Events Calendar
In This Section
Promises look promising for Browns
Browns single-game tickets on sale July 11
Judge asked to release Stallworth crash video
Browns, Clinic sued over staph
More tickets available to Hall of Fame Game
Browns need to put end to secrecy
RIDENOUR: Browns need to put end to secrecy
Most Read Stories
Blogs:
Pets:
Sunburn in canines and felines
The Heldenfiles:
Monday Notebook, New "90210" on DVD
Patrick McManamon:
Another NBA free agent goes to a Cavs competitor
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Northern Illinois
Browns Bulletin:
Single-game ticket sales begin July 11
Tribe Matters:
Marte is IL’s Batter of the Week
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Free Agency Update: Frye in View?
All Da King's Men:
The Obligatory Palin Post
Blog of Mass Destruction:
The "Limbaugh Babies"
Akron Law Café:
The Veil and the Burqa – Constitutional to Ban or Restrict?
Varsity Letters:
Solon’s Baldwin could decide soon
See Jane Style:
Picnic Wear
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
ID My Bug
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jennifer inquires about a bus tour to Atlantic City
Sound Check:
Rundgren fans rejoice!: Second night of AWATS at The Civic added
HRLite House:
DDI One of Best Places to Work
Akron Gamer:
Hot link: Best of Nintendo at E3
With contract extension in hand, Browns GM faces high expectations
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Saturday, May 03, 2008
BEREA: Phil Savage almost didn't survive his first year as Browns general manager.
In December 2005, he found himself caught in a power struggle with team President John Collins that owner Randy Lerner later compared to ''a marriage gone bad.'' Savage was saved by a groundswell of support from fans who remembered him slaving in a windowless room for then-Browns coach Bill Belichick and valued his skills as a talent evaluator.
When Savage signed a three-year contract extension Friday that runs through the 2012 season, he made more than one reference to the loyal followers who came to his rescue.
''I've had unbelievable support. I've got to be the first GM in the history of the league to put a team out there that got beat 41-0 in a home game on Christmas Eve and the fans come out and say, 'This is the guy we want to run our football team,' '' Savage said.
He also acknowledged the difficult task he and coach Romeo Crennel assumed when they came to Cleveland in early 2005. The expansion Browns went 30-66 with one playoff appearance under coaches Chris Palmer and Butch Davis in 1999-2004.
''I'm hopeful we're through the difficult part,'' Savage said. ''People don't realize what a re-clamation project this was, what state the Browns were really in. We've deconstructed the house and now we're kind of reconstructing it and making it into the image we want it to be.
''The fans are slowly but surely getting back on board with us. I know from a personal standpoint they've been very supportive of me, and I appreciate that.''
Coming off a 10-6 season that included a 7-1 home record, Lerner took care of both Savage and Crennel. The coach received a two-year extension Jan. 29 that runs through 2011. Now the two are gearing up for a season that includes five prime-time games.
''I'm happy for Phil, like I was happy for myself,'' Crennel joked. ''That gives us an
opportunity to keep the program going. This year will be a critical year for us because the expectations are greater. We have to perform, we have to produce and we're looking forward to it.''
Savage thought back to Dec. 30, 2005, the day the clash with Collins came to a head and Savage's job seemed doomed. The Browns still had a home game remaining, which they won 20-16 over Baltimore to finish 6-10. Crennel went to bat for Savage, and Collins resigned. He is now the National Hockey League's vice president for business and media.
''It was a tough time,'' Savage said. ''You have a first-time GM, a first-time head coach. You live and learn. Honestly, from a personal standpoint, it probably made me a little stronger. It probably brought our group together, from a personnel standpoint, a coaching staff standpoint. A lot of times when you survive something like that it makes you better.
''I know my relationship with Randy from that Tuesday in the aftermath of that weekend, it's been great, it's been what I hoped it would be from Day 1. It took 11 months to get it there, but it's been fantastic the last 21/2 years.''
Back then, Savage might not have thought he would eventually secure his future — at least financially — for seven years.
''You're always hopeful you're going to improve and get better,'' he said. ''Maybe the extension today is somewhat symbolic that you survived that first wave. If you can just get out of the blocks after three years and survive, maybe you have a chance of sticking around for a while.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Phil Savage almost didn't survive his first year as Browns general manager.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
