Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

BROWNS
Davidson gets shot at fixing offense
Former Buckeye replaces Carthon as coordinator

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

BEREA, Ohio ? With the Cleveland Browns off to an abysmal 1-5 start, it was just a matter of time before the team made a major move.
They announced the resignation of embattled offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon yesterday. Offensive line coach Jeff Davidson will replace him.
The Browns have high regard for Davidson, a Westerville North graduate and former Ohio State player, although his unit has struggled this season.
When the New York Jets made a run at Davidson in the offseason, coach Romeo Crennel persuaded him to stay by giving him the title of assistant head coach.
Crennel said yesterday that he feels comfortable moving Davidson to offensive coordinator because their relationship dates to their days with the New England Patriots, where Crennel was the defensive coordinator.
Davidson spent eight seasons as an assistant with New England, the last three as tight ends and assistant offensive line coach. In 2002, Davidson ran the offense in training camp and the preseason when former coordinator Charlie Weis underwent gastric bypass surgery.
Now it?s up to Davidson to breathe life into a Browns unit ranked last in the NFL in total offense. The Browns average just 14.7 points per game.
"I?m confident that Jeff will give his best effort to organize this thing and be creative and resourceful and using the talent that we have on this team," Crennel said. "He?s been pretty busy since (Monday) night. A lot of things have been going through his head, with thoughts about what he may and may not want to do."
Davidson was unavailable for comment.
His philosophy is more like the Patriots? wide-open system than the conservative offense Carthon brought to the Browns.
Crennel said he expects the change will be gradual, but the team will implement more and more of Davidson?s system as the season wears on.
"I don?t think you can realistically expect that it?s going to manifest itself in a wide-open offense overnight," Crennel said. "For one, the players are ingrained in a system right now and a terminology and so forth. So if you go in and change all the terminology and all the plays, you?re starting from scratch."
Crennel stayed loyal to his original hire for as long as he could ? critics would say too long ? and gave Carthon the bye week to try to turn things around. But in the 17-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, the offense produced just 165 total yards and the Browns decided to make a change.
"We?ve known each other for a long time, and so we sat down and talked man to man about the situation we were in," Crennel said. "So to do with what I thought was best for the Browns organization and the fans of Cleveland, I decided to accept his resignation. ? I wish him the best in all of his future endeavors."In his two seasons, Carthon struggled with play calling and clashed with some players. Former quarterback Trent Dilfer and current tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. have been among those who have publicly questioned Carthon.
[email protected]

 

[Buckin' A]

Inside the Ouster

By John Taylor

Posted Oct 24, 2006

Behind the tidy story of Maurice Carthon's exit as told by the Browns on Tuesday afternoon is a somewhat messier set of circumstances. John Taylor has been working on the story and has this exclusive report for the OBR...


When I was growing up, the must-have toy for any boy my age was Stretch Armstrong. You could twist it, bend it, pull it, shape it into forms that were not possible nor plausible for normal playthings - let alone the human form.

At today's press conference officially signaling the end of the Maurice Carthon Era in Cleveland, head coach Romeo Crennel took his version of the public truth and made it do things that would've made even the venerable Mr. Armstrong pull a hamstring.

While the move to part ways with Carthon was officially announced as a resignation--chuckle--a common thread from sources around the league has emerged and made one thing perfectly clear.

If Carthon would have refused to step aside, he would have been fired.

"No if's, and's or but's" said one source.

"(Crennel) may have pushed (Carthon) under the bus, but the brass stuck their legs out" said another.

It is also safe to say that, if Crennel decided to stay loyal and not go along with the strong "recommendation" of change at coordinator, he, along with Carthon, would be looking for employment today.

A "fire or be fired" scenario was in play in Berea yesterday. Regardless of the spin being spun at the presser announcing the "resignation".

Based on conversations with several sources both in and out of the Browns organization, here?s what The OBR has been able to glean about the machinations of the decision.

Early on during the bye week, it was made clear to Crennel that owner Randy Lerner and general manager Phil Savage were of the opinion that something needed to be done about the offense, up to and including replacing the embattled coordinator. Lerner in particular was growing concerned over the state of the team in general and the offense in particular.

(Note: it's been reported that Jim Brown was part of the cabal discussing Carthon's ouster during the bye week. The OBR has yet to confirm the Hall of Fame RB's involvement.)

Crennel was well aware of upper management?s feelings on Carthon but, partly out of loyalty and partly out of respect to his good friend, never gave a thought--much less serious consideration--to firing the coordinator at that time.

During that same week, Crennel spoke with several players to get their input on the direction of the offense. Almost to a man, they spoke of their frustration at the offense?s current state and expressed doubt that they could succeed in the future with Carthon in place. Not only was Carthon's scheme questioned, sources said, but the manner in which the coordinator dealt with "his" players was laid bare in front of the head coach.

In particular, players were frustrated that any type of suggestion or input from them was dismissed out of hand. Toss in Carthon's abrasive personality and propensity for vitriolic tirades, and an unflattering portrait of the former coordinator began to emerge.

"Hate is a strong word, but it's something pretty close to that," said an ex-Browns player--who still maintains close contact with members of the current Browns--on the overall feelings of some on the club toward the now ex-coordinator.

