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Home > Blogs > Dawging the Browns > Archives > 2008 > November > 24
Monday, November 24, 2008
Out of answers, Crennel needs to go
Buried in most accounts of the troubling 16-6 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday was an admission by head coach Romeo Crennel that he’s run out of ideas.
To say nothing of solutions.
“If I knew the answer, I would definitely get it fixed,” said Crennel, who pointed out that he has no inkling week-to-week of what to expect from this team, even in terms of how hard the players will try.
When the coach admits he is out of answers and has no idea how to turn it around, what choice is there but to remove him?
So it’s time for a change after the season (or sooner). It’s time, regrettably, for owner Randy Lerner to put down his soccer ball, reach into the vault and buy out another contract. Yes, Randy, this will require a press conference and an extra trip to Cleveland, so get the good suit ready. Don’t worry, you won’t have to stay.
Crennel will walk away with millions and one winning season in four, which now has the distinct feel of a fluke.
The only question: Does General Manager Phil Savage need to be purged as well. If you’re thinking Bill Cowher, then probably so, because Cowher most likely is not going to be interested in a situation where he does not have complete control of the roster, no matter how much you pay him. After so many years of succeeding in this business, he’s earned that, you would think.
Late in the game, the distinct chant of “Cow-her! Cow-her” could be heard loud and clear in Cleveland Browns Stadium. No question who the fans think should be the next coach.
Crennel’s successor needs to be a big name. Can’t be some college coach or even a hot coordinator this time. And what bigger name is out there than Cowher, whose resume even includes stints as a player and assistant coach with the Browns? It would be a wildly popular choice.
Crennel’s handling of the quarterback situation Sunday probably sealed his fate.
Dumb move yanking Brady Quinn late in the third quarter, maybe one of the dumbest a Cleveland coach has made in any sport in years. Here’s a guy to whom you are allegedly trusting your future, and you replace him with the guy you’ve just benched?
It smacked of desperation and of a coach, frankly, who doesn’t know what he’s doing.
Quinn, who has waited patiently for his chance and not been a rock-the-boat guy, put it best when he said, “I didn’t know I was on a short leash.”
Throw a rusty Anderson against the wall and hope he sticks this time? At this point, that’s what passes for an idea in the head coach’s head. And that’s why he shouldn’t — and probably won’t — be the coach much longer.
