http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=396617&r=0&Category=17&subCategoryID=26A players’ coach
ROMEO CRENNEL
BY STEVE DOERSCHUK
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
BEREA Willie McGinest knows Romeo Crennel as well as any player ever will. They were fellow Patriots for three years when Bill Parcells was head coach. They reunited later in New England when Bill Belichick won three Super Bowls. Now, the old player and the old coach are riding out the twilight in Cleveland.
“He was under one of the greatest for mind games and the motivational stuff in Parcells ... and Belichick,” McGinest said. “They all have the same traits.”
They do?
Parcells’ biting sarcasm and dictatorial demeanor paint a public persona in contrast to Crennel’s firm, respectful and even keel.
Even the evolved Belichick, who no longer fidgets through press conferences as if trying to escape a root canal, seems grouchy next to the routinely cheerful Crennel.
They do have their differences, McGinest says, but the teddy bear in the trio, Crennel, has fangs.
“We get yelled at sometimes,” McGinest said. “Romeo gets his message across. He uses different tactics in different situations.”
A breakout 10-6 season stirs hope that Crennel, who went to six Super Bowls while working for Parcells and Belichick, can get there as a head coach. There was legitimate doubt Crennel’s act would last past 2007.
His first Browns team went 6-10, an improvement over the Butch Davis regime’s last gasp of 4-12.
Crennel’s second team went backward in offense, defense and popularity — back to 4-12. Was the purpose of his third season to keep the job warm for Bill Cowher?
“It was disheartening, how Romeo was being treated, some of the stuff people were trying to say and put out there,” McGinest said. “He understands the game tremendously. He knows how to deal with certain players. He kind of has all the good characteristics a head coach should have.
“A lot of people couldn’t come in and do what he did and endure what he did.”
Defensive lineman Shaun Smith has been with Crennel for just one year.
“I tell him after every game, ‘It’s a pleasure to play for you,’ ” said Smith, who jumped from Cincinnati to Cleveland in 2007 free agency. “I mean that with true passion. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves for turning the program around.”
Browns fans are wary of perceived turnarounds. Davis had the Browns in the playoffs in his second season, then went cold.
Linebacker Chaun Thompson, a high draft pick under Davis, lost his footing under Crennel. He has been a backup the last two years, which frustrates him.
“I do know this,” said Thompson, who can be an unrestricted free agent in March. “When (Crennel) talks, we listen, because he doesn’t talk much.
“He’s a man you can talk to about life, about how your family is doing. He cares about football, of course. He also cares about how you’re doing outside football.”
Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., whose job is one of the most secure on the team, was drafted in Davis’ last year. Winslow says Crennel is “getting better.”
“He’s the type of coach I can go talk to any time,” Winslow said. “He always asks how players are, how they’re feeling about things.”
Brady Quinn, perhaps the Browns’ most intriguing figure heading into the offseason, hasn’t gone to Crennel much, yet.
“Being my first year with the team, I haven’t had the opportunity to be around (Crennel) as much,” Quinn said. “The thing I’ve noticed is, he was consistent the whole year.
“Whatever happened in the last game, he always comes back with the same attitude. Just get to work. Worry about the game in front of us.”
Joe Jurevicius has played for Jim Fassel, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren and — for the last two years — Crennel.
“Romeo is a teacher,” Jurevicius said. “He strives for perfection. He always kind of repeats things that are important.
“Romeo did a helluva job this year. I think he needs to get more credit for what he’s done.”
What will Crennel do next?
Probably sign a contract extension. The deal would mean more to Crennel than it does to the organization. NFL coaching jobs often change hands even though years remain on a contract. Crennel’s predecessor had three years left when he quit with five games left in the 2004 season. Lerner essentially gave Davis $12 million in severance pay.
“In the NFL,” said Sean Jones, who was drafted by Davis and has played three years for Crennel, “you’re hot one day and not the next. That goes for players and coaches.
“Everybody was kind of criticizing Romeo at the beginning of the season. It was like, if we don’t do this and do that, he’s gonna be outta here.
“We persevered. We played behind him. We were able to keep him here because we’re doing well.
“It goes to what he tries to put into us. Never give up. Work hard every week and good things will happen.
“Romeo’s a good coach. Hopefully, he’ll be here for a while.”
Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: Steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com
What the players say
“You’ve got to give a new coach at least three years. Romeo’s always been a good guy, a great coach, always straight with us. It’s about time we started winning games as a favor.”
LinebackerD’Qwell Jackson
“He’s even keel. Win or lose, he takes the same approach. That’s the best thing you can say about a head coach.”
Tight end Steve Heiden
“A lot of people expect instant turnaround. It’s never gonna be that way when you implement a new system. It took Belichick a while to get his system in.”
Linebacker
Chaun Thompson
“What you see is what you get. That’s what I like and respect about him. He’s one way.”
Guard Eric Steinbach
“He’s not necessarily a yeller, although he will lay the hammer down.”
Wideout Joe Jurevicius
“He wasn’t really a yeller coach before. He wasn’t this year, either.”
Safety Sean Jones
I would suggest that all the wanna-be GM's shut and listen to our players talk about our coach. For those mentally challenged remember these people deal with RAC on a daily basis when the camera are off. Your opinion however obtuse dont mean anything in the grand scheem of things. So quit whinning about timeouts and kicking footballs and show some love to OUR coach.
I guess people have to complain about something. Even if it is about something or someone that they know little about.
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