"It's one thing to be an a****** when you're winning and when (the offense) is executing. It's another thing completely when either one is not happening, and it takes a serious a****** to act that way when both ain't happening. He's not (current Cowboys and Carthon mentor Bill) Parcells regardless of how he holds himself. He likes to think he is, but he ain't... And it's not like (players) suddenly got tired of his act. They've been tired for a long time."

(Note: attempts to reach current players seeking comments either on or off the record have either been rebuffed or have yet to be returned.)

With pressure mounting both internally and externally, Crennel and his staff ? in no small part based on advice from wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie ? decided to go against the grain and, instead, make just a few minor tweaks to the offensive system.

The bare-minimum move disappointed key members of the offense and did not sit well with upper management--Lerner in particular. At the time, though, the owner decided to allow his hand-picked head coach to keep his hand-picked coordinator and hope against hope that things could be turned around.

Following yet another abysmal offensive performance this past Sunday, however, that changed.

In talks with Crennel in the immediate aftermath of the Denver loss and the following day, Lerner and Savage made it clear to their head coach that changes to the offense would be made, and that minor tweaks would not be acceptable this time. At that point, Crennel was told that, "one way or another", Carthon must be replaced.

At some point yesterday afternoon, Crennel realized that what was best for the team and for the 2006 season and beyond was to offer Carthon the opportunity to "resign and save what little face he had left" a source said. If Carthon would've bucked the offer, Crennel was fully prepared to axe his long-time friend.

Not only would Crennel have risked losing his job by not firing Carthon, the source continued, he risked losing the players on the offensive side of the ball on the off-chance that he were spared.

That, according to the source, is what ultimately led Crennel to decide to go along with management's "suggestions".

""It wasn't to appease the media or the fans or even, to some degree, (Lerner and Savage)," the source said. "He looked at his locker room and realized he was losing his players by remaining loyal (to Carthon). Add that to (management's) edict, and it was a no-brainer.... Although in retrospect, it should've been done during the bye week."

For his part, Carthon likely did not leave empty-handed. In this league, coaches usually don't leave early without some sort of financial agreement. Two NFL sources told the OBR that Carthon's exit was likely similar to Butch Davis' in 2004, where the team's head coach received financial compensation

 

[NFBuck]

Wow. That's embarassing even for the Browns.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Browns: Linemen heaping praise on Davidson
Thursday, October 26, 2006
By Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

JETS AT BROWNS

4:15 p.m. Sunday
Cleveland Browns Stadium
TV CBS
Channel 19)

BEREA Who says the Browns' offense was nothing to shout about?
Mo Carthon apparently was a screamer, quicker than most NFL coaches to get in a player's face.
"Some guys take it. Some guys don't," Browns guard Joe Andruzzi said Wednesday. "Some guys take it to heart.
"Me personally? It's not a great teaching method. Some guys use it, and other guys prefer actual talking to the guys and trying to get things right.
"It's my 10th year in the league. Between that, high school and college, it's one of those things where, I've had coaches like that, but this is a little more in one ear and out the other."
Veteran Guard Cosey Coleman said the difference in style between Carthon and his replacement, Jeff Davidson, is "night and day."
"Carthon did a lot of criticizing of guys ... ," Coleman said. "Not to bash him. I think J.D. is a more laid-back guy, but he knows football."
Davidson is in his second year as Browns' offensive line coach, assisted by another former Ohio State lineman, Jeff Uhlenake. Davidson will stay as line coach, delegating more to Uhlenake as he takes over Carthon's play-calling duties.
"When Jeff explains and breaks down things, you feel as though he knows what he's talking about," Coleman said. "So it gives you more insight and more confidence to go out and do what's asked of you.
"You're confident it's gonna work."
What of whispers Carthon and Davidson had a strained relationship?
"It wasn't in our face to where we could see it," Coleman said, "but I think there was friction as far as difference of opinion on the way the offense was being operated."
Joshua Cribbs is a young player who took a shut-up-and-play approach toward Carthon.
"A lot of people are putting the blame on him, but I'm a different person," Cribbs said. "I just put the blame on myself. I look myself in the mirror every day."
Of Carthon's yelling, Cribbs said, "He calmed down dramatically this year. Last year when I was a rookie, I was ... 'Oh, man.' This year, he really was changed. He was more positive."
Yet, Cribbs added, "Change is good sometimes. It might be good for us."
The league rankings couldn't be worse. The Browns are 32nd in yards, 245.2 a game. Next worse is Oakland (256.7). All but 10 teams average 300 or better, with Pittsburgh (342.5) leading the AFC North and Philadelphia (417.1) topping the NFL.
The Browns have a veteran line, a two-time 1,200-yard runner and two former high draft picks at receiver. The brass thinks a young quarterback, Charlie Frye, is less a problem than the way Carthon managed the attack.
"As an offense, there was more or less a lot of confusion, a lot of guys not on the same page," Andruzzi said. "As an offense, all 11 guys have to work together as one."
As a player and an assistant, Andruzzi and Davidson won three Super Bowls with the Patriots. Andruzzi's view of Davidson as a coordinator?
"It's not gonna be one guy here, one guy there, one coach doing everything and stuff like that," he said. "It's gonna be a joint effort, coaches and players."
Will it be difficult for Davidson to juggle the offensive line coaching job and coordinator duties?
"Joe Gibbs was an offensive line coach before he was a Hall of Fame head coach," said guard-center Lennie Friedman, an eighth-year pro.
Offensive coordinators tend to be former quarterbacks. Davidson is a former OSU lineman who played guard and tackle in the NFL after getting drafted by Denver in 1990.
"A guy who played quarterback his whole career looks at the game a bit differently than a guy who played line," Friedman said. "I mentioned Joe Gibbs. He won three Super Bowls and was known for his play-calling.
"I'm excited for J.D. I have no doubt he can do it."
Players' discontent with Carthon raises questions as to how they regard the boss.
"I think my team is behind me," Head Coach Romeo Crennel said. "If you look at the way things develop on the field and the way they practice, I have to believe they are behind me.
"I believe we can still get something done. Because there was a change, I think some of them may be reinvigorated and might think we can do more."
Mystery and intrigue lingers, partly because Davidson hasn't done interviews and has not talked publicly since replacing Carthon. Carthon last met the media July 28. General Manager Phil Savage will address the media Friday. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Offensive linemen pleased with Browns change

