DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns Have A New President

Ummmm, okay.....

BROWNS NAME NEW PRESIDENT
Posted by Mike Florio on May 22, 2008, 3:02 p.m. EDT

After Browns president John Collins took a run at running G.M. Phil Savage out of town, Browns president John Collins soon wasn’t Browns president.

The job has now been filled by Mike Keenan (of whom we’ve never heard unless he also coaches hockey).

Presumably to avoid the same problems that resulted in friction between Collins and Savage, Savage won’t report to Keenan. Instead, Savage will run the footbal operation and Keenan will run the non-football aspects of the business.

“Mike is deserving of this appointment,” Savage said. “He has worked extremely hard in strengthening the Browns business operations and has been a valuable resource in dealing with the league office. We have an excellent working relationship and both of us, along with Romeo [Crennel], are committed to helping this organization reach its full potential and win as many games as possible in the future.”

It all sounds good unless and until the on-field product falls apart and the head of the non-football operation begins to make facially innocuous comments to owner Randy Lerner about the struggles in the wins/losses department. Of course, that has never happened in any NFL city.

pft

Browns name Keenan President
Staff Report
05.22.2008

The Cleveland Browns are pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Keenan as club President. Since joining the team in 2005, Keenan has worked in a variety of capacities with the Browns and now assumes control of the club's business operations and league affairs.

The organization's structure now assigns responsibility to the club President for non-football operations, while the General Manager retains responsibility for football operations. Both will report directly to Owner Randy Lerner.

"Mike is deserving of this appointment," said Senior Vice President and General Manager Phil Savage. "He has worked extremely hard in strengthening the Browns business operations and has been a valuable resource in dealing with the league office. We have an excellent working relationship and both of us, along with Romeo, are committed to helping this organization reach its full potential and win as many games as possible in the future."

Prior to joining the Browns, Keenan was with the National Football League's Management Council for ten years, administering labor operations and finance matters involving the Collective Bargaining Agreement and Salary Cap. With the Browns, he has held responsibility for the key business areas and has strengthened the club's sales, marketing and corporate relationships. Keenan's efforts have enhanced the reputation of the Cleveland Browns locally and nationally, as well as within the National Football League.

"I am appreciative of Randy Lerner for giving me this opportunity," said Keenan. "We have incredible fans and Cleveland is a dynamic community. I am excited to be part of it."

official site

Seems like he's just going to be running the "business" side of the Browns. That's fine with me!

Exactly the structure that I would want. I don't want Savage dipping his hand in the business side, beyond player contracts that is and I don't want some Wannabe football man running the football side.

I like this structure.. I don't know a thing about keenan other than what's been said here, but I do like the structure.

I agree.

A smooth straight line structure with little cross over of authority.

That creates the fewest problems, though it can create a disconnect between the two.

But in this case, a disconnect probably won't hurt much.

Umm...sounds fine to me.

Maybe as President he could negotiate a better deal with the food & beverage service providers and give us dawgs a break on refreshment (particularly if we're still pumping $4.00+ per gallon just to GET to the stadium).

With food and distribution costs up, expect to see higher prices in the stadium.

I drink 2-3 beers tops in the stadium and do all of my eating outside the stadium other then maybe a small box or two of raisins I sneak in...I am diabetic so I have to keep a little something on me in case my sugar starts to drop.

Yeah Peen, it could create a disconnect,, but since both report to Randy,, that should be the key to reconnecting.

At this point, Savage is "The Man" in Berea... As for Keenan, you don't rise to the position of President of an NFL team by being dumb.. so I'm thinking he's more than aware of that fact.. I'm guessing he'll play nice and not try to backstab Phil as did Collins.

He's also been here for a few years so he and Phil have probably been somewhat working together for a while. I'm guessing there is a certain comfort zone established between them..

Would not be surprised at all if we someday found out that Savage gave his stamp of approval on this move.

Speaking of Collins, anyone know what he's doing these days.. I still say it was him or at least his directives that were responsible for the beatdown the old Dawgtalk got. I'm convinced he's the reason that we were cast aside like a bunch of old dirty rags.

I still remember the first year I went to camp on DTD and we had a tent with free food and beverage down by the fieldhouse.. We were allowed to come in by the loading docks. we were handed a VIP pass and a Media Guide for free and we could walk all around the field on that day..

Collins comes in and BOOM,, we are second class citizens..

Quote:

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I am not sure that is what Collins tried to do....I think it was because the set-up was flawed.......I think it was admitted Savage had other duties he didn't do well or at all....he did take a reduced role a year or two back...

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He wanted Savage in the office instead of being out of town evaluating players.

He didn't feel Savage knew enough about NFL contracts and the salary cap and other financial considerations.

He wanted to call the shots in player contracts and in the case of BE he undermined the deal Savage had made by his last minute insertion of a clause giving the Browns first right of refusal regarding who Braylon Edwards accepts endorsements with. Just as Savage had him ready to sign, Braylon walked.

He wanted Savage to quit wearing a ball cap with his suit. Unprofessonal looking you know.

In other words, he just wanted Savage to change from who he is, which is a talent evaluator and regular guy, and leave all that up to his subordinates while he stayed in the office playing executive, seeing to the day to day operations within the building as they relate to his GM duties.

He wanted to have a larger role for himself in handling player contracts thus reducing Savages bargining chips in player aquisition.

He wanted to play a larger role in the football operations as President of the organizaton. Something that is explicitly not within the scope of the new President. ..."Keenan will run the non-football operations." Had Collins stuck to that he may still have been here.

Collins just wanted his greasy hands in places where they didn't belong although he had no real experience in them himself while raising the issue that Savage was inexperienced.

Personally, I'm happy Collins didn't get his way. Savage has done us well so far in talent evaluation and player aquisition. Collins, on the other hand, is nowhere near football. IIRC he is running some of Randy Learner's other business matters.

I wonder why no one is knocking down his door trying to bring him back into the NFL?

I'm not so sure that Savage took a reduced role. Not sure where you got that from.

He did accept help in the financial end of things but then no man is an island. He's been working with both MacCrackin and Keenan and a long list of other football support staff.

People in his position need experts in the salary cap and other NFL matters. I can't imagine a GM in the league who doesn't have his resident experts on hand for such things just as Savage does.

You don't know that.

Does anybody know where Collins is now?

ddubia nailed it Peen.

At this point does it really matter? The point is this line of authority seems a bit clearer then before if for no other reason Phil is secure and established in his position where in the past situation, both guys were more or less starting together with one or both not able to work with the other.