Savage wields more power over Browns
Crennel played part in staff changes, but GM was in charge of search
By Patrick McManamon
Akron Beacon Journal
This and that about the Browns' new offensive coordinator...
• Who made the hire?
Coach Romeo Crennel and General Manager Phil Savage have said that Crennel has final say on his coaching staff.
Both also said that the two worked together on coaching moves.
And they did.
Savage's role, though, clearly has increased in the year since team president John Collins left, and Savage had the lead role in the people who were interviewed and the final decision.
This is not to say that Crennel and Savage have had disagreements or are in a power struggle -- Rob Chudzinski would not be the offensive coordinator if Crennel didn't want him -- just that Savage has a stronger role.
• What's the talk around the league?
The perception is that Savage is calling the shots.
That might oversimplify things.
Savage had strong input in which coaches were let go and strong input in which coaches were interviewed.
That being said, Crennel is not the type to quit. He wants to make things work with the Browns -- so he isn't digging in his heels to defend his turf at this point.
• What is the hierarchy?
Savage and Crennel's contracts were written when Collins was president, and they state that the two will report to the team president. The team has not had a president since Collins resigned a year ago.
That leaves gray areas in the hierarchy.
• What other opportunities did Chudzinski have?
The Browns believed that he had good ones.
He was not guaranteed the job as coordinator with the San Diego Chargers after the departure of of their offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, to become coach of the Miami Dolphins on Friday. Marty Schottenheimer told Chudzinski when he called about the Browns' opportunity that he had several coaches he had to consider -- and Chudzinski would be one of them.
Chudzinski might have been able to go to the Dolphins and join Cameron's staff, but he chose the Browns.
• Who else interviewed?
The Browns said six were interviewed. Two coaches from the staff were confirmed: Jeff Davidson and Rip Scherer.
Several league sources also said University of Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe interviewed, which is interesting because he coached both the Mannings in college (Peyton at Tennessee, Eli at Mississippi).
The Browns would not confirm Cutcliffe's interview.
Word had the team interested in Baltimore Ravens quarterback coach Rick Neuheisel, but the Ravens promoted him to offensive coordinator shortly after their playoff loss last weekend to the Indianapolis Colts.
The Browns are keeping other names quiet.
• What does this mean for Davidson?
A year ago, the Browns thought enough of Davidson to make him assistant head coach when the New York Jets inquired about his availability. He then took over when offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon ``resigned.''
He's now 99 percent out the door.
Davidson has opportunities with the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals, and he will not be back with the Browns.
• What about Scherer?
Again, it depends on what Chudzinski wants, but unlike the other assistants, Scherer has another year on his contract. Scherer has a son in high school locally and would prefer not to move while he is in school.
That being said, Scherer did interview at LSU to be its coordinator and today will fly to UCLA to interview for the same position there.
He must weigh an opportunity with a major college program against the uncertainty of the future with the Browns.
The Browns probably would prefer that quarterback Charlie Frye have some continuity with his position coach.
• Any other coaching news?
It has been kept quiet, but one of the team's best assistants is moving on.
Special teams coach Jerry Rosburg will leave for the Atlanta Falcons, who gave him a three-year contract to fill the same role.
Rosburg has been with the Browns since 2001, and the special teams have consistently been among the league's best.
His players swear by him -- and the loss is significant.
On the draft
The NFL Draft grew a lot more appealing to the Browns the past week or two -- several early entries have made the top of the draft very appealing.
The additions of running back Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma, quarterback JaMarcus Russell of LSU and receiver Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech put six top-notch players in the top six.
Those three players plus offensive tackle Joe Thomas of Wisconsin, defensive tackle Alan Branch of Michigan and quarterback Brady Quinn of Notre Dame mean that the Browns will get a top-caliber player no matter the result of the coin toss with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the scouting combine.
``If you are going to be in the top five, this is probably a pretty good year to be up there,'' Savage said.
It also makes the Browns' situation more complex, though, because it probably puts at least one of the quarterbacks into play, and perhaps both.
The Browns have invested a lot in Frye the past two years and clearly he thinks that he should be the starter going into next season.
If they draft a quarterback third or fourth, though, they would not draft him to sit.
That means starting again with a rookie at quarterback -- working in a new offensive system under Chudzinski.
Russell and Quinn might both be too good to pass up -- especially if the Browns follow Savage's belief that in the first round you take the best player.
Savage worked for GM Ozzie Newsome with the Ravens, and Newsome always said that a top-10 pick had to be a starter and had to eventually be a Pro Bowl player.
Because so much money is invested in a top-five pick, missing, he said, messes up the team's salary structure and salary-cap system for years.
Which only makes the pick that much more complex.
``That is something for later meetings when we evaluate our situation at quarterback, go through free agency and into the draft,'' Savage said. ``We'll have an idea of what we want to do and how we have those players rated. Right now, people are just throwing darts and saying who will be up there.
``Things can change overnight.''
Early word
Many around the league think that the Browns are enamored with Peterson.
Peterson ran for 4,045 yards and scored 41 touchdowns in three seasons, and he gained 1,012 yards last season even though he played in just seven games.
``As far as size, speed and power, there's not too many like him,'' said receiver Travis Wilson, Peterson's teammate at Oklahoma.
Savage clearly likes Oklahoma players -- he has often said he'd like to have standout players from teams that play in front of 90,000 fans every Saturday -- and he has shown that by taking safety Brodney Pool and Wilson the past two years.
But taking Peterson would be as much a statement about running back Reuben Droughns as it is about Peterson.
Droughns was given a new contract before the 2006 season, then didn't gain 800 yards.
Savage attributed his season to off-field problems, injuries and not getting enough work in preseason but clearly hard questions are being asked about Droughns in the team's offices.
``It wasn't the kind of year that he was hoping to have,'' Savage said. ``I think he can bounce back from it, certainly. One of the real values of Reuben is that he is able to play special teams when called upon, and he is able to do some work at fullback.
``If we did get another back, I don't think that would say we are casting Reuben aside. We think he is a valuable part of our team.''
Staying put
There has been talk in league circles that Savage could be a candidate for the Tennessee Titans' vacant general manager's job.
Some dismiss it as rumor, but Savage's name was mentioned in the Titans' offices as the type of person they would like to interview to replace Floyd Reese, and he was written about in Nashville newspapers.
The talk is moot.
Savage said via e-mail this week that he has no interest in the job, and that even if asked he will not interview.
When Savage was hired, the Browns were interested in talking to Reese as well.
Reese is much more of a GM/administrator, and he would have brought those qualifications to the job.
But the Titans would not allow Reese, who was under contract, to interview.
Now, Reese has resigned and is looking for a job (Detroit Lions?), and the Browns are in Savage's hands.
Here we go Brownies here we go! 
Back to this thread- When the Browns get rid of Romeo, they must hire a coach who will keep the 3-4 defense. If they give Romeo another season, and he fails to improve the team to satisfaction, Cowher would be perfect.
As far as I'm concerned, you've invited the vampire into your home. But don't worry, I'll just pop by from time to time. 
Here we go Brownies here we go! 
What do you think about Denny Green?
(BTW, you best delete that smilie I just used. It infers a no-no word...)So where's this arbitrary, very subjective, ever changing line? Now Steelers & Browns fans can't trash talk each other? When's the ice cream social start or is it already under way?Unless someone is goin' way off the deep end, like kiddie porn links, no way you'll see me use a report button. If it's that bad, I will contact JB direct and have.
.What does Savage's statement have to do with what you said about it?