Andruzzi, Coleman think only good will come from Davidson at helm after Carthon departure

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

BEREA - The Browns decision to change offensive coordinators pleased some of the players, especially the offensive linemen.
Though some Browns muffled their feelings, the change from Maurice Carthon to Jeff Davidson was welcomed by two linemen whose collective description of the offense made it sound like a chaotic mess.
Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman said the offense was not organized, plays were not called properly, Carthon was overly critical and cohesion on the coaching staff was missing.
``You guys kind of saw most of that,'' Andruzzi said when asked if players were behind Carthon. ``As an offense, it was more or less a lot of confusion, a lot of young guys not on the same page. As an offense, all 11 guys have to work together as one.''
Coleman said Carthon's in-your-face style ``wasn't a good formula for success.''
Carthon, who left the Browns on Monday, declined to comment when reached by the team's media relations department.
Coach Romeo Crennel said Carthon resigned, but the parting appears to be mutual. Carthon will be paid for the remainder of his contract, which runs through the 2007 season.
Listening to the players almost begs the question: What took so long?
Andruzzi even confirmed that plays sometimes were sent in with the wrong protection or wrong formation, making it nearly impossible to make them work.
``That's part of the confusion,'' Andruzzi said. ``It gets to a point where you're going to be the guy calling the play, you got to get it called right.''
Davidson, the offensive line coach, can't revamp the entire offense in one week, but he can call plays properly and make more sensible calls.
``I think it's going to help a great deal,'' Andruzzi said.
Kellen Winslow, Reuben Droughns and Charlie Frye all said that they respected the decision and Carthon. Rookie fullback Lawrence Vickers, who has been involved in some controversial calls, said he and Carthon connected.
For a player like Andruzzi to speak in such pointed terms is meaningful. He never has been known as a complainer.
One story from last year -- told by a player prior to this week -- seems to sum up what now appears to have been a dysfunctional situation.
It had then-quarterback Trent Dilfer telling Carthon that a play he called in practice had the wrong protection. Carthon responded by telling Dilfer to run the play the way he called it, protection or not.
That angered Davidson, who turned around and slammed his clipboard to the ground.
Coleman said Carthon and Davidson disagreed in philosophy, but said the differences were ``not anything mainstream where it was up in our face and we could see it.''
``But,'' he added, ``I think there was just friction as far as... the way the offense was being run and operated.''
Dilfer never seemed to get along with Carthon, and was traded to San Francisco in the off-season.
``Trent was tied by his hands,'' Andruzzi said. ``It was a tough thing for a 12-year veteran to take.''
The difference in personality between Carthon and Davidson also will be evident. Coleman called it ``night and day.''
``Carthon did a lot of criticizing of guys and things like that,'' Coleman said. ``Not to bash him. I think JD is a more laid back guy. He knows football. When he talks, when he explains things and breaks down things, you feel as though he knows what he's talking about.
``It gives you more insight and confidence to go out and do what is asked of you because you are more confident it will work.''
``I didn't' take to it,'' Andruzzi said of Carthon's aggressive style. ``I've been playing a lot. It's my 10th year in the league. High school. College. I've had coaches like that, but this got a little more toward it's in one ear and out the other. Some guys take it, some guys don't. Some guys take it to heart.
``Me personally, it's not a great teaching method. Some guys use it, and some guys prefer actually talking to the guy and trying to get things right.''
Andruzzi said the presence of Davidson was one reason he came to Cleveland. Davidson was Andruzzi's coach in New England for six years, and Davidson worked part of that time under coordinator Charlie Weis, now coach at Notre Dame.
``(Davidson) has a good understanding of what type of offense we want to run, how to get things flowing, how to get it right for the right guys,'' Andruzzi said.
Coleman said the Browns never ran the ball enough, and need to commit to the run. Andruzzi merely said ``you guys saw it'' when asked about the play-calling.
And now?
``It's going to be a total offensive effort,'' Andruzzi said. ``It's not going to be one guy here, one guy there. It's not just one coach doing everything. It's going to be a joint effort.
``It's going to be everybody on the same page trying to do their job.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Case against Browns' Droughns dropped

