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Browns players support coach as rumors fly about his future
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Sep 26, 2008
BEREA: A year ago, the Browns' 10-6 season earned their coach, Romeo Crennel, a contract extension.
Now the injury-ravaged offense has been plagued by poor throws and dropped passes. The defense is missing its best player in safety Sean Jones. The special teams' ace, Joshua Cribbs, is not fully recovered from a high ankle sprain.
The 61-year-old coach is on the hot seat again, criticized for his decision-making and his team's lack of discipline, born out in a tie for the league lead in penalties. Rumors are flying about former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, now in his second season in the CBS broadcast booth, being the next coach.
If Crennel were playing golf, he would be pulling another ball out of his pocket and taking a mulligan. But he's not so sure he deserves one.
''In coaching, that's hard to say. When you see a coach who wins 14 games and gets fired, there are no mulligans there,'' he said, referring to Marty Schottenheimer's demise with the San Diego Chargers. ''We're not playing golf, it's football. I've said it all along, if you win, your chances of staying are better. If you lose, then that's part of this business.''
The Browns visit Cincinnati to play the Bengals on Sunday in a matchup of 0-3 teams. Whether another blowout loss would cost Crennel his job this early in the season seems hard to fathom, especially when there are no logical successors on his staff.
The Browns' chances of making the playoffs might be slim — the most recent 0-3 team to do it was the 1998 Buffalo Bills — but General Manager Phil Savage takes solace in the fact that ''no one is running away and hiding with this division.'' The Baltimore Ravens lead the AFC North at 2-0, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-1.
Crennel elected to start Derek Anderson at quarterback again this week after team adviser Jim Brown said on a radio show Monday that he hoped Crennel would make a change. Brown said the organization was ''in one accord'' that it was time to go to backup Brady Quinn. When Savage was asked about his relationship with Crennel on his weekly radio show on WTAM-AM on Thursday, he didn't directly answer the question or give a ringing endorsement.
It's enough to make one wonder whether tensions are strained behind closed doors in Berea.
''Romeo and I spoke again last night,'' Savage said. ''There's enough blame to go around. Mistakes were made. That starts with me. All of us can do a better job.
''Romeo's not the kind of man who's going to beat the drum and say, 'I did that to help us win.' He's big enough to take the blame and big enough to handle the situation we're in right now. As long as the team plays hard for Romeo and they have a belief in him, then I don't think we have an issue. We just need to win a game.''
Crennel kept his head above the fray, if there is one.
''In house, everybody treats me the same. I treat everybody the same,'' Crennel said. ''We know what business we're in. If you win, people like you more. If you lose, they don't like you as much.
''I have a good relationship with Phil. We talk about this team every day. We want to do whatever we can do to make the Browns better.''
Going through 6-10 and 4-12 seasons his first two years does not make this any easier for Crennel.
''You work your butt off to try to win. When you're not able to win, you're disappointed about it,'' Crennel said. ''You try to figure out why it is and why your team is doing some things that you know they shouldn't be doing. And if you're not able to get 'em out of that, it's really disappointing.''
If Savage worries about whether Crennel has lost the players, the mood seemed far from that Thursday.
''As a player, you feel responsible. We're the ones who go out there and make penalties and fail to execute and don't win games,'' said kicker Phil Dawson, the longest-tenured Browns player. ''Coach really stands tall and takes it on his own shoulders and we respect that a great deal. It's hard because we love RAC, and we feel responsible for the heat he is taking.''
Linebacker Leon Williams said: ''It's not just him all alone. He expects us to win, and he has been staying positive. I stand by the coach. I love playing for RAC.''
Co-captain Hank Fraley said: ''We want to win for him as much as we want to win for ourselves. He's been great to us. I've really liked him.''
Fraley knows an 0-3 start brings more scrutiny but hopes that cooler heads prevail.
''I don't think anybody's in panic mode around here, or looking over our shoulders or anything like that,'' Fraley said. ''You can't panic. That's the last thing you want to do.
''You can't change a season in one day. It's a roller coaster. Right now we're at the bottom of that hill, we just haven't gotten to the exciting part.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: A year ago, the Browns' 10-6 season earned their coach, Romeo Crennel, a contract extension.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 06:02 AM, 09/26/2008
I'll be shocked if he gets through the next 3 games. We need a coach with attitude and one with discipline, not one who flips coins to decide who plays and who doesn't. Get an OFFENSIVE coach too, someone with knowledge of how to use the offensive weapons this team has. We have had way too many defensive coaches that don't have the guts to open up the offensive play book. Look at what Miami did to the Patriots this past weekend just by taking chances and using what they have, and believe me, they don't have much.
