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Home > Blogs > Dawging the Browns > Archives > 2008 > January
January 2008
Chris Palmer in the Super Bowl?
If the Patriots and Giants win their respective conference championship games, two former Browns head coaches will be in the Super Bowl.
You know about Bill Belichick. But there’s also Chris Palmer, the Browns’ first head coach when they came back into the league in 1999. He’s in his first season as quarterbacks coach for the Giants.
Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, with his job on the line, turned to Palmer in hopes of unlocking Eli Manning’s potential, and it seems to have worked.
And I guess you’d have to feel good for Palmer, a decent guy, even though he crashed and burned as a head coach, compiling a 5-27 record in two seasons.
Not that Palmer had much to work with, but some guys just aren’t cut out to be head coaches and he seems to have been one of them. But as an assistant, Palmer has been something of a guru over the years, helping to mold Drew Bledsoe, Mark Brunell and other quarterbacks.
Even Tim Couch had begun to make strides under Palmer’s tutelage in 2000 before breaking his thumb in practice halfway through the season, if you’ll recall.
The Giants have other Cleveland connections. Their center is Shaun O’Hara, who broke in with the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers.
What I remember about O’Hara is that he never shied away from the media. Never said much of anything, but at least he didn’t mind having the occasional camera or tape recorder in his face.
He always seemed happy to be in the NFL, and you can’t say that about everybody. No surprise that the Cleveland chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association one year bestowed its “Good Guy Award” on O’Hara, the same award won this past season by placekicker Phil Dawson.
Another ex-Brown with the Giants is running back Reuben Droughns, who had one good season in Cleveland, then fell apart. He’s a backup/special teamer with New York, which means the Tim Carter-for Droughns deal was as much a dud for the Giants as for the Browns.
There’s also long snapper Ryan Kuehl, whose leaving via free agency inspired then-Browns coach Butch Davis to draft current Browns long snapper Ryan Pontbriand in the fifth round in 2003 amid much ridicule. That “trade” has worked out better.
A little respect for D.A. please?
Derek Anderson is still the starting quarterback at last check, but that hasn’t stopped Cleveland Magazine from putting backup Brady Quinn on its January cover, along with Joe Thomas.
The players are included in the magazine’s “Our Most Interesting People” feature, which spotlights men and women from all walks of life in Northeast Ohio.
A “Hangin’ With Brady and Joe” interview with Thomas and Quinn is being billed as “exclusive,” which is ridiculous because neither player is exactly a hermit and both rookies were generous with their time this season.
“Exclusive” photos of the players also are promised.
Quinn is doing quite well for a guy whose NFL resume consists of about 10 plays. He has at least one national commercial and a couple of local ones. And now a magazine cover, which the Browns are, in fact, promoting on their Web site.
Imagine the fuss that will be made if Quinn ever gets to play regularly next season or the year after.
Thomas deserves the attention, of course. He could have been Rookie of the Year if offensive linemen weren’t so invisible. The No. 3 overall draft pick from Wisconsin started all 16 games, was on the field for every offensive snap and did not allow a sack on his way to the Pro Bowl.
Tucker promotion official
Well, that didn’t take long, did it?
The Browns today named secondary coach Mel Tucker defensive coordinator, as speculated in this space yesterday.
He replaces Todd Grantham, who was fired Friday after three years on the job.
Tucker, who has been coaching the defensive backs since head coach Romeo Crennel’s arrival in 2005, received a two-year contract extension and is signed through 2010.
“We are excited to have Mel as our defensive coordinator,” Crennel said. “He has a football plan, life plan, coaches the fundamentals and relates well with the players. I believe he will be successful in this new role.”
“Relates well with the players” is believed to be the part that most separates Tucker from Grantham. He’ll be less of a yell-and-scream guy, his temperament being more along the lines of Tony Dungy’s.
Tucker, 36, is a Cleveland native who was co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State before joining the Browns.
“I would like to thank (owner) Randy Lerner, (GM) Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel for the opportunity to be the defensive coordinator for my hometown team,” said Tucker. “I’m looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and I’m confident with hard work we can improve our defense. We have a great group of players on this team and my familiarity with them will be an asset.”