Associated Press

DENVER - A domestic violence case against Cleveland Browns running back Reuben Droughns was dropped Wednesday as prosecutors cited a lack of evidence.
Defense attorney Harvey Steinberg said prosecutors apparently concluded their case was too weak. Kathleen Walsh, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, in a statement said the case was dropped out of concern "about doing justice when there is not sufficient evidence to proceed."
Droughns, who played for the Denver Broncos until a 2005 trade, had been arrested for investigation of third-degree assault and harassment after a May 12 incident at his suburban Denver home.
An arrest report said Droughns and his wife, Kellie, had been arguing when he threw her to the ground and then on the bed, and she told him she wanted a divorce.
He then carried her on his shoulders to the front door, threw her outside and locked the door, the report said. He eventually let her back in but left the house with her wedding ring, her credit cards and cash, the report said.
Kellie Droughns' name is redacted in the report but she has been publicly identified as Droughns' wife.
Droughns had been free on $2,500 bond.
"It's a big weight off my shoulders - getting it out of the picture and being able to just think about football," Droughns told The Associated Press in Cleveland.
Droughns had faced six to 18 months in jail if convicted of assault and up to six months in jail if convicted of harassment.
In May, an Ohio jury acquitted Droughns of drunken driving charges stemming from a Nov. 1 traffic stop in Medina in northeast Ohio.
Last season, Droughns rushed for 1,232 yards. Slowed by a shoulder injury this season, he has rushed for 257 yards on 80 carries.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

BROWNS INSIDER
Tucker's illness is still a mystery


Thursday, October 26, 2006

Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Browns' offensive line woes continue.
Starting right tackle Ryan Tucker is battling an undisclosed illness and hasn't been seen by teammates since the 17-7 loss to Denver. He's questionable and might miss the Jets game on Sunday.
"I don't know what's going on with him," said guard Cosey Coleman. "I haven't seen him since the game. My prayers go out to him. I hope he's OK."
Normally, Coleman would've seen Tucker at the Browns' facility on Monday and Wednesday for meetings and practice.
Tucker appeared on the Browns injury report last Thursday with the illness, but played most of the game until being replaced at the end by Nat Dorsey. Afterward, Tucker said he wasn't feeling well but declined to elaborate.
"We still have him on the injury report with an illness," said head coach Romeo Crennel. "He's having it checked out and he's not going to be here [Wednesday]. I'll have more information for you [today]."
Crennel admitted he's concerned.
"He's being evaluated," said Crennel. "Anytime you continually miss time, that's a concern."
He said Tucker wasn't up to finishing the game because he missed practice and his legs got weak.
If Tucker missed time, the Browns have an experienced backup in Kelly Butler to replace him. Butler, claimed off waivers from Detroit on Sept. 3, started all 16 games at right tackle for the Lions last season.
Droughns cleared:
The domestic violence charges against running back Reuben Droughns have been dropped because prosecutors cited a lack of evidence, his lawyer, Harvey Steinberg said Wednesday.
"I felt from the beginning that he never should've been charged," said Steinberg. "I was glad the district attorney came around to that thinking."
Droughns said he was relieved. "It's a big weight off my shoulders, getting it out of the picture and just being able to think about football," he said.
Droughns had been charged with third-degree assault and harassment involving an incident with his wife, Kellie, on May 12 in their suburban Denver home.
Dilfer's reaction:
Former Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer told the Orange and Brown Report that Maurice Carthon's departure "doesn't hurt my feelings one bit."
He said it was obvious last year that he clashed with the offensive coordinator.
"Yeah, I made no bones about it," he said. "I didn't think he [Carthon] was very good from the second I got there. I think there [are] people that are good at what they do, and people that aren't.
So he saw this coming? "I'm shocked it didn't happen sooner."
Did Crennel stick with Carthon too long because Crennel was a defensive guy?
"I can't explain why he stuck with him, to be honest with you," Dilfer said.
Vickers pro Mo:
Rookie fullback Lawrence Vickers was one of several players who complimented Carthon. Carthon, a former fullback, bonded with Vickers and showcased him, using him on two controversial third-down toss sweeps in the opener and then the infamous halfback option pass against Carolina.
"I'm going to miss Carthon," said Vickers. "He was kind of a mentor to me. We talked about a lot of things, football-wise and life.
"I just have to keep our friendship and relationship going."
He supported the three controversial plays Carthon used him on. "We just didn't execute the plays," said Vickers.
Other injuries:
Three players besides Tucker missed portions of practice and are questionable: cornerback Leigh Bodden (ankle), receiver Dennis Northcutt (ribs) and safety Brian Russell (ankle). Three others are questionable but practiced: safety Justin Hamilton (ankle), safety Brodney Pool (hamstring) and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. (knee). . . . Crennel said Gary Baxter came through his surgery to repair two torn patellar tendons fine but that he'll be in a wheelchair for a while and then begin his rehabilitation.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4670

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NFL BROWNS
Change fires up offensive linemen
Davidson?s coaching style draws praise from struggling unit
Thursday, October 26, 2006
James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



