DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Cowher says no to Browns

I didn't see a thread started about this....delete if there is one.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/29/.../news-breaking/

Ouch.

The Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets are ready to put the past behind them. All three NFL teams fired their head coaches a day after their disappointing seasons ended, then began the interview process for successors.
Detroit released Rod Marinelli, whose Lions became the first team to finish 0-16. The team also promoted Tom Lewand to president and former Bucs and Redskins cornerback Martin Mayhew to general manager.
ESPN is reporting that Mayhew has already asked to speak with New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo about the job. The report also says Mayhew would like to speak with Washington secondary coach Jerry Gray, a teammate of Mayhew's in Tampa Bay in 1993.
The Browns parted ways with Romeo Crennel and were promptly snubbed by one their first successor choices. Owner Randy Lerner met Saturday with former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who told Lerner he has no intention of returning to coaching in 2009.
The Jets axed Eric Mangini, whose team lost four of its final five games to miss the playoffs. Spagnuolo and Cowher have also been mentioned as possible replacements.
The Lions completed their winless season with a loss to Green Bay on Sunday, pushing aside Tampa Bay's 1976 season of 0-14 as the league's worst. Marinelli, the former Tampa Bay defensive line coach, won only one of his last 24 games and was 10-38 in three years.
"You can't go 0-16 and expect to keep your job," Marinelli said today at a news conference. "They don't fire players, they fire coaches."
The Lions also did not retain defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who is Marinelli's son-in-law; assistant offensive line coach Mike Barry, his son-in-law's dad; and secondary coach Jimmy Lake. Joe Barry was the Bucs' linebacker coach before rejoining Marinelli in Detroit.
Defensive line coach Joe Cullen's contract was not renewed and offensive coordinator Jim Colletto was demoted to offensive line coach.
Matt Millen was fired as team president three months ago, but the players he left behind coupled with the former Tampa Bay players Marinelli wanted created the perfect storm for a historical season of futility.
Marinelli was the third coach Millen hired - following Steve Mariucci and Marty Mornhinweg - in what has been the NFL's worst eight-season stretch since World War II.
Fans and reporters cut Marinelli some slack during in his first year, when he went 3-13, because of the Millen-created mess he inherited. Hopes rose when Detroit was 6-2 midway through last year but were quickly dashed when the team finished 7-9.
The Lions fired offensive coordinator Mike Martz after the 2007 season but retained Marinelli's son-in-law to lead the defense.
The Jets started the season 8-3 under quarterback Brett Favre, beating New England and Tennessee on the road in consecutive weeks and raising visions among their fans of a Super Bowl trip. But they went 1-4 in their final five games, losing to Denver, San Francisco, Seattle and Miami and barely beating Buffalo.
They did not reach the postseason for the second straight year despite a massive offseason spending spree that included trading for Favre after his retirement and unretirement from Green Bay.
The 39-year-old Favre had just two touchdown passes and nine interceptions in those final five games, led the league in interceptions with 22 and complained after Sunday's 24-17 loss to Miami of shoulder, neck and back pains. The win gave the Dolphins the AFC East title under Chad Pennington, the Jets' longtime quarterback who was cut when the team obtained Favre.
Mangini, 37, was 23-26 in three seasons in his first head coaching job. He had another year remaining on his contract. In 2006, his first season, he took a team that had been 4-12 the previous year to the playoffs with a 10-6 record.
"For the current New York Jets organization, we've made the decision to move on," owner Woody Johnson said at a news conference this morning. "It's a judgment call.
"I don't think it was one thing. We had to go in a different direction. There's nothing specific. It's just a call we made. Hopefully, it's correct."
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum praised Mangini, saying he did not think he had lost the team.
"Again, Eric has left a really good foundation here, and we're looking forward to building on that foundation," Tannenbaum said.
Crennel's firing came one day after Browns general manager Phil Savage was dismissed. Crennel had three years left on a contract extension he signed in January after the Browns went 10-6 and just missed the playoffs.
In addition to meeting with Cowher, Lerner said he has asked New England for permission to interview vice president Scott Pioli for the GM opening. Lerner said New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Mangini were also on his list.
Crennel went 24-40 in four seasons with the Browns, who entered 2008 with huge expectations but collapsed amid 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.
Three head coaches were fired during the season: Oakland's Lane Kiffin, St. Louis' Scott Linehan and San Francisco's Mike Nolan.
Mike Singletary, who took over for Nolan, was given a four-year, $10 million contract to take the job full time after leading the 49ers to a 5-4 record.
Raiders interim coach Tom Cable appears to have a solid chance of retaining the position after leading the Raiders to 4-8 record, including two wins to finish the season. However, ESPN is reporting that owner Al Davis has requested an opportunity to talk with New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.
The Rams have not decided about the future of Jim Haslett, who took over for Linehan. Haslett was 2-9 after Linehan was fired after an 0-4 start.

