DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Kosar for QB Consultant.....

OK OK OK...there has been plenty of speculation and desire about bringing Bernie in to be QB coach or whatever...but it has always been us arguing about it. I finally saw an article (first I have seen it in print) and figured I would post it. If this need to go to Tailgate...then please refs, move it....but I figure it is football talk and not about his current issues....

http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/index.ssf/2009/06/for_a_change_bernie_kosar_coul.html
What better time for the Cleveland Browns to again use Bernie Kosar: Bill Livingston
by Bill Livingston/The Plain Dealer
Wednesday June 24, 2009, 3:44 PM

When Bernie Kosar drafted the Browns in the mid-1980s, making an end run around the rules to play for his boyhood team, it seemed like just another way he had gotten the better of life.

Ernie Accorsi, the Browns' general manager, gave him No. 19, which the best quarterback he had ever seen, John Unitas, had worn. Johnny U. was another guy long on heart and football smarts, who got knocked around hard inside the lines and harder outside them.

Today, Kosar, who graduated from the University of Miami in 2 1/2 years as a business major and made millions, only to lose more in bad investments and worse loans, is bankrupt. The same thing happened to Unitas.

Bankruptcy is hard to believe with Kosar because he never had Unitas' arm and had to rely on his wits. No one ever presented a Bernie Kosar Golden Arm award, as with Unitas. But there was a disconnect in both between football genius and the ability to function away from the roars. In life, neither called the signals.

PD fileThe Plain Dealer's front page in 1993 the day after the Browns released quarterback Bernie Kosar.

Bernie had to out-think, out-study and out-improvise better athletes. But it is not his playbook anymore. On the field, he bled for his fame. Off it, with a body broken by 273 sacks absorbed in 126 career games, he is still taking punishment.

One of the joys of his life is when he gets his say, albeit briefly, about football. It is a privilege to hear Kosar do television commentary for Browns exhibition games. Since the Browns are seldom in the playoff race, they get network broadcast teams during the season that make you want to hit the "mute" button. No one on TV is as good on them as Kosar.

That ability to de-mystify a complex position like quarterback is why I still think he could be a great addition to the Browns as a quarterback consultant.

It should have happened years ago, although there were reasons, both fair and unfair, why it didn't. He endorsed the ownership team of Al Lerner and Carmen Policy, then they put him on a wrecker's hook and took him to a junkyard. There was only going to be one star in the Browns' organization then, and it was the empty suit that was Policy.

At the same time, Kosar already had the slurred words that still characterize his speech. There were all kinds of rumors of all kinds of addictions. There was speculation about too many blows to the head, too. Yet the man could brilliantly explain X's and O's in layman's terms.

As a player, he was very egotistical. But he had to believe in himself because, given his physical deficits, no one else would. He fought with his coaches to use more audacious game plans. Famously, his final play with the Browns was one he drew up in the dirt. It went for a touchdown.

It was painful years ago when he pleaded for a job in my column, noting that he had been cheered, been booed, been a hero, been a goat, and that he could help Tim Couch as he went through the same things. No one was interested.

The current secretive, lock-down Browns probably do not have the self-confidence to employ such a strong-willed, independent thinker, especially since part of his bankruptcy plea was his failed payment of over $1 million to the team. My guess is that it is for the stadium loge he once used.

I'm just saying he let plenty of people use him first.

If it was a good idea and both parties were interested it would have happened by now.

I personally don't think it's a good idea and have posted 17 times in the past 10 years as to why not.

All things considered.

The guy is really smart when it comes to football. Thats reason 1.

Two...is there a better way for Bernie Kosar to make the 1.5 mil he is owed to the franchise? He can work for them? (is that like indentured servitude?) Regardless, He could work for the Browns in some capacity and make back the money he owes. Not to mention if he succeeds as a QB Consultant, or coach or something, he could parlay that into an OC position and perhaps someday as a head coach?