Not that it’s worked very well the past three seasons, but the Browns are expected to continue employing a 3-4 defense under Tucker.
Tucker coached at Ohio State University for four seasons (2001-04) and also spent one year as the defensive backs coach at Louisiana State. He began coaching as a graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1997 and 1998 before taking the defensive backs coach position at Miami (Ohio) University in 1999.
Grantham’s star fades fast
Secondary coach Mel Tucker, widely respected among the players, is being mentioned as a possible replacement for defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who was fired Friday after three seasons.
In a statement issued through the team, head coach Romeo Crennel explained the firing this way: “Todd has worked extremely hard during his three seasons with the Browns. Following our discussions after the season, it was decided that it was in the best interests of the organization to move in a different direction.”
So much for hard work. Make no mistake, this is definitely a firing as opposed to some mutual parting of the ways. It was as if the team could not wait to get rid of Grantham, whose bio was quickly expunged from the on-line media guide.
The defense was horrible this season, so the move is by no means a stunner except for the fact that Grantham had been held in high enough esteem to warrant a two-year contract extention in June, taking him through the 2009 season along with Crennel.
Talk about your falling stars. It wasn’t so long ago, remember, that Grantham was being rumored, and perhaps groomed, as a possible successor to Crennel, maybe by about Week 6 if the season had played out a little differently.
The Browns finished 10-6, but they did it almost in spite of their defense, which allowed 402 points (fourth-most in team history) and 5,753 total yards (second-most).
In overall defense (total yards), the Browns ranked 30th in the league, which is another way of saying only two teams were worse.
The Browns were 24th against the pass and gave up 29 touchdown passes. Opponents completed 340 passes, second-most since the team was hatched in 1946.
Against the run, the Browns ranked 30th, 29th and 27th in Grantham’s three years.
So something had to change.
Acting on Grantham’s recommendations, the Browns even signed defensive end Robaire Smith and linebacker Antwan Peek in free agency last offseason, but while both players had their moments in ‘07, neither could save the coach’s job.
The defense played better toward the end, but maybe it was more the result of Crennel, who made his NFL reputation as a defensive coordinator, taking more of an active role in making the defensive calls. Crennel denies this, but until a better explanation comes along, it would seem entirely plausible.
If Tucker gets the job, his familiarity with the personnel would be helpful, although he would be an on-the-job trainee, having never been a coordinator at this level. Crennel offered no hints.
Tucker, who coached at Ohio State before joining the Browns, is considered one of the league’s rising stars among defensive assistants. Then again, at one time, that also could be said about Grantham.
Lerner made the right call
At his press conference Wednesday, GM Phil Savage praised owner Randy Lerner for his role in helping turn the team around.
But doesn’t Lerner live in New York? Doesn’t he just show up for the games so he can hang around with Jim Brown? What could he possibly have done?
Well, the biggest thing Lerner did was keep Savage in power when it looked like he’d be vacating the premises after only one season.
Back in January 2006, Lerner’s hand-picked team president, John Collins, was suggesting Savage spend more time around the office rather than doing what he knows best, which is scouting college talent and using the contacts he’s developed during more than a decade in the personnel business.
Lerner wisely sided with Savage and dumped Collins, who had been his buddy from some NFL committee on which they both sat.
Absent that decision, the Browns undoubtedly would be a ship adrift at the moment rather than poised to become a Super Bowl contender next season after falling one win short of the playoffs this season.
Lerner saw a mistake (Collins) and moved to correct it.
“I think behind the scenes, he’s making a lot of things happen as an owner,” Savage said of Lerner. “I think it has gone unnoticed somewhat, that a quality owner hires people, tries to get out of the way, tries to support when necessary, and at this particular time he has a winning team in the Browns.
“I think it’s exciting for him. I think he’s enjoying being part of it and obviously seeing it all come together. I think it starts at the top. I feel good and I think we all feel good about what Randy has done. It goes back to last year.”
Actually, it goes back to whichever day in January 2006 that it dawned on Lerner that Savage should stay and Collins should try to do something else for a living than be president of an NFL team.