BEREA, Ohio ? Only the trumpets and balloons were missing yesterday from the Cleveland Browns? locker room, a strangely jubilant atmosphere for a 1-5 team.
Players, particularly those on the offensive line, expressed relief and a spark of hope now that Maurice Carthon is out of the building. The former offensive coordinator resigned Monday, and the Browns announced the promotion of former line coach Jeff Davidson on Tuesday.
Yesterday, players pulled no punches in discussing their dislike of Carthon?s style. His abrasiveness had alienated some.
"I?ve had coaches like that, but this was a little more in one ear and out the other," team captain and guard Joe Andruzzi said. "Some guys take it, some guys don?t, and some guys take it to heart. Me, personally, it?s not a great teaching method, but some guys use it. Some guys actually prefer talking to the (players) and trying to get things right."
Three of the five starting offensive linemen held court in the locker room. Players often file in and out during daily media sessions, but the linemen wanted to show their support of Davidson.
Players confirmed there had been friction between the two assistants, mainly because of a difference in philosophies. Asked about the difference between the two coaching personalities, guard Cosey Coleman responded, "Night and day."
"Not to bash (Carthon), but I think J.D. (Davidson) is more of a laid-back guy that knows football," he said. "When he talks, with the way he explains things and breaks down things, you feel as though he knows what he?s talking about."
Carthon, through the Browns, declined comment, but coach Romeo Crennel responded to how some players thought of the former assistant.
"I don?t think you are going to get everybody?s approval," he said. "You go forward and get the job done. The fact that Joe (Andruzzi?s) position coach right now has responsibility generally makes those position players enthusiastic. I?m glad that he is enthusiastic. That will spread and hopefully we will be able to perform better."
Crennel does not allow his assistants to speak with the media during the season, but Davidson plans to implement changes. For starters, he will call plays from the press box, not the field, and the Browns will slowly overhaul the offense, installing more formations. Such a move can be dangerous in midseason, but the Browns enter a game Sunday against the New York Jets ranked last in total offense and 31 st in rushing. At the least, this move has injected some enthusiasm.
"Any kind of change like this is always going to be a spark because it?s something different and it?s something new," quarterback Charlie Frye said. "The offensive linemen I know, they?re excited because their coach is the guy in charge now. And it all starts with those guys. If they?re out there blowing guys up, (running back) Reuben (Droughns) is going to have a good day, and if they?re giving me time, then we?re going to have a good day on both ends. So they?re excited and I?m excited."
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Mystery illness plagues Tucker

Butler most likely to start at right tackle against Jets

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

BEREA - Offensive lineman Ryan Tucker has not been with the Browns all week.
Not at a meeting, not at practice, not in the lunch room.
Tucker is being treated for an unspecified malady ``on an outpatient basis,'' coach Romeo Crennel said Thursday.
``He's not on his death bed or anything like that,'' Crennel said. ``We have to take time to get that illness figured out.''
That makes Tucker unlikely to face the New York Jets on Sunday at Browns Stadium.
``They're still trying to diagnose it,'' Crennel said. ``I don't know what the prognosis is. I still think he's questionable.''
On the doubtful side of questionable.
``Every day that he misses, in my mind, it'll be tough for him to be ready,'' Crennel said. ``Particularly after what happened last week. He wasn't exactly where he needs to be.''
Last week, Tucker missed the latter half of the practice week, then faced the Denver Broncos. He was not himself, and Crennel and the staff knew it. The mysterious illness has to be serious if Tucker was not even in the building all week.
``It's undiagnosed, and I'm not going to get into his symptoms because that will open up speculation,'' Crennel said. ``I'm not a doctor, and I don't know what his symptoms are.''
Tucker's absence means Kelly Butler probably will get his first start as a member of the Browns. He started 16 games last season with the Detroit Lions but was waived after training camp this season. The Browns claimed him.
Butler is 6-foot-7, 334 pounds and was considered a player with potential when he started three years at Purdue University (after redshirting for a season).
He left for the NFL after his junior season, then was arrested twice in one day -- for public intoxication and driving with a suspended license -- before the NFL Draft.
That dropped him to a sixth-round pick, where he was considered a steal. Butler was inactive with the Lions for most of the 2004 season.
Butler apparently has moved ahead of Nat Dorsey, whom the Browns picked up a year ago but who never has overcome weight problems to get into the lineup.
``I put a value on experience -- good experience particularly,'' Crennel said. ``Kelly started 16 games last year. That says he knows a little about playing the game and knows how to handle himself with things that may come up in the game.
``That goes a long way, I believe.''
Butler is well-spoken and does not seem like the kind of player who will have continued problems. Asked to describe himself, he replied: ``Smart player. Try to be physical. Try not to make too many mistakes.''
He will line up against Shaun Ellis, a former first-round pick who is one of the Jets' better defenders. In 2003 and 2004, Ellis had 3 ? sacks but dropped to 2 ? last season.
Butler said he went through all the self-doubts when the Lions released him. He attributed being cut to a change in coaching staffs from Steve Mariucci to Rod Marinelli.
``It happens all the time when a new coaching staff comes in,'' he said.
Tucker's mysterious misfortune could be Butler's opportunity. If he takes advantage, he won't be the first player to move into a lineup due to another's injury.
``Once you get a taste of playing 16 games, and then you don't play,'' Butler said, ``you're very anxious to go out and play.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Can Crennel handle challenge of Browns?