It doesn't have it's own thread...but I believe you'll find the article and discussion in the two threads below yours.

This news is posted in at least one other thread.
Do I think it deserves it's own thread? Yes. (but who am I?)

If Cowher says yes to the Jets, or anyone else for that matter he would be hated to ALMOST the extent of Fart Modell.
I certainly would hate him for life.

Does every coaching candidate deserve its own thread? No. But Cowher is on every Browns fans mind whether they like him or not. The thread about Crennel getting fired should just about be done. Maybe this thread can be moved to a more general thread about GM or Coaching candidates?

Hopefully Pioli will accept the GM position and then hiring a coach would become easier.

Just don't see what there is to talk about. He said he doesn't want to coach in 09 or here.

Now,if he runs off to NYJ and accepts the job...

Here's the way I see it.
He played for us.
We gave him his first coaching job.
And now he turns us down.
Thanks a lot Bill. Thanks a freakin' lot.

According to the Plain Dealer, Lerner was told by Cowher in a face to face interview that he would not be interviewing with ANY teams in 2009. He also said he would not rule out 2010.

I have to take his word for it, but if he does interview for another job, then he will lose a lot of credibility with a lot of people.

Good part of the report was that Pioli was very interested in the Browns GM job.

Hopefully he signs soon, so we can find a coach.

It could also mean that the reports that he would never accept the Browns coaching job out of loyalty to the Rooney family were true. Some posters who said that earlier in the year took a beating as being naive, but it sure looks like they might have been right. Imo that makes alot more since than him not wanting to take a fairly young team with 7 either former or current Pro Bowlers over...shrug.

j/k...

Let's see....is there anything that says Randy Lerner could not give Bill Cowher a call and ask him if he's willing to reconsider?

No harm in asking is there?

If the Browns do hire Pioli as GM and Cowher is still listening to possible offers, would that not be a plus for Lerner and the Browns?

Lerner could say, he Bill, I got you the best GM in the NFL, sure you won't reconsider taking the Browns HC job?

Then again, it might be that Cowher would be uncomfortable coaching against the team he coached for 15 yrs. I could understand that point of view and would try not to hold that against Cowher, if that was his real reason for not wanting the Browns job.

But hey, you can't make someone coach in Cleveland that does not want to be here.

As of now it's best that Randy Lerner focus on finding a GM for this franchise, then go from there.

Maybe he wants to lose the "cheater" label? And, why scoot along the easy road when you could be challenged if you take the fork around the next turn?

He wants final roster control, and right now he doesn't have that in New England........Bill B. does, and he isn't losing it.

Isn't that what Phil had? Didn't work so well...

The challenge of it has to be the reason.
Now cash strapped folks like the most of us, we couldn't take that risk.

Must be nice to be loaded huh?
Make a bad decision, lose your job. So what, I have millions!
I wouldn't mind him being here though.

Phil had control of the roster, which wasn't a good thing.