Someone else sits in Collins’ chair these days. You don’t know his name. That’s the way it should be.
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Savage sound bites
At his state-of-the-Browns postseason news conference Wednesday, General Manager Phil Savage touched on a variety of topics.
Of greatest importance, he confirmed a contract extension for head coach Romeo Crennel is in the works and that he’d like to retain both quarterbacks, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, through at least next season if possible.
It seems that the only reason it won’t be possible is if a team offers Anderson a so-called “poison pill” contract, pricing the Browns out of the running. But Savage said he hopes to have Anderson signed before he can become an unrestricted free agent in late February, thus taking care of that problem.
On other matters, Savage:
Talked about free agency: “We have the (salary-cap) room and flexibility that if we want to get into that game, we can do it. It depends on who is out there.”
Left open the possibility of dealing their 2009 first-round draft pick to recoup the 2008 first-rounder it cost to get Quinn: “I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
Saw a bright future for the team: “I think we can safely say that we have turned the page and have put a winning environment, a winning culture in place. I feel like our window is just opening now.”
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Three to Hawaii … and counting
The team’s Pro Bowl contingent swelled to three on Tuesday when rookie offensive tackle Joe Thomas was named to the AFC squad, replacing the injured Jason Peters of the Buffalo Bills.
Thomas had been a first alternate. Now he’ll join receiver Braylon Edwards and kick returner Joshua Cribbs in Hawaii the week after the Super Bowl.
“This is truly an honor,” Thomas said in a statement released by the team.
It’s well-deserved for Thomas, who, after being drafted No. 3 overall out of Wisconsin, played every down this season and started all 16 games at left tackle.
With Thomas and free-agent signee Eric Steinbach anchoring the left side of the line, the Browns allowed 19 sacks, tied for third fewest in franchise history.
Thomas is the first Browns offensive lineman named to the Pro Bowl since Cody Risien following the 1987 season and the first rookie since Chip Banks after the 1982 season.
The last time the Browns had three or more players named to the Pro Bowl was following the 1994 season when six made it.
There’s a chance another Browns player could go to Hawaii. Steinbach, quarterback Derek Anderson and tight end Kellen Winslow are also first alternates.
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Sigh of relief … Chud stays
When General Manager Phil Savage conducts his postseason press conference Wednesday, he will not have to answer questions about who the new offensive coordinator is going to be.
The current coordinator, the man mainly responsible for turning the offense from a weekly sleeping pill to one of the more exciting units in the NFL, is sticking around.
Rob Chudzinski on Monday agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season.
Chudzinski had been scheduled to interview for the Baltimore Ravens head coaching position.
“It was important to keep Rob (Chudzinski) in place to maintain our continuity on that side of the ball,” Savage said. “He did a terrific job this year and we’re looking forward to what this group can accomplish next season.”
Chudzinski was named Browns offensive coordinator Jan. 20, 2007. The Browns offense ranked eighth in the NFL with 25.1 points per game and 351.3 yards per game.
The offense also totaled 402 points and 5,621 net yards during the 2007 campaign - both the third highest in franchise history.
“Rob did a really good job in his first year as offensive coordinator,” head coach Romeo Crennel said. “He was knowledgeable with the system, had a good relationship with the players and I’m glad he will remain with the organization.”
Under “Chud,” WR Braylon Edwards set team marks for receiving yards (1,289) and touchdown receptions (16), and for the first time in franchise history two receivers topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark as Edwards and TE Kellen Winslow (1,106) both accomplished this feat and RB Jamal Lewis rushed for 1,304 yards, seventh highest in franchise annals.
Also, the Browns offensive line allowed only 19 sacks on the year, tied for third fewest in team history.
“I would like to thank Ozzie Newsome and the Baltimore Ravens organization for considering me as a candidate for their head coaching position. However, at this time it was the best decision for me both personally and professionally to stay in Cleveland and continue the rebuilding process with the Browns,” Chudzinski said in a statement issued by the Browns.
“I’m pleased with the progress we made as an offensive unit this season and I feel this team is headed in the right direction.”
That noise you just heard is a big sigh of relief from Browns fans everywhere.