I dont know for sure, but they could give him a figurehead job for all they care, but give him a way to make back the money he owes. Why not?

The fans still love him...People think of the best days of the Browns and they think Brian Sipe and Bernie Kosar...cmon.

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If it was a good idea and both parties were interested it would have happened by now.

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Not necessarily...I mean its a great idea to have a good coach here to win football games....but that hasn't necessarily happened either...LOL I think there are a lot of politics involved....which is stupid. If a guy can help you then use him...Now of course the assumption is that Kosar can help us...

I have always wondered why Kosar never got into coaching? Perhaps he wanted to stretch his "business" legs...who knows??? But his ship may have sailed if he ever did want to coach.

I bring the article up because I found it rare to see a professional article on the subject as opposed to just fan banter...Of course with the dead time of the year and the Mangini info lockout...maybe the media is getting desperate for stories...LOL

Personally I wouldn't mind seeing what he could do. I wouldn't be for setting up a position as QB coach or O Coordinator as many have proposed. But a consultant position to start with I would be fine with....

i personally think it's a joke that he hasn't been with this organization since day one.

that guy poured his heart and soul into this team. hey may owe the browns money, but the browns owe him that.

he did so many good things for this team. he was such an example of how cleveland fans wanted the players to be.

bernie didn't have all the talent in the world, but he went out there and fought hard, played through injury, and was a great leader

it's complete crap that he wasn't brought aboard in '99.

i think one day the browns will get it right, on the field and off.

His partners ran him out of the NHL team he was a part owner of ....... they took away his office, and his privledges ......

I seem to recall a similar instance with another business as well .....



It could well be that Kosar just isn't easy to get along with. (and this is pure guesswork based on some past instances)

For a guy to be so sharp and not be coaching after years of speculation and public interest, there has to be more to this story than we know.

Let's not speculate what the organization should do, they do this for a living and know more about it behind the scenes than we do!

There has to be fire here because us Cleveland fans have been blowing smoke about it for long enough.

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I think there are a lot of politics involved....which is stupid. If a guy can help you then use him...Now of course the assumption is that Kosar can help us...

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Correct....that is the assumption that people use when making the argument to bring him on board.

My belief is that he can't help us. Being smart on the field under Center and being smart in the booth and being able to analyze and describe plays as a commentator are both great attributes that he possesses, but that doesn't necessarily correlate into being able to be a QB coach or anything field related.

My belief is that he wanted to have his family and business life after playing ball, and that route is the one he chose as opposed to getting into coaching at a level to learn and work his way through the ranks if he was good at it.

My belief is that he tried to bypass going through the ranks by campaigning for the Dolphins VP job when Marino resigned after his long 3 week tenure in that position in 2004, and again when Kosar campaigned for the 'Canes job in late 2006/early 2007.

My belief is that ages-old ism that states "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach."

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I bring the article up because I found it rare to see a professional article on the subject as opposed to just fan banter...Of course with the dead time of the year and the Mangini info lockout...maybe the media is getting desperate for stories

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I think you hit the nail on the head Pete.....it's the dead zone in between camps, the regime isn't giving up much, and the media knows there has always been a clamor to bring the fan-fav back into the organization based upon the belief his prior skills/knowledge of the game will translate to the current roster and magically transform them into above caliber players in areas where they are lacking.

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Personally I wouldn't mind seeing what he could do. I wouldn't be for setting up a position as QB coach or O Coordinator as many have proposed. But a consultant position to start with I would be fine with....

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Again, if there was interest on both sides my belief is that it already would have happened. And, whereas someone alluded earlier that it would be wise to hire him because he owes the team money, that's just bad business. That's not a viable reason to hire someone; you hire someone when they are capable of filling a needed role in your organization......and again, this would have happened already if both sides were interested. JMHO

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July 9, 2008--When the new Browns were being put together in 1998, Kosar spoke on behalf of the prospective Al Lerner ownership group that was eventually awarded the franchise by the NFL. He certainly helped the group's cause.

