COLLINS MUST GO
In response to an
excellent article from Patrick McManamon The Akron Beacon Journal regarding the events from Friday that nearly claimed the position of Browns G.M. Phil Savage (and still might), we've parsed through the quotes from team President/CEO John Collins, and we've concluded, based on all of the information we have collected from our network of sources, that Collins has exposed himself as a complete fraud, and that owner Randy Lerner needs to fire him. Now. Let's take a look at Collins' words, and their likely import.
"I would think [savage] would want to be here,'' Collins said Friday night. "I would really be as surprised as I was today if he came in when we get together on Monday and said, 'I've rethought this.'"
Translation: Something is indeed happening that has caused Savage to at least raise the possibility of walking away. And as we've heard from multiple sources (and as McManamon reports) that "something" came to a head with the under-the-radar hiring by Collins of Mike Keenan to manage the salary cap, a function falling exclusively within Savage's purview.
Regarding Collins' confirmation that Keenan will be joining the team, the more important question Collins didn't address is why the whole thing was done on such a top-secret basis? We've heard that Keenan already has resigned his position with the league and accepted a job with the Browns, but there was no announcement of any kind regarding the move. The inference we (and others) are drawing is that Savage wasn't consulted and didn't know that Keenan was coming aboard.
Collins justifies the move by saying that "Phil needs help." But didn't they know this when they hired him? And doesn't the same observation apply to Collins, who never worked in any capacity with a football team before becoming President of the Browns?
Let's be clear on this. Collins has worked in marketing. He never worked for the Management Council, never in player personnel, never anywhere close to anything dealing with anyone in football operations, and now he's in charge of helping the owner decide, judge, and critique how the football operation should be staffed and run.
He doesn't know what he doesn't know, and that's the biggest flaw for anyone who's trying to run a football team.