It's official: Crennel out: New DC for the Pats?

[JSn]

The National Football Post | Browns Can Crennel

Browns Can Crennel

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio (AP) The Cleveland Browns have fired coach Romeo Crennel following a 4-12 season.

The firing came one day after general manager Phil Savage was dismissed. Owner Randy Lerner met with Crennel on Monday morning and the team announced the coach’s firing moments before a news conference was to begin.

Crennel had three years left on a contract extension he signed in January after the Browns went 10-6 and just missed the playoffs.

Crennel went 24-40 in four seasons with the Browns, who entered 2008 with huge expectations but collapsed amid a series of injuries and uneven play on offense and defense. They didn’t score an offensive touchdown while losing their last six games and posted their fifth season of at least 10 losses in six years.

Although Crennel’s dismissal had been expected for some time, Lerner waited until after the season out of respect for the 61-year-old coach and former defensive coordinator, who had never been a head coach at any level before taking over the Browns in 2005.

Lerner is expected to make a strong run at former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who has been working as a studio analyst for CBS since stepping down following the 2006 season. Cowher has given no indication he is ready to return to coaching.

Crennel was regarded as the top coordinator available when the Browns hired him shortly after they brought in Savage. Crennel accepted Lerner’s offer in the hours after winning his third Super Bowl as New England’s defensive coordinator. Crennel won two previous Super Bowl rings as an assistant coach with the New York Giants.

Crennel’s vast experience, defensive knowledge and even-keeled demeanor were vital at the time for the Browns, who were coming off a 4-12 season under Butch Davis. Cleveland went 6-10 in Crennel’s first year and just 4-12 in 2006, when they lost six of their last seven games.

But after a 10-6 season in 2007, Crennel was given the contract extension through the 2011 season. With an explosive offense and six Pro Bowlers, the Browns were tagged as one of the league’s rising teams entering ‘08. They were rewarded with five prime-time TV appearances but their schedule proved to be too much.

They were also ravaged by injuries as quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn were lost for the season, forcing Crennel to start recently signed Bruce Gradkowski in the season finale at Pittsburgh. The Browns were beaten 31-0, dropping Crennel to 0-8 in his career against the Steelers - the only full-time Browns coach not to beat Cleveland’s rival.

Crennel was genuinely respected by the Browns. The players referred to him as RAC, his initials, and were disappointed they didn’t play better for him.

 

[Pujo]

We have a perfectly capable DC, so no. But I'd take Crennel if he came back in another capacity, like Assistant Head Coach/Defense (similar to the role Belichick had with the 1996 Pats).

 

[mojocaster.com]

In a heart beat - I'd bring him back, that is.

 

[mgteich]

Dante is the Assistant Head Coach. Besides, Romeo is a defensive coordinator, period. He has done nothing to believe that he should be a HC or an Assistant Head Caoch.

That being said, there are many teams that should want him as their defensive coordinator, including the patriots and the browns.

We'll see soon enough. Of course, the big question is what Pioli's answer to the Browns will be when the call comes. Pioli, Josh and Romeo would be a solid team.

 

[DaBruinz]

As Pujo pointed out, the Pats have a DC. In all honesty, considering all the injuries to the defense, Pees did a helluva job with what he had. Lets not forget that in Pees 1st season as the DC, the defense was the stoutest in team history. It was also the year with the least number of injuries in the defense.

P.S. JSn - for future reference, don't post the whole article. You can get Ian and the website in some serious legal trouble.

 

[Pujo]

Dante is the Assistant Head Coach. Besides, Romeo is a defensive coordinator, period. He has done nothing to believe that he should be a HC or an Assistant Head Caoch.

That being said, there are many teams that should want him as their defensive coordinator, including the patriots and the browns.

We'll see soon enough. Of course, the big question is what Pioli's answer to the Browns will be when the call comes. Pioli, Josh and Romeo would be a solid team.

Assistant HC is just a title, I'm sure there can be more than one. What I mean is I'd like Crennel involved in planning the defense, but I wouldn't want Pees to get fired so Crennel could call the plays.

 

[lostjumper]

I would welcome Crennel back. He did great with our defense during his time here.I'm not sure how the structure would shake out, but I'm sure they could fit him in somewhere

 

[cincipatsfan]

Stay tuned for "The Patriots Way In Cleveland, Rev 2", when the Browns scoop up Mangini and make a full court press for Pioli.

You heard it here first folks

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Stay tuned for "The Patriots Way In Cleveland, Rev 2", when the Browns scoop up Mangini and make a full court press for Pioli.

You heard it here first folks

I don't consider Mangini part of the "Patriots Way" any more. He was transformed, from Anakin Mangini to Darth Mangini, Sith Lord.

 

[Pujo]

I don't consider Mangini part of the "Patriots Way" any more. He was transformed, from Anakin Mangini to Darth Mangini, Sith Lord.

But even Darth Vader was ultimately redeemed. That makes me wonder... what would Mangini have to do to be redeemed in the eyes of New England fans? Rub out Goodell? Take a bullet for Belichick? Is it even possible?

 

[spacecrime]

Assistant HC is just a title, I'm sure there can be more than one. What I mean is I'd like Crennel involved in planning the defense, but I wouldn't want Pees to get fired so Crennel could call the plays.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster IMO.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

It'd be great to have him back, but with Pees and Capers where would he fit in?

 

[Deus Irae]

But even Darth Vader was ultimately redeemed. That makes me wonder... what would Mangini have to do to be redeemed in the eyes of New England fans? Rub out Goodell? Take a bullet for Belichick? Is it even possible?

Let's see him invent cold fusion and working perpetual motion batteries that give off sufficient energy to power entire homes.