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Cowher coveted by Browns fans
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
BEREA — Launched over cocktails by two fed-up Browns fans, a Web site calling for Bill Cowher's return to Cleveland has bloomed into a full-blown movement by thousands.
"We knew we had to do something," said Ryan Martz, co-founder of Cowher09.com, designed to "unleash the power of Cowher" and make the iconic chin the Browns next coach. "After years and years of losing and seeing the same bad product, we deserve a winner in Cleveland. Fans have had enough."
Since it's debut in September, Cowher09.com has grown into a home base of support for Cowher, who is believed to be at the top of Cleveland's wish list to replace Romeo Crennel.
Browns owner Randy Lerner is waiting until after the season before deciding on Crennel's future, but it's safe to assume he'll replace the former defensive coordinator who is just 24-38 in four seasons, three of which have ended with double-digit losses and none that have included a playoff appearance.
The Browns have lost at least 10 games seven times since 1999.
Cowher has not indicated whether he's interested in a return to coaching in the NFL. He's reportedly content in his job as a pregame studio analyst for CBS, a career he began after leaving the Steelers two years ago.
Attempts to reach Cowher through the network for an interview have been unsuccessful.
He's no doubt keeping a low profile out of his respect for Crennel and other coaches in possible trouble. But Cowher may be keeping his options open since there will be several teams looking for new coaches once the season ends. Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, San Francisco, Oakland, St. Louis, Washington, San Diego and maybe even Dallas or the New York Jets could all be in the coaching market depending on how the next few weeks shake out.
Cleveland's situation is complicated by general manager Phil Savage's uncertain status. Savage, who joined the Browns in 2005, one month before Crennel was hired, has come under scrutiny for several mishandled issues this season ranging from his feud with Kellen Winslow over the tight end's hospitalization for a staph infection to Savage sending a profane e-mail to a fan.
Savage's future could hinge on Cleveland's coaching hire or his willingness to accept a lesser role in the organization if Lerner decides to bring in another experienced front-office executive.
Martz has marked his man: Cowher.
"He a tough guy," said Martz, a banking loan officer from Columbus who co-created Cowher09.com with partner Sam Lambert of Elyria. "He's a coach who knows how to handle players and he could tell Braylon Edwards what to do and keep him in line. And, he knows the AFC North."
While with Pittsburgh, Cowher went 161-99-1, won a Super Bowl and dominated Cleveland's division. The Steelers went 21-5 against the Browns during Cowher's tenure.
Adding to Cowher's allure is his Cleveland connections. He played for the Browns (1980-82) and served as an assistant coach under Marty Schottenheimer (1985-88), another retreaded coach who could be on Lerner's radar to come back in some capacity.
Such is the sad state of the Browns that Martz and other Cleveland fans are ignoring Cowher's Pittsburgh past.
"Hey, at this point, you just swallow your pride," Martz said. "We just want a coach who knows how to win. I'm only 25 and the Browns have been terrible for most of my life. There are people who have been watching this team for 40 or 50 years. I can only imagine how they feel. After all this time, what kind of product are we buying?"
Martz's goal was to get 73,000 signatures — the number of seats at Cleveland Browns Stadium — on a petition to present to Lerner as further proof of fans' desire to get Cowher. He now has more than 11,000 names, and he'll be in the infamous Municipal Lot this Sunday before the Browns play Cincinnati looking for more people to sign while hawking Cowher T-shirts.
Martz understands there is a chance Cowher could end up somewhere other than Cleveland. But as a Browns fan, he has learned how to accept failure. That doesn't mean he can't dream big.
"We're going to do everything possible," he said.
Comments
By will
January 3, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this
NFL from the sidelines
As expected, Bill Cowher will sit out another year before coming back to coach in 2010 though he will talk to the Jets about their opening. Though, I don’t expect anything to come of that, either.
There was no way Cowher was going to go to Cleveland.
Cowher coached against the Browns enough times to know what a mess that team is. And considering it traded half of next year’s draft away this year to acquire a couple of picks, there’s no quick fix.
By NR
December 22, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Starts at the top… been the same problem for both the Bengals and Browns… lack of leadership from the top. Pitsburgh has been solid because of the structure and expectations put in place are those of winners. Although I will admit Pitt has had an easier ride then most in the NFL when two teams in your division consistently finish 4-12.. sounds like 4 gimme games a year.
Disgruntled Bengals Fan
By J H Lambert
December 20, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
So the only thing you can come up with is to copy the Steelers? It’s that type of thinking that prevents you from winning the Suber Bowl. Actually you have had some pretty good coaches perhaps the problems come from management.
By Ice Bandit
December 18, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
Its obvious that the possibilities is killing the Steelers fans, so of course one will say its not going to happen because a beatwriter said so. If it didn’t come from the horses mouth, then like the beatwriter, you don’t know either. Neither do I, but the idea sounds good as a Browns fan. Let the drama commence. The NFL season is not over just yet.
By John
December 18, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Hi I believe they should get rid of crennel and hire Coach cowher and maybe Marty Schottenheimer as GM. I’m not really a fan but I think they deserve better than what they got now. Good Luck Browns.