So it ain’t so, Chud
GM Phil Savage seems resigned to losing offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski to a head coaching job.
My thinking on that is: Rip up his contract, promote him to assistant head coach and make him an offer he can’t refuse.
Will that work? Maybe not. But let’s not let the best offensive mind to come through here since Bernie Kosar get away so easily, OK?
And you don’t want to lose him to the division rival Baltimore Ravens, of all teams, right?
That’s why it was encouraging Sunday on one of the pregame shows to hear the Ravens are considering about six candidates for their vacant head coaching spot, including Marty Schottenheimer, who might want to get back in the game after a year off.
If Chudzinski leaves, the Browns will need to act quickly and snap up somebody like Cam Cameron, who was a bust as a head coach with Miami but was the San Diego Chargers’ offensive coordinator last season when they went 14-2.
Cameron would allow the Browns to have at least some continuity going forward. Chudzinski and Cameron worked together in San Diego and Chudzinski brought many of the same principles to Cleveland.
Not to hold the guy back, but here’s hoping the Ravens consider Chudzinski too young and inexperienced to succeed the fired Brian Billick.
And you’d like to think Chudzinski would consider staying just to see how much better this offense ultimately can become and how far the team can go.
You would think he’d have at least some sense of unfinished business here, especially considering the Browns didn’t make the playoffs.
Did collusion sink Browns?
Publicly anyway, the team is not crying foul over allegations of collusion between the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans late in Sunday night’s game.
“We have no comment on conspiracy theories or rumors,” Browns spokesperson Amy Palcic said. “At this time there’s no thought of filing a grievance.”
That would be one option, however, after Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins strongly implied Thursday that the teams’ coaches had an under-the-table agreement in the waning moments of Tennessee’s victory.
The outcome secured a playoff spot for the Titans and knocked the Browns out of contention.
Collins, speaking to New York radio station WFAN, said he was told to take a knee with the Titans leading 16-10 because Titans coach Jeff Fisher knew Colts coach Tony Dungy would not call a timeout.
A timeout possibly would have forced the Titans to punt with less than 20 seconds left in the game, giving the Colts one last chance to save the Browns’ season.
Not that anyone would have expected awful Colts backup quarterback Jim Sorgi to author some sort of miracle, but still . . .
“Apparently there was some communication between Jeff and Tony,” Collins told the radio station.
And that’s the issue that needs to be explored. Jeff and Tony are not allowed to have that kind of communication.
The Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel reported that Fisher said he knew Dungy wouldn’t use the timeout. Fisher also said the Colts would have gotten the ball back with 25 seconds left but down nine because Tennessee would have kicked another field goal, the newspaper reported.
Uh . . . field goals can be blocked, right? And, on the rare occasion, returned for touchdowns, right?
It won’t change anything, but you’d hope the Browns at least would explore this behind the scenes, collusion being against NFL rules and all.
And if the sainted Dungy didn’t pull out all the stops to win due to some “arrangement” with Fisher, some action needs to be taken, wouldn’t you think?
A look at the roster
By now you’ve digested the fact that the Browns are just the fourth 10-win team not to qualify for the NFL playoffs. Here’s a look at how their roster breaks down. Players are ranked on the basis of value, taking into consideration this past season’s accomplishments and what might lie ahead:
Derek Anderson, QB. Team MVP according to the Cleveland chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association of America. Sure, he choked against the Bengals when it truly mattered, but only one Browns quarterback (Brian Sipe with 30 in 1980) has thrown more touchdown passes in a single season. Mind-boggling why fans seem to be down on him. He becomes a restricted free agent in late February if the Browns don’t give him a new deal by then. Might be most valuable as trade bait. It was interesting to hear head coach Romeo Crennel say “he” would listen to trade offers, as if he, not GM Phil Savage, has the final say on any such decisions, which we know is untrue.
Jamal Lewis, RB. So much for those concerns about his age and durability. Yes, there was still gas in the tank, more than 1,300 yards worth. Is he worth re-signing? No question. Should have been done yesterday.
Braylon Edwards, WR. Set single-season Browns records for TD catches and receiving yards on his way to the Pro Bowl. Stayed healthy all year, massaged his public profile a little and showed why the Browns made him the No. 3 overall pick in ‘05.