By Terry Pluto

Dear, Romeo Crennel:
You have problems.
Not just because your Browns are 1-5. Not just because you waited too long to fire offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon.
You have to establish a sense of purpose and confidence with your team. Right now, they are doubting themselves. They are wondering about the direction of the franchise. They aren't just beat up physically, they are ground down emotionally.
In the end, it's up to you give this team a sense of direction and hope.
This is more than about your future as head coach of the Browns, but as a head coach, period. Can you get your players to buy into how you want them to play for the rest of the season? Can you give management and the fans a reason to believe the team can be much improved in 2007 thanks to a decent finish in 2006?
In the end, it will come down to this: Can you handle one of the most demanding coaching jobs in the NFL?
You no longer are a fresh face coming off a Super Bowl with the blessings of Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. Those championship rings no longer glitter as bright because they didn't happen here.
This is a much tougher challenge than the one you inherited taking the job before the 2005 season. Those Browns were desperate for any sort of leadership and integrity. General Manager Phil Savage and you were given a chance to change players, change attitudes, change everything possible -- and had a desperate group willing to try it and pulling for you to be right.
Your 6-10 record looked good after a team that was 9-33 the previous two seasons. There seemed to be progress.
This season, it's just frustration.
Belief in your plan
Your players want to believe that your coaches have plans that accent their strengths, hide their weaknesses.
Clearly, that happens on defense.
Is that because Todd Grantham is a terrific coordinator? Or because defense is your background? Perhaps it's because Grantham and you are not just on the same page but usually in the same sentence.
So there was no need for you to micromanage the defense.
Your offense looks at that and wonders, ``Why doesn't that happen with us?''
Some of the guys had to be telling themselves, ``We really like Romeo, but why can't he see that Carthon is not helping him -- or us?''
You gave Carthon freedom to shape his own offense. He alienated veteran quarterback Trent Dilfer and produced the least productive offense in the league a year ago.
Then he ripped the media and Browns fans for criticizing him when he interviewed for a job with the New Orleans Saints at the end of last season. He uncorked the famous line about the media and friends running Belichick out of town, forgetting Art Modell moved the franchise to Baltimore.
Carthon had absolutely no credibility on that subject, and he should have been wise enough to avoid it. That also should have been yet another warning sign about his leadership style.
You had to know that Carthon's personality rubbed players wrong, that he seemed overly sensitive to criticism despite his tough-guy image.
In the end, all this happened on your watch: The overachieving defense and the baffling, bumbling offense.
Who's to blame?
Yes, much of the blame for that has gone to Carthon. Not all of it should.
Who hired Maurice Carthon?
We all know that answer.
But we don't know if you actually fired your offensive coordinator. Were you forced to do it? If that's the case, you have yet another problem.
The front office can be blamed for the roster, but the coaches are clearly your department. You were given the freedom to hire your own assistants. You picked a guy who never called plays before, despite having the title of offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys.
Parcells made the calls for the Cowboys. Now we know why.
With Jeff Davidson now in charge of your offense, it's a chance for you to establish a new relationship with the coordinator. We don't know if you need a stronger say or more fingerprints on the game plans.
We just know that you have to get it fixed.
Davidson is a highly-regarded assistant. The New York Jets wanted to make him offensive coordinator for this season. You promoted him to assistant head coach, giving him a raise to keep him. But he's the offensive line coach, and the line has been a mess. Is that because of Davidson's schemes, the talent or Carthon's big picture of the offense?
I have no idea. I hope you can answer that question, because it's critical to the turnaround your team craves.
Maybe you should have made Davidson the offensive coordinator when the Jets tried to hire him. What was the attraction of Carthon?
Certainly you should have made this change during the bye week, giving Davidson two weeks to implement changes. Instead, you waited for -- what? -- a miracle on offense against the NFL's stingiest defense in the Denver Broncos.
There is plenty of fault to find with the front office, but right now, the roster is set and not about to change until the season is over.
There have been too many things happening on the field that make no sense. That has to stop, and stop now.
Those changes have to begin with you.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Browns notebook

Buchtel grad back on roster

Keith returns after being cut over injured wrist

By Patrick McManamon

Beacon Journal sportswriter

BEREA - Charlton Keith planned to attend Browns minicamp in May -- until the team said he failed his physical.
He spent the time since back at the University of Kansas, working toward his degree. When the Browns called this week about returning to join the practice squad, he quickly said yes.
``Just to be around guys like (Willie) McGinest and some of the other vets,'' Keith said. ``It's just amazing. I never thought I'd get a chance to come back.''
Keith, who grew up in Akron and went to Buchtel, was an All-Big 12 defensive end last season.
He said a sprained wrist led to his departure from minicamp.
``It was nothing really serious, but this is a business, and it was kind of a liability at that time,'' he said.
Keith said he thought that he could have worked through the pain, but the team did not take the risk.
``I'm a football player,'' he said. ``Everybody plays with injuries. I don't know what goes on upstairs, so I really can't say. I felt like I could have gone.''
Brownies . . .
Rookie running back Jerome Harrison was inactive against the Denver Broncos because the Browns wanted an extra defensive back active. ``Thanks goodness we did'' that, coach Romeo Crennel said, after Gary Baxter's injury.... New York Jets coach Eric Mangini renewed acquaintances with those in the local media who knew him when he started his career with the Browns as a public relations intern. Mangini sent lunch to the media room from Bucci's.... Wide receiver Braylon Edwards on the change in offensive coordinators: ``Maurice Carthon is not the one out there fumbling. He's not the guy out there dropping passes, missing blocks, giving up sacks.''... Wide receiver Dennis Northcutt (ribs) was sore after practice Wednesday. ``We'll evaluate him over the next couple days to see what his status is,'' Crennel said.... Cornerback Leigh Bodden, safety Justin Hamilton, safety Brodney Pool, safety Brian Russell and tight end Kellen Winslow worked in practice, but all are listed as questionable on the injury report.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Browns have unknown commodity

