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October 9, 2012What Pat Shurmur Should Have Said…
October 9, 2012Think back to 2008. It was a year removed from one of, if not the best year in the history of Cleveland sports. The Browns were coming off a 10-win season. The Indians had just won the AL Central and finished a game away from the World Series. The Cavaliers still had LeBron James and were one of the best teams in the NBA. We probably took for granted just how great that year was. It seems like a lifetime ago when you consider the sad state of affairs that we are currently subjected to.
Just a year later, the Tribe was beginning their downward spiral. The Browns proved to be a one-year, schedule-aided fluke. The Cavs were still great with LeBron, but we all knew his contract was just one year away from expiring.
In 2008 the three major sports teams in this town were led by Eric Wedge, Mike Brown, and Romeo Crennel. Let that soak in for a moment…..
Wedge was who he was. He never liked talking to the media, wasn’t seen as a public figure one bit and was never trotted out for speaking engagements or events the way the Indians did with the man who replaced him, Manny Acta. But that is how Wedge liked it. Wedge just wanted to keep grinding. He kept everything tight behind the doors of the clubhouse and never seemed buddy-buddy with this players.
Wedge now is the manager of the Seattle Mariners.
Mike Brown was a bit of a patsy. He was put in a no-win situation with LeBron pulling all the strings whether people wanted to acknowledge it at the time or not. If the Cavs won, LeBron got all of the credit. If they lost, it was Brown’s fault. Mike was engaging, affable, and well liked by the media and fans as a person. His in-game-coaching left a lot to be desired and was often questioned, but win or lose, he was always there answering all the questions that came his way.
The Cavs let Brown go in a effort to appease LeBron. After a year out of the game, Brown landed on his feet strong, as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Like Brown, Romeo Crennel the man, was never questioned. His grandfatherly-like demeanor made it impossible not to like him personally. His press conferences were often softball-fests because the media all had such a deep respect for him. Crennel was open and honest, two characteristics you often don’t see in head coaches or managers in pro sports. The players all loved him and “Camp Crennel” was league-renowned as a complete country club training camp atmosphere. Plenty of people were sad to see Romeo the person, let go. Nobody was sad to see Romeo the coach, be relieved of his duties.
After a late season 2-1 run as the interim coach, the Kansas City Chiefs elevated Crennel to their permanent head coach for 2012.
Now we are in the latter part of 2012 and transition is in the air. The Indians fired Manny Acta six games short of three seasons on the job. It was a shock to nobody with the Indians second-half collapse and the need for major changes throughout the organization.GM Chris Antonetti and to a lesser extent, team President Mark Shapiro had job security questions quelled right away by the Dolan family ownership, who pledged to stay the course with at the Acta firing press conference. Little did we know the duo had a an ace up their collective sleeve.
Just over a week after letting Acta go, the Tribe hired Terry Francona as their new skipper. I still can’t believe it actually happened. At yesterday’s introduction, Francona said he took the job for “two reasons – Chris Antonetti and Mark Shapiro.” It is an absolutely incredible turn of events considering the multiple problems the organization has i.e a lack of talent, a complete distrust of ownership, and an apathetic, shrinking fan base.
Byron Scott, who replaced Brown, is beginning his third year on the job as the head coach of the Cavaliers. With organization’s clear path towards rebuilding through the draft while piling up cap space, Scott seems to be pretty safe for the foreseeable future. Then again, this is a team owned by Dan Gilbert, so anything is possible.
Like the Indians, the Browns are in a state of flux.
Sure, we all thought they had a plan and a path towards improvement, but then Randy Lerner sold the Browns to Jimmy Haslam signaling a new era in Browns football. Suddenly, everyone was auditioning to stay. Team president Mike Holmgren has essentially been neutered and won’t be on the job much longer with the Joe Banner rumors getting louder by the day. GM Tom Heckert has no idea where he stands and the coach the two of them picked, Pat Shurmur, seems to have about as good of a shot of sticking around as Holmgren does.
The current front office and coaching staff was told they’d be given the chance to essentially “play for their jobs” in 2012. We are five games in and Shurmur’s team not only looks lackluster and undisciplined at times, but the head coach himself is cracking under the pressure. Just watch the press conference after Sunday’s blowout loss to the Giants. Shurmur is not doing himself any favors.
Haslam is a billionaire businessman. He didn’t get this way by working with people he didn’t choose once he got to the top. Undoubtedly, he is going to want his own people running what to him is now his most important asset. In fact, Haslam will set his sights high. If Banner is indeed his man, he too will be on board with this line of thinking.
Could this be the time that the Browns actually land the big fish coach that will finally get things going? Could Haslam draw in Jon Gruden, who judging by the HBO Real Sports piece from last month still has the coaching itch deep inside of him?
Lets say this were to happen, I know this is a big stretch, but the three men coaching/managing the local sports teams would be Terry Francona, Byron Scott, and Jon Gruden. Could you imagine? In our town, that could actually be real?