Joe Thomas, OT. Pro Bowl alternate as a rookie kind of says it all. Guy’s a stud for the next decade. Mark it down.
Kellen Winslow, TE. Might need more offseason surgery, but what a talent. You wonder how good he would be by now if he never got on that motorcycle.
Joshua Cribbs, KR/WR. Provided good field position again and again on his way to the Pro Bowl. Only the second player ever to average more than 30 yards on kickoff returns and 13 yards on punt returns in the same season. TV show, “Josh’s Cribs,” needs some work, but the one where he went to the dentist was funny. And how many kick returners have TV shows anyway?
Eric Steinbach, G. Meshed with Thomas on the left side of the line from the first day they were together.
Brady Quinn, QB. Possible ‘08 starter depending on what happens with Anderson. Those eight snaps he took in the season finale whet the fans’ appetite for more.
Leigh Bodden, CB. Battled through injuries — and bad publicity surrounding an airport arrest — to lead the team in interceptions.
Eric Wright, CB. A cornerback who can tackle. Who knew? And wasn’t this rookie supposed to be a big character risk?
Phil Dawson, K. Anytime you knock Lou Groza out of the record book, you’re doing something. Best season yet. Deserved a trip to Hawaii.
Joe Jurevicius, WR. Unsung hero of the offense. All this veteran does is catch first downs. And the guy can block.
Kamerion Wimbley, OLB. A quieter second year, but still productive. Another pass rusher is needed to take some of the pressure off.
Shaun Smith, DL. A steal from the Bengals in free agency, much like Steinbach. And he talks … and talks … and talks. Lightens the mood.
Robaire Smith, DE. Better than Alvin McKinley, the man he replaced.
Dave Zastudil, P. One of the better ones around, that 7-yarder in the blizzard aside.
Sean Jones, S. Brings it against the run. Improving against the pass.
Brandon McDonald, CB. Nice fifth-round find out of Memphis. Ball skills aplenty.
Hank Fraley, C. Anchor of the offensive line for two years now. Wouldn’t know it to look at him, but this guy can run a little.
Brodney Pool, S. Struggled early in first year as a full-time starting safety, but the future is bright.
Willie McGinest, OLB. If he tackles Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, the Browns are in the playoffs.
D’Qwell Jackson, LB. Undersized second-year player has a nose for the football.
Kevin Shaffer, OT. Adapted smoothly to right tackle after early concerns about footwork.
Andra Davis, LB. Steady veteran who hurt his ankle in training camp and wasn’t quite the same.
Leon Williams, LB. Spelled Davis, mainly on passing downs. Another middle-round winner for Savage.
Ethan Kelley, NT. Replaced Ted Washington in mid-season and was an improvement until knee injury landed him on IR.
Steve Heiden, TE. Versatile backup was mainly a blocker. Great attitude.
Ryan Tucker, OL. Served four-game steroid suspension at the outset, then jumped in at RG when Seth McKinney went down.
Orpheus Roye, DE. The end may be near for this veteran campaigner.
Lawrence Vickers, FB. Not big for the position, needs to catch the ball better.
Simon Fraser, DE. Ohio State product too often gets pushed backward. Future likely limited to backup duty.
Jason Wright, RB. Did the job when called upon.
Ken Dorsey, QB. Didn’t take a snap, but contributed in the classroom. A future coach.
Antwan Peek, OLB. Bit of a disappointment, mainly due to injuries that kept popping up.
Jerome Harrison, RB. Inactive for all but a couple of games, he produced when given the chance. Too soon to write him off.
Daven Holly, CB. Feisty cornerback from the University of Cincinnati lost playing time to Wright and McDonald.
Zach Sorensen. S. Became a special teams demon after being signed off the scrap heap.
Lennie Friedman, OL. Versatile lineman helped spring Cribbs on kickoff returns.
Ryan Pontbriand, LS. Another near-flawless season for the long snapper from Rice.
Chaun Thompson, LB. A leftover second-round bust from the Butch Davis era who excelled on special teams.