And not long after Randy Lerner took over as Browns owner midway through the 2002 season following the death of his father, Kosar has been involved with the team as an unofficial consultant of sorts, a sounding board. He was even the color analyst on Browns preseason telecasts. But he was never able to accept a more defined or permanent role because of family commitments.

The association with the Gladiators has turned out to be perfect, though. It allows him to spend time with his children at his two residences in the Miami and Cleveland areas, while at the same time giving him an opportunity to fulfill his Cleveland football fix.

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Steve King on clevelandbrowns.com

Look in the Tailgate section. Kosar can hardly walk these days.. I'll be happy if he can still do pre-season TV.

Thanks for the referral, hadn't been to that thread after the first handful of bankruptcy posts.

That pretty much solidifies that it aint gonna happen.

this expectation and premise has come up just about every season.

I have seen Randy welcome Kosar to the organization - I have seen him available to consult our young QBs (don't know if Mangini will let him) but as far as taking on an official role with the team. After we are set with our STAFF (and one of the best put together since 99 ) its rediculous to suggest a role for Kosar because good or bad it is futile to even suggest it as we are set. Its just another reason for those who wish to finger point at Mangini to do so. Again Randy has opened a relationship with Kosar and the Browns. I don't think Kosar has pushed for a role with the team - if so then Randy possibly could consider it just like he made a position for Jim Brown.

As for QB...Smith has grown into one of the most highly regarded QB Coaches in the NFL. Remember the Texas Tech QB choosing to try out for the Browns as his Agent stated the reason was our QB Coach was the best teacher around for his client.

Kosar...amazing Football Intellect. I personally would love to tap into some of that. As far as a role. When Bernie actually pursues a role then as a fan I would like to decide how to react to it. But I have not seen Bernie throw his hat in the ring for anything. As for this Regime...way too late to initiate that. If that is what Livingston is suggesting then its totally unrealistic.

JMHO

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My belief is that he wanted to have his family and business life after playing ball, and that route is the one he chose as opposed to getting into coaching at a level to learn and work his way through the ranks if he was good at it. My belief is that he tried to bypass going through the ranks by campaigning for the Dolphins VP job when Marino resigned after his long 3 week tenure in that position in 2004, and again when Kosar campaigned for the 'Canes job in late 2006/early 2007.

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This could possibly be the case but it didn't necessarily make him the best candidate for their job.

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My belief is that ages-old ism that states "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach."

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Being able to communicate to people is the most important thing when it comes to teaching, coaching, anything. Obviously as you move further along the coaching ranks, it might count for less. But just because you are the smartest at football won't necessarily make you a great coach. Same thing with being a teacher, the smartest teacher isn't necessarily going to be a good one.

I spent 6 months student teaching at a HS, and I'd put my history knowledge against any of their social studies teachers. History is something that I just get, I'm very good at it and very good at remembering for years the things that i learn. Currently i'm set to go to grad school for the maritime shipping business, because I was not an effective communicator and disciplinarian IMO. I can read all kinds of books on history in my own time, I'm just not cut out to be a teacher.

So yeah, that phrase always annoyed me. Unless you mean it quite literally, those who can't do it teach (and do it effectively).


And I do respect Kosar's knowledge, but that doesn't mean he can communicate to players in a way that they can understand

j/c

if i remember correctly, kosar LOVED frye and wanted him to wear the no 19 jersey. if frye is as bad as many here believe, what does that say about kosar's evaluation ability?

i can't speak for everyone, but i'm not saying make bernie the GM, but dude should have a role. maybe some kinda qb consultant.

If he has the fire in his belly, is physically and mentally able to do so, yowzuh! Hook him up. We sure could use any and all help we can get IMO. I like him doing color. But help him define a role and fill it. He needs some structure that is overdue. I want something more than a raft of speaking engagements for him. Hope he gets better and takes us with him. Goodluck to BK!