God love you Irish. You stilll have faith in Johnny. Hey you may be right, but I wouldn't want to bet more than a beer on it. Shanny taking a powder seems to support the rumors about interference from above, and that coupled with the daunting task of making Johnny into an NFL QB, when he apparently doesn't believe he has it in him. Then we fire the QB coach, who it turns out was on the Johnny bandwagon, which must have been great for Hoyer, who because of all the dysfunction, wants out too. I wouldn't be surprised if Shanny becomes the HC for a team without a "franchise QB" takes Hoyer. I can only hope that Haslam understands the lesson this illustrates: Be an owner, not a HC, OC, DC or GM. You hired them let them do their jobs. They actually know more about it than you do. Work on that "continuity" you alledgedly learned while with the Steelers. Pull together, learn, and grow. Year three begins, what have you learned? What will you do? What will you stop doing? Jim Bob, you have the luxury of the most loyal fan base in the league, so we'll still be here. Sadly that is a virtual lock. You cleaned house last year. We've been there before too many times. Sure you aren't always going to agree, and they will make mistakes, like you did. The one thing you can count on is "change is not the friend of success". I give you the last 15 seasons as proof. LEARN
It also seems to support the opposite rumor that Shanny pushed hard to play Johnny when none of the other coaches (other than his hand picked QB coach) wanted to. Then, when Johnny couldn't produce, Shanny lost his credibility with the rest of the coaching staff.
Well, there's that interpretation........... Shanny has made the rounds before, but pulling out while your stock is low ????? Not sure I'm buying that, texting about plays sounds like pressure from above, and that reads as "above" wasn't supportive of what was being called, and / or the OC's work in general. If he was a Johnny supporter, why not stay and enjoy the oppty to make him back into Johnny Football? Or it could simply be regardless of the rift, the Browns mind trust, decided making the move now, gave them the best oppty to pull from the largest pool of talent, by getting into the hunt early. In the end it isn't losing Shanny that troubles me, but the why was he or the organization so anxious to separate.
Bluez I like the kid from Minny to man. There is also O'leary from FSU, James from Penn St. and you could always turn Funchess from Michigan into a TE. Although I don't know how he would block! But you are right. This again is a freaking mess. Everything about Manziel is all over Jimmy Haslam. From the moment we drafted him to the moment he got the call to play. Haslam is an ego maniac. Look at his face. The Plain Dealer today had an article about the Brown. Bud Shaw wrote that article. It stated that the Browns are one of the best teams in the NFL at getting additional 1st rd picks. The only thing is that they waste more 1st rd picks than any team in the league. I agree with this article completely. Well here we go again fellas. We have a drunk rookie QB, a POTHEAD lazy WR and no OC! I'm telling you guy's! This chit only happens here. This team has a lot of work to do this off season. GO BROWNS!
This is not good, this is not good! I just read on SB Nation this morning that Shanahan basically quit the Cleveland Browns. Yes he was getting text messages from (Haslam) about what plays to call during the game. The article also said that JIMMY HASLAM wanted Manziel to start and Shanahan and that other guy said he wasn't ready. That was the tift that went on with Kyle and the management (HASLAM). it was Haslam that made the move to draft this ARSE CLOWN! Let me guy's, ask you this question? What free agent, what good player is going to want to come here with this chit swirling around this team? Now you throw in Hoyer. Who right now is our best option for QB. I can see why this guy would want to leave his hometown team. The owners an ARSEHOLE! HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM! It's called the Cleveland Browns!
Yes Els that's just one of 5 different versions of what is happening. Not that I don't believe it, I simply don't know what to believe at this point. It is certainly disheartening that all of the focus is already on dysfunction, instead of production this off season. At what point does this team begin to operate professionally?
OK, I just want to get things ready for the lounge before my next post...Wouldn't want anything to happen to the lounge or it's occupants...Safety first...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLUEZ!!! Be extra careful blowing those flames out buddy! Don't wanna have to use that fire truck outside!
Thanks fellas ..you guys are the best ! *DRINK* dinner at LaPizzeria then off to Desporadoe's to see a friend of ours jam . Jeff Newland ..look for him this summer at Lake Erie .
Prior to the latest NFL non-mutual ?mutual parting,? this one involving the Browns and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, a report emerged that Shanahan?s concerns about the team included a claim that a ?high-ranking personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about play calls.? PFT has been unable to determine the identity of the ?high-ranking personnel member? (and/or whether that person was in any way influenced by a homeless man), but PFT has confirmed that it happened. Which creates a separate issue for the Browns, because those types of electronic communications are prohibited during games. ?Unless specifically permitted by League rules, the use of cellular phones, smart phones, tablet devices, computers, wearable electronic devices such as Google Glass, and other electronic equipment by coaches, players, and other club personnel is prohibited in club-controlled areas including, but not limited to, sidelines and coaches? booths,? the league?s electronic devices rule states. ?These restrictions apply from ninety (90) minutes prior to kickoff through the end of the game, including halftime. Coaches, players, and other team personnel are permitted to use such electronic devices in the locker room prior to kickoff and are permitted to use League-issued Microsoft Surface tablets throughout game day for viewing coaches? still photos.? So the sending and receiving of text messages to the sidelines regarding play calls or anything else during a game violates that rule. In 2006, former Falcons coach Jim Mora was fined $25,000 for using a cell phone during a game. ?Expensive phone call,? Mora said at the time. ?Consider that a lesson learned.? The Falcons and the Buccaneers had been tied late in overtime on December 24, 2005, and Mora made the call to determine how a tie would affect the Falcons? playoff hopes. So if that type of communication is prohibited, sending and receiving text messages on the sidelines also is prohibited. The question now becomes how extensively members of the Browns organization not on the sidelines have been communicating electronically with members of the coaching staff, and whether the league will investigate and dole out fines accordingly.