Seth McKinney, G. Weak link on the line before getting hurt. An afterthought after Tucker took over.
Nat Dorsey, OT. The best kind of backup tackle is the one who never plays and Dorsey was perfect for that role.
David McMillan, LB. A special teams stalwart, but nothing more apparently.
Darnell Dinkins, TE. Penalty flags seemed to find him at the worst possible times.
Tim Carter, WR. No, they didn’t get much for Reuben Droughns, did they?
Travis Wilson, WR. Painful third-round bust, it would appear. Couldn’t even beat out Carter.
Kris Griffin, LB. Did well on special teams before going on IR.
Charles Ali, FB. Bigger than Vickers, if that means anything for the future.
Ted Washington, NT. Not likely to return after missing half the season with a knee injury.
Mike Adams, S. Veteran backup acquitted himself well on special teams.
Matt Stewart, LB. Elbow surgery ended his season before it began.
Efrem Hill, WR. Spent the season in IR but showed potential in training camp.
Syndric Steptoe, WR. Great name, no game.
Melila Purcell, DT. Activated late in the year. Could be better than Chase Pittman.
Chase Pittman, DL. LSU kid with a mean streak. At least he never smiled in the locker room.
Kenny Wright, CB. Useless cog who probably won’t be back.
Isaac Sowells, G. Telling that they turned to Tucker instead of him when McKinney went down.
Steve Sanders, WR. Spent entire season on the practice squad. Smart kid from Cleveland with good hands. Could emerge.
Marvin Philip, OL. Late-season addition with some upside.
LeCharles Bentley, C. Have to wonder if he’ll ever play for the Browns after missing another season.
Louis Leonard, DL. Worth a shot with d-line in shambles.
Bobby Hamilton, DL. Shambles? Twelve-year veteran started season finale a few days after signing.
Gary Baxter, CB. Inspirational comeback story contained everything but a return to the field. See Bentley.
Ricardo Colclough, DB/KR. Cribbs insurance, but never needed.
Keith Adams, LB. Just another guy on the NFL special-teams carousel.
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Consider the bar raised
The good news is that we now know General Manager Phil Savage has a plan that’s working and that head coach Romeo Crennel knows what he’s doing.
When a team goes 10-22 in two seasons, it’s only natural to wonder about those things, especially when Savage and Crennel had never held those positions before in the NFL.
You’ve got to consider 10-6 a great year, even without a trip to the playoffs. A great year if you just base it on last season’s 4-12 record.
And they should be back knocking on the door of a playoff spot again next year despite a more demanding schedule resulting from their second-place finish.
The Browns are an ascending team. Their offense is one of the league’s best with the potential to get better. No, the defense wasn’t good, but you’ve got to like some of their younger players, such as Eric Wright, Sean Jones, Brodney Pool, Kamerion Wimbley, D’Qwell Jackson, Shaun Smith and Leon Williams, and how they played toward the end. There’s a solid core, it just needs some help.
Two issues will dominate the offseason conversation. First, how many years and dollars do you give free agent running back Jamal Lewis? Second, what do you do with quarterback Derek Anderson, who is a restricted free agent?
They’ll listen to offers for Anderson, of course, because they have Brady Quinn in the wings. No big story there. And it’ll be tempting to let Anderson go if they can recoup the first-round draft pick they shipped to Dallas for the right to draft Quinn.
In free agency and the draft, it’s no secret the Browns will be looking for defensive help up front. Smith is next year’s nose tackle and Robaire Smith is your right end, but Orpheus Roye can’t be counted on at left end and there’s no depth.
Whatever they do, the bar has been raised. But missing the playoffs, ironically, allows more room for growth.
Crennel, by the way, would be crazy to leave Cleveland now, so I doubt there’s anything to those rumors that he’s bound for the Miami Dolphins to serve at the elbow of Bill Parcells.
Unless some huge rift arises between Crennel and Savage or an existing rift that we don’t know about widens, I’d say the chances of Crennel being the head coach anywhere but Cleveland for the next several years are remote.
And I’m not sure a big line will be forming to work for Parcells, a Hall of Fame coach who probably will be back on the sideline at some point.
