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Do IT this week: Layering
Lerner says ex-coach isn't ruling out possibility
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008
BEREA: Romeo Crennel did not rule out accepting an assistant's position when owner Randy Lerner broached the idea after firing him as Browns coach Monday.
''There is a chance. I discussed that with him,'' Lerner said. ''I asked him specifically if there were circumstances under which he'd be interested in coaching at the Browns and he said there were.
''I get along very well with Romeo. It's a very important relationship for me and he knows that. He's a gentleman through and through. He said he understood, and wanted to wait and see what happens around here.''
Crennel and General Manager Phil Savage were let go after compiling a 24-40 record in four years, including 4-12 in 2008, the third season with double-digit losses.
But Crennel has three years remaining on a contract that pays him $4 million a year and could accept the defensive coordinator's job if Lerner lands New England Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli as general manager. In that instance, Pioli could hire a current or former Patriots assistant like offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels or Eric Mangini, just fired as New York Jets coach.
But it was Mangini who allegedly blew the whistle on Belichick's practice of taping defensive signals in
the 2007 ''Spygate'' controversy, which might have also led to a falling-out with Pioli.
Lerner also retained the coaches under contract on Crennel's staff, but offered them the opportunity to interview elsewhere. Asked whether some could stay, Lerner said, ''Oh, God, yeah.''
Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski also has three years remaining on his contract at $2.7 million a year, a deal that made him among the highest- paid assistants in the league. That's the same reported figure as Savage's average salary, although his contract has four years remaining.
At those rates, the payoff for Savage, Crennel and Chudzinski alone would be $30.9 million.
Players speak out
Left tackle Joe Thomas said Crennel spoke to the team at noon Monday and it was ''almost like a normal meeting would be at the end of the year, how we've got things to work on.''
Quarterback Brady Quinn said, ''It says a lot about someone when they're going through adversity yet they're able to continue to do their job. That really said a lot about coach Crennel, just who he is as a person.''
Quinn didn't think it would be strange for Crennel to stay on. Crennel had been a defensive coordinator for five years for the Browns (2000) and Patriots (2001-04) when he came back to Cleveland.
''Maybe it would be weird for him not having the type of role he's had,'' Quinn said. ''I know all the players love having him around, I think they would be at peace with that.''
Savage addressed the team after Sunday's 31-0 season-ending loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, even though Lerner said he had been fired the day before.
''He wanted to thank us for our efforts and said it was unfortunate the way it worked out,'' Quinn said. ''This is one of the most unlucky years I've ever seen or ever been a part of in football.''
Turning point
Asked what was the turning point with Savage, Lerner said conversations in the past two weeks convinced him their ''management styles'' were not compatible. He defined that as ''how this place is run from a leadership perspective. Identity, leadership, communication.''
At the end of last week, Savage asked Lerner where he stood.
''I read through the last set of e-mail exchanges and felt it was running the risk of going around in circles,'' Lerner said.
He added that the issue of Savage accepting a reduced role ''really didn't come up in the conversation.''
Savage was the Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel when the Browns hired him. But Lerner does not consider that a mistake.
''No. When I look back, the priority was to get players and he had a very, very impressive background that met that need,'' Lerner said. ''Four years later, we have a significantly improved roster.''
Lerner did not want to get into whether Savage's contract would be fully paid, which he might be able to contest because of Savage's e-mail to a disgruntled fan that contained an abbreviated expletive.
''I'm not dodging [the question], I think you get into a whole other kind of conversation,'' Lerner said. Asked whether Savage and Crennel would be compensated for their contracts, Lerner said, ''I would expect.''
Quinn update
Quinn said he has a Jan. 15 appointment in Birmingham, Ala., with Thomas Hunt, who operated on his fractured right index finger Dec. 3. Quinn has been back once for a routine checkup after being hurt in his second career start Nov. 17 against the Bills in Buffalo.
''It's doing great, it's healing well. I could possibly get the pins out earlier than expected,'' Quinn said. ''We'll see about that in probably a week or so.''
Asked when he'll be back to normal, Quinn said, ''I'll be 100 percent the day after the pins come out. I don't know exactly, maybe a week after that. I'll be throwing a ton, I'll tell you that much.''
No comment
Quinn did not deny but declined to comment about his reported altercation with defensive lineman Shaun Smith in the weight room before the Dec. 21 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith reportedly punched Quinn in the face.
''That incident is over now. We're past that,'' Quinn said. ''I think we've got a lot more important things in front of us right now.''
Browns to pick fifth
The Browns will hold the fifth pick in the April 25-26 NFL Draft, according to a list released by the league office. Standing ahead of them are the Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks.
Opponents set
After finishing last in the AFC North, the Browns will host the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings in 2009, along with their division foes. The road schedule includes games against the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. They play the entire AFC West and NFC North.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Romeo Crennel did not rule out accepting an assistant's position when owner Randy Lerner broached the idea after firing him as Browns coach Monday.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 08:54 AM, 12/30/2008
With the soft schedule coming up next year somebody could end up looking like a genius.
akron, oh
Posted 10:21 AM, 12/30/2008
One question WHY?
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 11:55 AM, 12/30/2008
Why? Is it the "politically correct" thing to do or does someone think that Crennel has the ability to perform such a job?
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 11:56 AM, 12/30/2008
Looks like Detroit will get a win next year.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 11:59 AM, 12/30/2008
i agree with kiddo....why?
randy lerner has proven even idiots can own NFL teams and be billionaires
yeah, keep the losing image intact....very wise, if you never want a winner
randy lerner deserves the product he has. this proves it.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 01:41 PM, 12/30/2008
Why? - because the Browns' owner Randy Lerner has no idea how to run a NFL franchise. You get rid of the garbage, not keep it around to stink up Berea.
Akron, OH
Posted 02:12 PM, 12/30/2008
You've got to be kidding! Why in the world would Mr. Lerner want him back in any capacity? Didn't he do enough damage to this team already? He certainly isn't a defensive genius, despite all the hype. Look at our defense! Our defense stunk! And although I dislike him with a passion, (he almost ruined football for me when he was here as our coach), methinks Belichek was always the brains behind the Patriots defense, not Crennel. Good grief! Say it isn't so, Mr. Lerner.