By richard somsak
December 18, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
I believe JIM tressel would be the ideal coach of the cleveland browns. Look at his record in college, and lool=k up his dads record at baldwin wallace college. Also jims record against the main rival michigan. Think about this against Pittsburg in the future. He is a Ohio boy. Of course you would also need to replace Savage. An Ideal candidate would be Marty Shottenheimer
By alvin
December 18, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
bill would be the right coach for the browns.marty would be the best up-front man.rac defence will not work sending three men rushing the qb.b. mcdonald is not a good corner and need to be replaced.how many times he have been beated for td’s this season.the d-backs are trash.
By BB
December 18, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Why would any good coach want to go to the mess that is the Browns organization? Why can’t the Browns find good coaches out of nowhere like the Steelers do? They should ask Dan Rooney to find a coach for them because they can’t find one on their own. Or maybe you could kick the new Browns out of town and welcome back the old Browns (Ravens). At least they know how to win. But being a Steelers fan, I love to see the Browns and Bengals suck every year. It makes our path to the playoffs easier.
By Ron
December 18, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
You might as well get it out of your heads that Cowher will come to Cleveland to coach. Who would want to and be the next losing coach of the CLeveland Browns? We do need someone with a tough personality to get these gusy in shape and make them realize they need to play heard for the money they receive and if they dont go sit on the bench.
By Thomas USN
December 18, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
I graduated from Midpark HS in 1982, and have done all I can to catch a Browns game in every corner of the world during my 20+ years of service. Cleveland needs a hero, if they get one who is good story fit for the NFL, Maybe they can catch enough breaks from senior officiating crews (like Dallas, N.E., and the Colts get ), and luck of the Brownies will improve.
By charles martin
December 18, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
i grew up in cleveland in the 50s thru the 70s. love the browns of old and always will be a browns fan. i now live in maryland and it is heartbreaking to see the ravens and pittsburgh dominate the division . i truly hope before i die to see my browns win it all. love you cleveland !charlie
By m19tang
December 18, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
We gave Savage his opportunity & he has not come thru. Let’s get Newsome away from Baltimore for GM & bring Marty Ball back to Cleveland. Put Bernie in the front office for player personnel & we will get back to winning in Cleveland
By Tommy J.
December 18, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Who cares how long it would take (not long in my opinion) Bernie would be the idendity we need and would appreciate for the city of Cleveland and restore our pride and winning ways with a tough, smart, durable and extremely smart and successful ex-QB who was on of the most popular Browns and wanted to be a Brown (childhood dream come true) screw Marty and Bill, let’s ask Bernie if he want’s the job, no retreads!
By Tommy J.
December 18, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
This club had a chance to hirw (at the time) the best special teams coach in the NFL, who played and coached for Cleveland. Instead, the brain trust, which hasn’t changed much in 20-25 yrs. are now considering hiring Cowher. We had our chance, he wanted to caoach here, and we selected Bill Belladick, he dissed Kosar and the rest is history, he gained the experience with the Browns. My suggestion, shove it up Belladick’s * by hiring Bernie Kosar, he’s committed, smart and has ties to the city!
By Dave Alan
December 18, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
If Cowher was hired as head coach of the Browns, he would provide that much needed spark that this team has been lacking for a decade. The team simply put is “lifeless”, there is no motivation whatsoever. I think this is what the players need - a little motivation.
By Dave
December 18, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Marty? Cowher? Jimmy Johnson, Mike Ditka, Bill Parcells. Don’t Look Back! Look forward. Find an new identity. Free agents are what they are, FREE! Build your team through the draft. Find a seasoned football man to run the operation and he’ll find the right new coach. Draft the kind of players the Steelers draft. Long,lean,and mean. And no it isn’t rocket science.
By NickM
December 18, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
John Clayton has already reported on NFL Live that Cowher is not interested in Cleveland. Hes not coming here. Get over it Browns fans. He doesnt want to move his family again. Hes happy in Carolina. Hes doesnt want to ace Rooney and the Steelers 2x a year. Already reported two weeks ago.
By chris
December 18, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
As a Browns fan we have alot of work to do. First is to fire phil,next fire romeo, then get a good gm and a good coach either cowher,or marty.Then we need some good offseason work in the draft and free agency, we need defense,laurinitis or that boy from usc would work, we need a quailty corner mabye jenkins and some boys with speed and toughness. Offense we are basically ok just need to get the timing down and maybe quality linemen.Also look into another running back maybe beanie wells.
By Steve-o
December 18, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Cowher is not the come all end all here. Look what his record was in conference Championship games. 1-4 if I am not mistaken. He will be an improvement, just not the end to our problems
By Joe
December 18, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Get the word out to all Browns fans about get those signatures… Am in Az and have been a browns fan for over 52 yrs and brought my 2 son up the same and I miss those winning yrs. Browns have backers all over and they all will help you.
By Log Cabin John
December 18, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
Romeo Crennel is possibly as inept as was David Shula with the Bengals when it comes to motivating NFL players. Square jaw Cowher is exactly what the Browns need to turn that franchise around. If Cleveland doesn’t want him, he certainly would be welcome in Cincinnati. The man was definitely born to coach!