Ask Romeo.

You bring up a good point, and may be the reason Pioli doesn't come here. It all depends on Randy.

Let me add this though..........I honestly think the biggest problem we had was that RAC and Phil just didn't share the same philosophies on players, schemes, etc. This was a far bigger part of our down fall (and the rift between the 2) than who had roster control. Unfortunately, Randy laid the foundation for this when he and Collins basically decided on RAC before Savage was even hired. I mean in Phil's defense (and I've been hard on him the past few months) he isn't the guy who hired RAC, and they just didn't see things the same way philisophically.

This is why it is so important to let the GM hire HIS HC, and the owner not get overly involved in that process. I think having your GM and HC on the same page on where they want to take the team is much more important than who has roster control.............I also think it was a much bigger reason why our FO has been dysfunctional as well.

I really hope that Randy does it the right way this time, and lets the GM hire "his guy" to be the HC, and stays out of the way. I'm not saying Randy shouldn't okay it (it's his money..lol), but let the GM find someone he trusts and has a working relationship with......whoever that is.

The Browns are in trouble IMO

Cowher snubbing us is BAd NEWS very bad news, and don't belive for 1 second that "No Financial terms" were discussed. Lerner didn't meet up with Cowher to talk about the weather. There are 2 tings that COULD be at play here:

1. Lerner and Cowher have agreed to a Contract BUT Lerner and Cowher BOTH want to make it look like the 2 have parted ways, While Lerner lines up interviews with Pioli and a few other Minority Candidates to fullfill the Rooney rule( This is a distant Possibility) and Cowher Interviews for the Jets Job...in a week or 2 Cowher is named HC(A distant Possibility)

2. Cowher just plain snubbed us and will take the Jets job...this is the most likely scenario

Cowher did not turn us down because of his loyalty to the Rooney Family...Don't belive that for one second...Cowher Left Pittsburgh because they Rooney's would not give him the Contract extension he wanted after Winning a Super Bowl...the man wanted a raise, and Rooneys would not give it to him.

that being the case, I think If Cowher truely snubbed us, its because this organization is in disarray and has been for sometime now

If I was Bill Cowher, I wouldn't want to come here either, "ARE YOU NUTS!?" If i was a former NFL Head coach that is exactly what I would say if Offered the Browns Job(This is coming from a diehgard Browns Fan)

This job is not a very attractive one, Trent Dilfer was right about this organization being a mess, no one wanted to to believe it...this organization is a mess

Don't be suprised if Scott Pioli snubs us as being GM and Goes to Detriot..a city where he will be treated like a football God and be given 5 years to fully do his job before anyone opens their mouth a crucifies him.

This city expects way too much out the players and coaches, we are an expansion team, the Browns are in Baltimore, we are only half-Browns...we are an expansion team

I gave RAc until midway through his 4th year before I said it was time to move in another direction, but some folks were ripping RAC from the get go the day he got here and didn't even give him a chance.

Savage was just a power hungry guy that wasn't qualified to be a GM..

The bottom line is...I personally feel we are in deep trouble...if you were a top coordinator...wouls you want to come here? Its more than just money.,..these guys love their careers

coming to cleveland will cut that career short very quickly...no one in their right mind is going to want to come here

That is why cowher snubbed us, has nothing to do with the rooney's, he don't want to be crucified here and have his legacy destroyed because the City of cleveland would not give him 5 years and keep their mouths shut and let him rebuild this mess....so cowher said: "COACHING JOB? ARE YOU NUTS!?"

If 1. above is true, and Cowher and Lerner are simply "making the appearence" that Cowher snubbed us for the Rooney Rule and letting Cowher have a mock interview with New York things could get intresting

Make no Mistake, If this team doesn't get Cowher or Marty Schotenheimer...were done plain and simple...don't even bother watching, waste of time in futility..nothing will change here until we get a HC with a proven winning pedigree as a HC who can get a foundation started here that should have been built 8 years ago.

