The Browns’ new regime of owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner fired coach Pat Shurmur and General Manager Tom Heckert on Monday morning. Here are reactions from some of the players:
On Shurmur: “I’ve never seen a coach with that much on his plate in two years. To handle it the way he did and to manage it day-to-day the way he did and to not let the distractions from outside come in and infiltrate the locker room, you couldn’t have asked for more out of him. You talk about a lockout, young roster, sale of the team, players facing suspensions, there was a lot of stuff on his plate. He handled it very, very well.” — linebacker Scott Fujita
On Heckert: “I told him yesterday, ‘Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play in the NFL.’ That was a big step for me. He got my career started. He was the guy who brought me to the league, so I told him thanks for all that.” — running back Montario Hardesty
On their departures: “It’s unfortunate, very unfortunate. It’s part of this business. It’s an unfortunate part of this business. When you don’t win games, it’s not on Pat, it’s not on Mr. Heckert. It’s all on us, and we all feel a sense of responsibility. It’s just very unfortunate news.” — quarterback Brandon Weeden
On Shurmur: “I’m not saying Pat Shurmur wasn’t a good coach. He was a good coach for the start and the two years he was here. But the type of coach I’ve been around, he’s always been hard-nosed, and I’m not saying that Pat wasn’t, but it’s what you expect in a great coach.” — running back Trent Richardson
On another regime change: “It’s unfortunate for the city and for the fans, the fact that you kind of have to start over. But we’re very optimistic that this time will be the charm. … There needs to be some progress pretty soon or people will start to grumble again.” — tight end Benjamin Watson
On what kind of coach the Browns need: “I think they definitely need a coach with strong leadership. This will be a young team next year. A coach that comes in with strong leadership and discipline will definitely benefit this organization.” — Watson
On Shurmur and Heckert leaving: “It’s kind of hard knowing that everyone who brought you in are now gone. No one’s job is secure. That’s how everyone feels in the locker room. As long as you keep improving and doing your job, that’s all you could really do.” — strong safety T.J. Ward
On if the change could set you back: “It could. Anything is possible, but it could go to the moon, too. This is a time when you really don’t know, and you have to just wait and see what happens in the next few weeks and work with whoever they bring in here.” — Ward
On the farewell Monday morning: “I didn’t get a chance to speak to Tom [Heckert], but Coach Shurmur was very emotional, and that’s what I would expect from somebody that pours their heart into it. You can almost say this is his life. This is what he wakes up to and does every day.” — wide receiver Greg Little
On relationship with Shurmur: “He was a guy I could come to and really talk about football. He’s just a great football mind. You could sit down and discuss the ins and outs of the offense. That’s how he really helped me.” — Little
On the overhaul of the organization: “It’s all tough when you have change. Change could be better or it could be worse. You never know what you’re going to get. All you can do is do your job.” — defensive end Jabaal Sheard