Naples, FL
Posted 06:52 AM, 09/26/2008
Many have already turned against DA & RAC. I still support them but think I am like many others who think THIS IS THE WEEK for both of them. It's sink or swim time. Its probably unfair due to all the injuries but that's life in the NFL. Its Do or Die time for both and the Browns as a whole.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:39 AM, 09/26/2008
Fire Crennel already and hire Bill Cowher. The Browns fans deserve better. 0-3 and likely to lose to the Bungals. Fire him during the off week. Start BQ and trade DA away. What looked so promising has turned to sh*t.
Posted 07:43 AM, 09/26/2008
OK - lets start a caption contest for that photo!
Akron, OH
Posted 08:01 AM, 09/26/2008
"I said hold the mayo!" My jaw dropped and I smiled after reading that Cowher would be a possibility as a replacement. Cowher and Quinn, try to win!
Posted 08:02 AM, 09/26/2008
Caption: " I don't mind the swelling, but I can't stand the itching!"....
Wooster, Oh
Posted 09:07 AM, 09/26/2008
The fans are ready for a change but I sincerely doubt they understand how big and wrenching a coaching change is. The Plain Dealer's story today indicates that the players are still solidly behind Crennel. A new coach--a new system? Retain the same assistants? Players on board or demoralized? Crennel can dispose of these questions easily--by winning, and winning some more, and getting the Browns back on track. The Browns management could make a change after a loss to the Bengals, which would give a new coach 2 weeks to get up to speed, but that's possible only if there is someone ready to step in. Otherwise I think Crennel makes it through the season and then, if the results are as dismal as they are to date, he's looking for another job. The Browns would need adequate time to interview and identify someone they want around for a while. Even if the Browns win on Sunday, who have they beaten? Sigh. Cavs are around the corner and the Indians will definitely be better next year...
Posted 09:14 AM, 09/26/2008
If Browns players really wanted to show they support their coach, they would play to their capabilities and win games. No more whining. No more excuses. Every team has injuries. Every team has adversity. Of course the fans get miffed. In the end, they are the ones paying the salaries. The checks may come from the owner, but the revenues come from the people who buy the tickets, concessions, souvenirs, etc. The payout the teams get from the networks -- that comes from the ad dollars generated by sales to the consumers who support their team.
Posted 09:50 AM, 09/26/2008
Caption: "Slow down out there! I need a few minutes to think about kicking a field goal!"
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 09:56 AM, 09/26/2008
Well sure the players like him, he's not a disciplinarian. He's their buddy. They need a coach who will wake up the primadonnas' and kick them right in the arse!
San Antonio, TX
Posted 12:34 PM, 09/26/2008
The objective of this game is to win. Winning is the measure of success in the NFL,coaching and the players. So,if the process is not working that is winning then the quality of the team has to be improved. It is a wonder why the offense and defensive coaches haven't done any benchmarking on other teams where the blitz protection is great and the blitzing on defense is great. Seems like good old fassion coolaberation and brainstorming along with looking film of the Steelers,New England,NY Giants,etc... are the quality in the league to see how they do it and then copy it. It'scalled Process improvement. A must for quality it any ting.
Posted 12:41 PM, 09/26/2008
Romeo needs to go - DA needs to go - they need a new coach and new offense coach - they need DISCIPLINE is what they really need.
Posted 01:40 PM, 09/26/2008
I agree that Romeo needs to go, but I don't see the Browns making a change during the season. There isn't enough time for a new coach to implement his system & schemes. I can't believe Romeo isn't smart enough to make a change NOW at QB. Sure it's not all Anderson's fault, but his play speaks for itself (he has the second worst QB rating in the entire league). He's decided to wait until Anderson throws a few picks & the game is out of reach before he brings Quinn in (what a joke). If they don't beat Cinci, it's going to be a long year!