All three men COMMAND respect. All three men have the pedigree. All three men should have nobody questioning them in their respective locker rooms.
That, my friends, is a far cry from Wedge, Brown, and Crennel.
Hey, a man can dream, can’t he?
(photo via Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer)
51 Comments
Meh. Sure Gruden has a ring but I think of that as Dungy’s team. He sounds great on the worldwide leader but then again so does our old friend Trent Dilfer.
Aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Again with the “Gruden” talk. Now it’s an official WFNY position. That’s it, I’m outta here. You win.
i could have written Cowher, but I figured that would be way more of a pipe dream. The way I look at it – ABS – anyone but shurmur
Wrong Gruden. I prefer Jay, the innovatice OC for the Bengals. Hungry and creative are two great qualities. Jon has already been there and done that. I don’t see him with the hunger he had 7 or 8 years ago.
I said, “I’m outta here.” I meant it.
ABS? Holmgren!
Anyway, I meant it. I’m gone.
And another thing, if your pipe dreams are Cowher and Gruden, you need to get bigger pipes.
I’m out. For real. Stop trying to bring me back in, Michael Corleone-style.
Call me crazy, but why not bring back Butch?
Gruden or Cowher. I’ll gladly take either one over Shurmur.
Jon Gruden is a good friend of Holmgren. Considers him a bit of a mentor. Holmgren asked him if he could come back to coach the Browns and he said his heart was not in it.
Yet, we are to believe that an owner with absolutely no ties to him can not only snag him to be the HC of the Browns but do so while replacing the Holmgren regime?
Football trees are a bit like families. I don’t think Jon would cross that particular line.
I up voted this under the impression you were being sarcastic because I think its hilarious. Please let me know if you weren’t serious so I can withdraw my vote.
I think Gruden was an assistant at Tennessee at some point and Haslam has deep ties there. Its a stretch but it is a tie.
The biggest benefit of Gruden coaching would be that I could turn the MNF volume back on. If it had to be the Browns, so be it. I’m sure he wouldn’t be any worse than everyone else.
his first coaching job was as a graduate asst. at UTn. good connection.
(and definitely a stretch 🙂 )
As long as we’re making wish lists, I have Steve Mariucci high on my list. He did an excellent job with the 49ers and tuned them around quickly after the post-Steve Young crash. He was also alonst successful with a team put together by Matt Millen.
I’ve never understood the criticism of Gruden that he took over Dungy’s team. What was he supposed to do, tear it down to prove that he could win without the players assembled under the previous regime? The guy built the Raiders into a contender, then went to Tampa and put the Bucs over the top. Eventually, he flamed out. What more can you ask for? I’ll certainly take it.
just to point out:
Mariucci – last coached in 2005
Bill Cowher – last coached in 2006
Jon Gruden – last coached in 2008
So, if we can find someone who last coached in 2007 to add to the list, then we’ll have the entire Romeo Crennel era mapped out (no, both Dungy and Herm last coached in 2008).
2007 candidates to join the above list are Joe Gibbs and Brian Billick.
Sweet Jesus Christ can I like this 10,000x??? Jon Gruden is garbage who took Tony Dungy’s team to the Superbowl and then ran the franchise straight into the ground.
Why ESPN has him on Television is beyond me, but then again the NFL network has Steve Mariucci…
Actually, you know who I want? Someone some other team wants. It seems like very time there’s a vacancy for the Browns head coach, the other teams that also have vacancies chase the established available coaches (Harbaugh, for example) and hot coordinators (Rivera) and the Browns go after somebody no other team would consider considering (Shurmur, Crennell, Palmer). It’s like the team got scared after losing out on Billick in 99 and is now committed to never trying to get a HC that another team was interested in for fear of being embarassed by losing out to Carolina or SF….
Gruden ran the team into the ground
1) I was one who did not take 2007 for granted.
2) How sad is it that you have to consider 2007 as possibly one of the best in the city’s history when it comes to sports?!?
3) I thought the exact same thing while watching Francona’s press conference. “Holy crap! We’ve now got two legit, straight shooting head coaches that you have to respect!”
…and this Shurmur guy.
I fantasized about how great it would be to have a third guy, a Cowher type, who exuded confidence and determination like Scott and Francona do. I don’t think Cowher is even a possibility and don’t know if I’d actually want him as HC of the Browns, I’m just tired of marble-mouthed, arrogant, condescending, stone-faced and/or apparently emotionless Browns HCs.
I do not understand the love affair w/ Jon Gruden. One of the more overrated coaches in football. I don’t see a guy that turned a team around to win a super bowl. I see a guy that feel into a great situation, rode that out and then the could not keep it together.
Stop with logic. There’s no hope here. They’ve fallen for the name, and there’s no turning them back. Save yourselves.