No one knows what new coordinator will do, including opposition

Friday, October 27, 2006

Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

What if the Browns' offense came out Sunday against the New York Jets, lined up in a conventional three-receiver formation, and then shifted to have Joshua Cribbs move under center?
Wouldn't that be something?
Or what if they lined up on the first play in a power I-formation, isolated tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. in single coverage and threw to him deep on a go route?
Haven't seen that before.
Or what if they just came out in a no-huddle mode and kept the Jets on their heels, pecking away at them down the field?
You get the idea. The canvas is clean. New play-caller Jeff Davidson can paint it anyway he wants. And his advantage is that nobody knows what he'll do. There's no body of work with his name attached.
Not even Jets coach Eric Mangini can predict what he'll see from Davidson on Sunday. Davidson and Mangini were assistants with the New England Patriots with Bill Belichick, and Mangini thought well enough of Davidson to try to hire him as his offensive coordinator before this season.
"I worked with Jeff for a long time at the other place," Mangini said of Jets-rival New England.
"He is a real smart, detailed and hard-working guy. He is innovative.
"One of the things that impressed me about Jeff was that even though he came from the offensive-line background, he was always trying to learn about the passing game. He eventually transitioned his work to the tight ends. He is constantly trying to hone and develop his craft."
Nobody is saying what immediate changes Davidson will bring to the Browns' offense in his first game as the successor to Maurice Carthon. Judging from the sparkle in the eyes of the maligned offensive linemen, a renewed commitment to the running game is a foregone conclusion.
But as far as innovations that eluded Carthon, we may glean some ideas from the Jets' offense.
The Jets utilize a controlled no-huddle offense about half the time. They are not shy about using gimmick plays, often involving rookie Brad Smith, a converted quarterback from Missouri.
"I'm not surprised," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said, "because Eric told me if he ever got a [head coach] job he would do everything on offense that's hard on a defense, and that's what he's doing."
Brian Schottenheimer - Marty's son - was hired by Mangini to run the Jets offense after Davidson opted to stay in Cleveland after a promotion to assistant head coach. Schottenheimer's flair for fun and creativity on offense comes from playing three years for Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida.
The Jets have three rookie starters on offense. They have a rookie head coach and a rookie coordinator. They have a quarterback coming off his second rotator cuff surgery and no established workhorse running back. Yet they currently rank 12th in the league in points per game - and that includes a game in which they were shut out by Jacksonville.
It's safe to assume that Mangini expected the same kind of offensive unpredictability from Davidson, who learned alongside Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, the creative mind behind Belichick's three Super Bowl teams with New England.
The challenge facing Davidson is trying to incorporate some new wrinkles in one week without overloading his players.
Crennel said he did not feel the need to caution Davidson about doing too much too soon.
"I know he'll be concerned about what the players can do," Crennel said. "I think he'll try to give them the best chance to be successful. If that means not giving them too much, he won't. If he thinks they can handle a lot, he might give them more."
So we shouldn't rule out some interesting new wrinkles immediately, then?
"That is a possibility," Crennel said.
Receiver Braylon Edwards said Thursday that Davidson already has introduced changes - some subtle and some dramatic.
"We're still running the same offense," Edwards said. "You can't have a guy come in in the middle of a season and change the whole offense around, but we are utilizing some things we haven't been."
Mangini said Davidson believes in attacking a defense's weaknesses.
In the case of the Jets, that sums up the unit in its entirety. They are 30th in yards allowed per game, 28th against the rush, 32nd in sack percentage and 27th in points per game.
How will the Browns' offense look under Davidson? For now, one can only imagine the possibilities.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4670

