DaytonDailyNews.com

It takes a village to raise a football team from the depths to which the Cleveland Browns had fallen. So let's credit the builders, most notably General Manager Phil Savage, but also owner Randy Lerner.

Some (OK, me) wondered whether Lerner should think about selling the team in the dark days following that season-opening 34-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Another owner might have panicked, but Lerner continued to support Savage, much as he had late in the 2005 season when he sided with the GM over power-hungry team president John Collins, who was soon sent away.

Keeping Savage in place has been the key. In the first two rounds since he's been drafting players, the Browns have added Braylon Edwards, Brodney Pool, Kamerion Wimbley, D'Qwell Jackson, Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn and Eric Wright. All but Quinn are starters. Edwards and Thomas are having Pro Bowl seasons.

Other Savage home runs: Stealing quarterback Derek Anderson from the Ravens, hiring Rob Chudzinski as offensive coordinator, bringing in Jamal Lewis, standing behind injured tight end Kellen Winslow and signing guard Eric Steinbach.

Scott Pioli of the New England Patriots is likely to win Executive of the Year honors. But if voters do their homework, they might be inclined to look toward Cleveland.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408

or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.