The Morning Kickoff ? D?j? vu: When did Browns owner Jimmy Haslam say this: ?I know we?ve said numerous times that continuity is really important to any organization. We still feel that. We understand the importance of continuity.? Was it: A. When he fired Mike Holmgren? B. When he fired Joe Banner? C. When he fired Pat Shurmur? D. When he fired Rob Chudzinski? E. When he hired Mike Pettine? F. When he released Kyle Shanahan from his contract? The answer is D. But is anyone keeping track anymore of the pledges of continuity and stability? It?s sounding like Johnny Manziel?s vow to stop ?acting like a jackass.? Empty words, anymore. Shanahan was allowed to leave as Browns offensive coordinator after one season because: 1. He didn?t want to be here; 2. He didn?t like the synergy inside the team headquarters; 3. He didn?t like the prospects of the team winning next year; and 4. He likely has a job lined up with his father or another potential head coach. In a related move, quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains reportedly was fired. Cause may have been for lifting the curtain on the team?s draft process that produced Manziel as its top-rated quarterback prospect. The Browns are expected to confirm the moves on Friday. ?Wow,? one Browns player wrote in a text message on Thursday. ?All I can say is that ?this is Cleveland.?? It never ends: When Mike Pettine held his first staff meeting 11 months ago, he made a power point presentation to his new assistant coaches. ?I told the staff that they need to understand the magnitude of the job we?re taking on,? Pettine related at the 2014 NFL Combine. ?Any time you?re trying to turn the franchise around, you have to be extraordinary. Since 1991, the Browns have two playoff appearances and won one playoff game. And in those 23 years, there?s been 141 coaches.? Make it 143, at least. There could be more changes coming on Pettine?s offensive staff. A new coordinator likely will want to bring someone along with him. They always do. And so it goes. New men in charge bring new people, new play language, new concepts, a new system. New philosophies. New skill sets desired in their players. Shanahan was one of the few coaches in the league with expertise in the intricate zone-blocking running scheme that required agility over bulk. Now what? Shanahan favored mobile quarterbacks. Now what, a return to pocket passing? At one point in the season, it appeared the Browns could, in fact, lose Shanahan to the head coaching ranks because he was doing good work without an all-star cast. The fact the offense unraveled over the last eight games was more a product of injuries (Alex Mack, Jordan Cameron, Miles Austin), a suspension (Josh Gordon), Hoyer?s slump, and inadequate replacements than Shanahan suddenly turning dumb. Shanahan?s departure is a desertion, make no mistake about that. And since there was no heir on hand to maintain the system in place, another abrupt change is in the offing. The next offensive coordinator will be the Browns? sixth in six years and 14th in 17 years since the franchise was reborn in 1999. Much has been made of the Browns having 22 different quarterbacks to start a game since 1999. If Brian Hoyer doesn?t return and start the first game in 2015, the Browns will have a sixth different opening day starting quarterback in eight years. The offensive coordinator turnover is equally pathetic and counter-productive to winning. Since 1999, the Browns have posted the following league rankings in overall offense: 31st, 31st, 31st, 23rd, 26th, 28th, 26th, 31st, 8th, 31st, 32nd, 29th, 29th, 25th, 18th, and 23rd. Looking ahead: What offensive coach now would be attracted to a team with a quarterback situation that the head coach described as ?muddy, at best,? a wide receiver corps whose enigmatic playmaker is one strike away from an indefinite league suspension, a former Pro Bowl tight end with three concussions embarking on free agency, and a Pro Bowl-caliber and victory-starved center who can opt out of his record contract after the 2015 season? That answer is an out-of-work lifer with ties to the coach or GM. That makes former Pettine associate Matt Cavanaugh and former Farmer associate Charlie Weis the early front-runners to take over Pettine?s offense. Both have some favorable lines on their coaching resumes. But so did immediate predecessors Shanahan, Norv Turner and Brad Childress. And given the murky quarterback situation and Haslam?s quick trigger, does it matter how qualified the next coordinator is? Pettine already has matched the life expectancy of a Browns coach under Haslam. Can he withstand a second losing season? And let?s not forget that 2015 schedule ? eight games against the NFC West and AFC West. Haslam took control as Browns owner on October 16, 2012. In that time, he has fired two presidents or CEOs, two general managers, two head coaches, at least 38 assistant coaches, two senior vice presidents, a slew of scouts, two heads of public relations, and staffers too numerous to mention. ?We understand the importance of continuity,? Haslam said.
Happy B-day Bluez!!!!! Just stopping in while I can. Still on jury duty thru next week. Next round for the house is on me. (but put it on Crex's tab while he's not looking) *DRINK*
Have a double of bourbon neat and charge it to me bluez, happy birthday! I'll throw a name out for discussion on the OC - Al Saunders.
A lot of experience there Tim, but Pettine DEFINITELY needs an OC to call plays. I don't know if Saunders has ever done that in his career...Not saying he can't but there must be a reason all of those coaches did it themselves all those years...
Actually, Saunders did all the play calling under both Dick Vermeil (2 years STL, all of KC) and Joe Gibbs. The bigger hang-up I would have is his age at 67, but if he can still put together effective gameplans and call games you could put him in the booth and let him hand pick his QB coach to be his sideline voice. Another name that I have rolling around in my head has Cleveland ties and division rival credentials - Randy Fichtner.
Oh, for some reason I thought Vermeil called his own plays...Not a bad idea then. He can certainly call plays from the booth. I would personally rather have a sideline guy so that Pettine is in touch with him and for him to be hands on with the players for understanding. I think there is a disconnect with booth coordinators, but it is just a preference. I don't know Fichtner, tbh, I would need to do some studying...