If we don't get cowher or marty...in 4 years...we will be doing this thing all over again

Pioli is over-rated, he does not have the Final Say in New England...he is equivlent to Bellichik what Savage was to Ozzie Newsome...a Glorified Scount, and I don't want to go that route again...I would take Tom Donohoe or Flloyd Reese over Pioli ANYDAY!

And no more New England Coachs for the love of God!

Mangini failed in New York
Crennell Failed in Cleveland
Weis is a Falire in ND

see a pattern here?

Completely agree with a lot of what you say. We'll never know with Cowher on not wanting to coach the Browns. I do agree, it certainly isn't a dream job. i would imgaine in most eyes around the NFL it is a stepping stone position. Not attractive to a marquee type coach. Pioli, IMO will be a success. However, I understand your skepticism, because I too, believe NE success is all thanks to Bellichik and Robert Kraft. Bellichik hasn't missed a beat since he lost Crennel, Mangini and Weiss. To me, that speak volumes.

Dude, it's a moot point.

He's not coming.

To make it worse, after telling Lerner- to his face- he's not interested in coaching ANYWHERE in 2009, they are now reporting he is interested in coaching the Jets. I DON'T WANT A GUY WHO DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO BE HERE.

Why is that hard to understand? The guy has a great pedigree, record, Superbowl ring, reputation, but what good does it do if he doesn't truly want to be here?

Thus the "I realize he is out of the picture now" line.

I was simply stating a case as to why it sucks and what him turning the job down meant and what we will not be getting in my opinion..but the merry go round must go on!

I could tell way before today that he had no interest in coming. As good a job he may do, I didn't want him here.

j/c

Look, Cowher is a great coach, but I'd rather have Pioli and Cowher than Cowher and Cowher.

Having one man control everything is a bad idea...just look at Phil Savage. Get a GM AND a HC in here, start a real organization.

You would have to be out of your mind to take the job here in Cleveland. You have to be out of your mind to want to play here. The lousy fans in this lousy city thrive on "starting over." They continually want people benched and fired, and they are more likely to boo their players than actually get behind them---especially if any adversity arrives.

I think that firing Savage and Romeo was a mistake. I mean, didn't they both get extensions last year---and now, after an injury riddled campaign, they are both jobless.

Cleveland will never have a winner as long as the fans run there own coaches, players, and whole organizations out of town.

Quote:

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...never lost more than 6 games in a season...

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Better double check those stats.

Cowher said no to coaching in 2009 - not just the Browns. The Browns were just one of the first to ask. Ahh - this media spin...

I'm glad Cowler said No to us.....We are the Cleveland Browns, we need to find our own identity, we dont need to build an identity from a Pittsburgh Steeler, and make no mistakes folks, he's a Steeler, Yes I know he played & coached in Cleveland, so what, he is a Steeler....He will not come to Cleveland and jeaperdize his steeler following, nor should he,

If Randy wants to spend 8 million on a coach, how about spending it on 2 stud LB & 1 DB.

i'd rather have the identity of the steelers than the one we currently have...anyone who doesn't is a bit off..and the 8 million for a coach don't come from the same pool as the players...its not like its going to affect it one way or another...just saying......

Quote:

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i'd rather have the identity of the steelers than the one we currently have...anyone who doesn't is a bit off..and the 8 million for a coach don't come from the same pool as the players...its not like its going to affect it one way or another...just saying

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you missed my point, I'd love to have thier identity too, but I'm saying I'd rather build my own than live with the steeler fans saying if it wasnt for us and Cowler you guys wouldnt be where your at....Ya know what we say about Chuck knoll.

I relaize money for coachs & players are totally diffrent when it comes to cap, I was refering to Savages excuse last year about not going out & signing a veteran, randy has so called put a spending limit on Savage under the normal cap space, I was refering to if your gonna spend, spend it on players,