Posted 01:40 PM, 09/26/2008
CAPTION: "EASY EASY...THERE IS STILL ENOUGH TIME TO WIN"
Posted 02:29 PM, 09/26/2008
The players comments reveal what is wrong with Crennel. The players like him they don't respect him. Do you think players like Bill Parcells? Hell no. But they respect him. Even Marty players respected. Crennel's team is filled with talented but immature players (i.e. winslow, edwards) who need a strong hand to help them understand what it takes to truly be a star in this league. Plus, Crennel is so bad on the fundamentals as the penalties demonstrate. This is simply an unprepared team week to week. I would fire Crennel now and sign Cowher today. Let him take the team the rest of the year. What have we got to lose? And for God's sake start Brady Quinn. Anderson should never have been resigned and we lost our chance to trade him for draft picks. Nice job Phil.
Posted 03:00 PM, 09/26/2008
Everyone loves a winner. We all hate losers especially in Cleveland. Cleveland is a football town and always will be. I don't think it's totally necessary to dismantle the coaching staff and get rid of Derek Anderson. They need to get their line back together and get healthy and play football the way they did last year. I think it's a little premature but if they lose to Cincinnati then maybe it is time to make some changes. Its only game four. Go Browns!
Wooster, Oh
Posted 03:10 PM, 09/26/2008
CAPTION: "Get down, get down, you could get hurt trying to make a play!"
Posted 03:32 PM, 09/26/2008
If 0-3 does not put them in panic mode they all need to be working elsewhere. GO BENGALS!! Its the only way for Romeo to go and BQ to get some action!!
Posted 10:18 PM, 09/26/2008
romeo was slow to can carthon, slow to decide fry/da/bq fate and now slow on da/bq. he takes loyalty to new heights even if it is misguided.makes his decisions by not making decisions
Posted 08:48 AM, 09/27/2008
I won't be surprised if he is still here after a 6 and 10 season. That's Cleveland. It's the same thing every year, and one of the biggest reasons why is that the entire town is defeated. Why can't we close in the World Series or NBA finals? Because we don't have sports teams with a mind to win like the other towns. Minnesota is the same way. We need a GM with the nads to go and get it-whatever the cost. Boston's GM comes out as an arrogant punk, and he may be, but he has the nads to do what he needed to do to win, plain as day. Cleveland will always be like this. It will be a cold day in h#ll before we get management that understands what it takes to close the deal, hammer the other team in the Super Bowl, sweep the WS, that's what I am talking about...not this squeek by to make the playoffs, lose down the road stuff. Winning is in the head and it becomes action. My suggestion is to find another team for the near term, maybe Miami? Did Tuna ever lose when he was able to call the shots over a decent period of time? Cowher is not the answer either, it's the GM and management. Romeo may find a fair shake in his next job, but in this one he will probably leave like Butch.
Posted 09:41 AM, 09/27/2008
Caption: Hold on! I'm gonna blow!
Posted 03:36 PM, 09/27/2008
DA needed to go before the season started. Now we are strapped with him getting paid what he is as a backup. Injuries have made Crennel look really bad. Who knows where we would be right now if there were no injuries and if we had a more stable preseason. I'm not going to say that everything is Crennel's fault, but he is the one that needs to take the blame. He needs to get this team healthy and to win out. If Cower would come to Cleveland that would be a good thing. I think his football philosophy would fit in well with this team and would set a fire under their asses....although I have hated him in the past, especially when he didn't shake hands with Butch Davis....
Posted 01:34 AM, 09/28/2008
"My team needs to eat some vitamins and drink some milk!!" I may be hallucinating, but I could have sworn someone above said Marty Schottenheimer's players respected him. Comical in every sense... Crennel is shaky, but the season isnt over and there are 13 games to play. All this BS seems to be an overreaction, especially considering the Browns lost to 2 Superbowl contenders and a resurgent Baltimore team. Then again, patience isnt a Cleveland virtue. Whining about coaches? Now THAT is a Cleveland fans specialty...
Posted 01:38 AM, 09/28/2008
Cowher snubbing Butch Davis would be the same as Jim Tressel snubbing Lloyd Carr... he's earned the right...
Posted 09:55 AM, 09/28/2008
I was so happy when DA became a free agent that morning months back. Then, not even two hours into his free agency, he resigns with the Browns. It was then a low point. Why did he elect to become a free agent? Money. Why did he resign with Cleveland? No better offers out there.
Posted 10:04 AM, 09/28/2008
Thank you.
