but added: ''These were the guys that we've hired to go out and do a job. Unfortunately, it hasn't gone as well as we'd hoped for.''
He pointed out that a couple of plays here or there might have changed an outcome, but he said the loss Sunday to the Houston Texans was ''really by far the worst game we've had since I've been here.''
''And I'm not talking about two years ago, when we basically didn't have much ability,'' Savage said. ''I'm talking about over the last two seasons when we had some talent, we had some ability to go out and be an NFL team. We just didn't show up. I don't know the explanation for that. We'll see what happens this next Sunday.''
These statements sounded to me like a GM taking out the coach at the knees, of the complete abandonment of the ''all for one and one for all'' philosophy.
But I've been critical of the Browns lately, and at times of Savage. So to be fair, I asked a few people, including a former player everyone respected, what they thought of Savage's words.
The former player summed up the feeling: ''Tell RAC to get a paddle, 'cuz Phil just sold him down the river.''
That was kind of my reaction. ''Hey, I got these standout players; if they laid an egg, that's on the coaches.''
It didn't seem quite fair to Crennel, a good man who has worked his hardest and done his best to win. He has made some decisions that can be questioned, yes, and his won-lost record is not good.
But given his efforts and work and dedication, he doesn't deserve to see the last weeks of his job include this kind of thing.
This came across like self-preservation, of protecting one's own hide at the expense of others. Years of ''we are in this together'' suddenly became ''don't ask me to coach them, too.''
I asked the former player — I told him I preferred to use his name; he did not want to, but he is a former Brown who knows Savage and Crennel — for a little more insight.
He said: ''I hope Mr. [Randy] Lerner sees through that. Savage picked all the players. Romeo coaches the guys Savage gives him to coach. You get a bunch of kids and not enough smart leaders, then the inmates run the asylum. Does the coach run, catch, tackle, drop passes, blow plays? Who picks those players?''
He wasn't finished.
''The decisions are made by the GM,'' he said. ''The coach coaches who is put in front of him. He doesn't have a choice.''
Kind of like Crennel didn't have a choice on his offensive staff changes before 2007.
''The coaches coach; the GM picks 'em. Bottom line,'' he said. ''If anything, they are tied together.
''I'm not saying RAC is free from question. It's just that everything is not based on the coach. Yes, at times it comes down to scheme, teaching. But if the exact same defense worked in New England, why is it so bad here?
''Duh. The players aren't the same and neither is the guy picking them.
''Look at New England's team. Smart, tough, team guys that play together. Cleveland has talented, young, prima-donna-filled, blown-assignment guys that don't play together or for a common goal. They pick up a paycheck.
''Not all are that way, but enough are to mess things up.
''Now, who picks those guys?''
Well. . .it's not the guy coaching them.
If any doubt existed about coach Romeo Crennel's future with the Browns, it probably should be erased after hearing Phil Savage's radio show Wednesday morning.
Savage, the Browns' general manager, left a person scratching his head when he spoke about Crennel during his weekly appearance on WTAM.
''I've said it on this program a number of times,'' Savage said. ''Hey, my responsibility is the 53-man roster, and then it's Romeo and the rest of the coaching staff's decision how to utilize the 45 players that are dressed on Sunday. Who starts. Who plays. When they're gonna play. How they're gonna be utilized.
''If I'm going to get involved in those decisions, then I may as well put a headset on and double my salary.''
He said there were frustrations from some things that had happened on the field, but added: ''These were the guys that we've hired to go out and do a job. Unfortunately, it hasn't gone as well as we'd hoped for.''
He pointed out that a couple of plays here or there might have changed an outcome, but he said the loss Sunday to the Houston Texans was ''really by far the worst game we've had since I've been here.''
''And I'm not talking about two years ago, when we basically didn't have much ability,'' Savage said. ''I'm talking about over the last two seasons when we had some talent, we had some ability to go out and be an NFL team. We just didn't show up. I don't know the explanation for that. We'll see what happens this next Sunday.''
These statements sounded to me like a GM taking out the coach at the knees, of the complete abandonment of the ''all for one and one for all'' philosophy.
But I've been critical of the Browns lately, and at times of Savage. So to be fair, I asked a few people, including a former player everyone respected, what they thought of Savage's words.
The former player summed up the feeling: ''Tell RAC to get a paddle, 'cuz Phil just sold him down the river.''
That was kind of my reaction. ''Hey, I got these standout players; if they laid an egg, that's on the coaches.''
It didn't seem quite fair to Crennel, a good man who has worked his hardest and done his best to win. He has made some decisions that can be questioned, yes, and his won-lost record is not good.
But given his efforts and work and dedication, he doesn't deserve to see the last weeks of his job include this kind of thing.
This came across like self-preservation, of protecting one's own hide at the expense of others. Years of ''we are in this together'' suddenly became ''don't ask me to coach them, too.''
I asked the former player — I told him I preferred to use his name; he did not want to, but he is a former Brown who knows Savage and Crennel — for a little more insight.
He said: ''I hope Mr. [Randy] Lerner sees through that. Savage picked all the players. Romeo coaches the guys Savage gives him to coach. You get a bunch of kids and not enough smart leaders, then the inmates run the asylum. Does the coach run, catch, tackle, drop passes, blow plays? Who picks those players?''
He wasn't finished.
''The decisions are made by the GM,'' he said. ''The coach coaches who is put in front of him. He doesn't have a choice.''
Kind of like Crennel didn't have a choice on his offensive staff changes before 2007.
''The coaches coach; the GM picks 'em. Bottom line,'' he said. ''If anything, they are tied together.
''I'm not saying RAC is free from question. It's just that everything is not based on the coach. Yes, at times it comes down to scheme, teaching. But if the exact same defense worked in New England, why is it so bad here?
''Duh. The players aren't the same and neither is the guy picking them.
''Look at New England's team. Smart, tough, team guys that play together. Cleveland has talented, young, prima-donna-filled, blown-assignment guys that don't play together or for a common goal. They pick up a paycheck.
''Not all are that way, but enough are to mess things up.
''Now, who picks those guys?''
Well. . .it's not the guy coaching them.
Comments
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Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 06:58 PM, 11/26/2008
I feel for RAC, as you do, Pat. He is a stand-up individual who you can tell works his tail off, and has the undying support of his players. I am disappointed to see him fail. But as someone who watched a couple of "good guys" who weren't getting it done in corporate America, it is the same message: produce, or else.
As for Savage, just another notch in the ole' "Enough about me, what about me?" belt.
Posted 01:02 PM, 12/03/2008
RAC will be picked up by somebody as their defensive coordinator the second the Browns fire him. He just isn't head coach material.
If he goes, then Winslow and Edwards should too.