“Someone some other team wants.”
hmm, KC had wanted Haley and Crennel to fill their HC vacancy the past 2 times around (w/ Pioli as GM). they may have that vacancy again soon. I think I would prefer we not hire who they want.
So call me crazy, but let’s say Rex Ryan loses his job with the Jets following a poor showing the rest of the year, and Pat Shurmur is out because… well, you know.
How would you guys feel about Rex Ryan?
only if Haslam hires Rex Ryan immediately and shoehorns a GM later whom he gives no power to make any decisions causing a schism in the FO and security escorting out that GM during the season.
correction: Jon Gruden is a MNF analyst. he is not a coach and hasn’t been for 4 seasons now.
I like that plan. Let’s paint over some of the murals in the stadium as well.
Can I be the first to suggest that we hire Lane Kiffin? Horrible recruiter (as we saw at Tennessee, because everyone can recruit at USC) but one hell of a coach. Just a thought
and we can complete the dastardly plan by trading down with the Jets to select a RG without getting even a 2nd 1st round pick in the deal while the Jets go and take an overhyped USC QB.
If Ryan gets fired after the season he should be one of the first people the Browns call – for defensive coordinator.
Probably don’t want him near the head coach spot, but would take him as defensive coordinator in a heartbeat, especially since he knows the division from his time in Baltimore and has actually coached a successful defense that is fun to watch, unlike his brother.
I don’t recall KC, or anybody else, being interested in Crennell when the Browns hired him, which was my point.
understood. my counterpoint was that KC was interested in Haley and now Crennel since then. and that just because another team is interested in someone does not make them a good hire.
At least he made the playoffs, something NO OTHER Browns coach has done since ’99
Andy Reid anyone?
No, but I remember the Browns ignoring Harbaugh and signing Shurmur when a bunch of other teams, including the Dolphins who already had a coach, were ignoring Shurmur and chasing Harbaugh. The Browns’ history of ignoring the opinions of the majority of professional football and reaching for players and coaches others think are reaches, to say the least, is unimpressive.
You may be the first. And, hopefully, the last and only.
Who would be better? Hmm? He’s 100000000000000000x better than Shurmur
Well if you’re using Shurmur as your measuring stick, you’re going to need a good deal more zeroes in your multiplier.
And who would be better than Lane Kiffin? That list is long and distinguished (Top Gun fans, take it from there). I’d take Jauron or Childress before I’d even consider Lane Kiffin. Actually, scratch that: I simply wouldn’t consider Lane Kiffin. 5-15 in Oakland? 7-6 at Tennessee? 8 losses in 3 years at USC, the NFL’s 33rd franchise? What about all of this is supposed to sell me? Perhaps the unprofessional way he lied to make Urban Meyer look like a recruiting rules violator? Or the way he bailed on UT after a single season, contract be damned? No no, it must be his winning ways in the press, like lying about voting for his own team in the coaches’ poll. Or when he stormed out of a press conference after 30 seconds because he didn’t like a reporter’s question. You could pick nearly any other name in the NFL, NCAA FBS, NCAA FCS, or the Arena League for that matter, and it would be more worthy of consideration as the next head coach of the Browns than Lane Kiffin.
Mangini?
Since everyone’s response to Gruden is that he rode the coattails of Dungy, then how about Haslam going after…Dungy.
I mean, flip right, double-X, Jet, 36 counter, naked waggle, X-7, X-quarter.
If Gruden didn’t come for his mentor Holmgren, why would he come now? Gruden was so disliked at the end of his Tampa tenure he needed years for players to cycle out of the league to allow him to come. I am not all in the Shurmur boat but can we see one plan through?
that did work out so well for the Dolphins
he built TB after they had been in a similar state to our present Browns. he runs a similar 4-3 defense to Jauron (more cover2 obviously, but they have alot of similarities).
only question would be if his heart is fully in coaching. if it is and he has enough connections to assemble a good staff, then i’d be in (though it’s been awhile for him too)
One of my first-ever comments on this site was on this subject sometime around 2008, but about the personnel guys running the three teams. That year Shapiro looked sharp and was exec of the year, Savage looked sharp and found a pro-bowl QB when the Ravens tried to sneak Derek Anderson through waivers. And I thought Ferry was pretty solid.
The longer I’ve watched sports the clearer it’s become that the most important person in the org is the guy in charge of evaluating and procuring player talent. Managers/coaches can make a big diff, but talent carries the greatest weight, long term and short. That’s why Francona’s decision to come here is more fascinating than exciting.
Dilfer sounds great?
Sandy Alomar? I hear he’s looking for a gig
“If we was dying he wouldn’t bother to write Aaaaaaarrrrggggghhhhhh, he would just say it”
perhaps he was dictating
I deserve to be in the ranks of Francona and Scott. I’m the greatest coach ever!
Wrong. How many undeserving B1G Coach of the Year awards do you have? That’s right. I’M the greatest coach ever!