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Mangini?s NFL career got its start in Cleveland
Jets coach worked for Browns? PR staff
Friday, October 27, 2006
James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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BEREA, Ohio?New York Jets rookie coach Eric Mangini had a unique sense of humor yesterday.
The NFL?s youngest coach and former Browns public relations intern returned to his roots by ordering complementary food for Cleveland reporters at the team?s training facility.
It was a funny jab from Mangini. Taking care of the food order was part of his many weekly duties when he worked for the Browns 12 years ago.
A dozen years later, Mangini, 35, leads the resurgent Jets (4-3) into town Sunday to face the team that gave him his start in pro football.
"I originally came on as a ball boy," Mangini said. "In between minicamp and training camp, there?s some down time. (Former public relations director) Kevin Byrne was nice enough to ? since I didn?t have anywhere to go or do at the time ? let me volunteer in PR. ? When I got through with my job at night, I was looking for anything to do and help out the organization. Bill (Belichick) gave me some projects at that point and I did them as best as I could. At the end of they year, he asked me to stay on as a coaching assistant."
From there, a coaching career was born.
Mangini quickly rose the ranks as an assistant for the Baltimore Ravens, Jets and New England Patriots. Browns coach Romeo Crennel first worked with Mangini with the Jets and they followed Belichick to New England, where Crennel served as defensive coordinator and tutored Mangini as the defensive backs coach from 2000 to 2004.
They developed a strong friendship in New England and even lived together for about five months when Crennel?s house was under construction. The pair won three Super Bowls and Mangini learned many of the nuances of Crennel?s 3-4 defense along the way.
Mangini was Crennel?s first choice as defensive coordinator in Cleveland. But Mangini turned down the job and stayed with the Patriots for another year and moved on to become coach of the Jets.
"It was close and he decided to stay," Crennel said. "I think we made a good run at him and we almost had him signed up, but Bill Belichick had that final shot at him and solidified it for (New England)."
Mangini has two defensive linemen, Bobby Hamilton and Kimo von Oelhoffen, who are the same age and seven other players who are in their 30s.
Jets players say age has not been a factor. The team has won four games already this season, and it appears Mangini has no problem getting the attention of his players.
"We don?t really notice his age," linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. "We notice he is a very detailed guy. He knows his X?s and O?s, and we can respect that."
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

What next for this franchise....

ABJ

Browns call in help to battle infection

Cleveland Clinic team investigates, cleans facility

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

BEREA - Center LeCharles Bentley and free safety Brian Russell were the most recent players stricken in what Browns General Manager Phil Savage on Friday called a ``staph infection outbreak.''
Since 2003, linebacker Ben Taylor, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and receiver Braylon Edwards have also contracted forms of staph. All but Taylor's case came in the past 13 months.
With strains of the bacteria becoming increasingly more resistant to antibiotics, the Browns have called in an infection control team from the Cleveland Clinic twice in the past year to clean and inspect the facility and try to determine the cause of the players' infections.
``We asked them to review our building, our practices, their facilities, a full review,'' Savage said. ``Their conclusion is that any of the cases we've had have been unrelated and the Browns have done everything possible to prevent any kind of infections in our locker room, on the field, in the indoor (facility), all those things.''
Not everyone in the building is convinced the Browns are on top of the matter.
``Something's going on around here,'' Winslow said Friday. ``Other people had it and they need to do something.''
Russell missed the final preseason game with an infection in his elbow and had surgery on Sept. 1, but it did not keep him out of the opener. Bentley's bout with staph caused him to be hospitalized at the Clinic for what Savage said was ``an extended time.''
A two-time Pro Bowler who was the Browns' prize catch in free agency this year, Bentley tore his left patella tendon July 27. He underwent surgery the next day.
Afterward, he contracted an infection that was cleaned out Aug. 28. Savage insisted that Bentley did not lose as much weight as Winslow, who looked gaunt after dropping about 30 pounds when he contracted staph after right knee surgery in June 2005.
Asked whether Bentley's case of staph set him back, Savage said, ``I don't think a lot. When you're coming off this patellar tear, it takes awhile before everything's in place before you can start becoming more aggressive with the rehab. It shouldn't be a huge setback. We'll have a better idea in February.''
Savage said the Clinic's infection control team visited ``to make sure everything has been washed down, so to speak, and everything is clear of these types of infections.''
``I think we've been very vigilant in trying to protect our players and our employees who have contact with our players. We feel like we're on top of that and we shouldn't have any problems going forward,'' Savage said. ``But when you're talking about infections, particularly staph infections -- and I know more about this now than I ever dreamed I would -- there's about 30 different (strains) and they're not just hospital- and medical-related. They're out in the community. It's a problem in our health-care system.''
Some might question why the Browns entrusted that review to the Clinic, the team's long-term medical provider and sponsor.
``There probably is another realm you could go above that,'' Savage said. ``But our partner is the Cleveland Clinic. We've trusted them with the medical care of our players.''
In recent years, the St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins also have dealt with staph infections. Savage said the Browns have discussed the conversion to Field Turf, which they have in their indoor facility, as a possible factor.
``It's like grass, but a guy sweats and he spits and all that rubberized material is down in there,'' Savage said. ``It's something the high-ups are probably looking into on a leaguewide scale.''
Tucker out indefinitely
Savage didn't know when right tackle Ryan Tucker would return from what the Browns are calling an undisclosed illness.
``I don't know the answer to that question,'' Savage said.
Tucker played Sunday against the Denver Broncos but has not been with the team this week. Kelly Butler, who started 16 games for the Detroit Lions last season, is expected to take his place in Sunday's home game against the New York Jets.
Savage would not elaborate on Tucker's illness.
``That's the same thing we're going to say until they come to us and say, `This is the diagnosis for Ryan,' '' Savage said. ``Based on what he has done for the Browns and the respect level this organization has for him, I would ask you give him his right to privacy.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Browns need to show progress in 10 games

By Terry Pluto

General Manager Phil Savage talked about this Sunday's game as a possible ``turning point'' for the Browns. Or, at least, he wants the Browns to begin to look like an organized, disciplined team.
The Browns need to give their fans some reason to believe in the last 10 games of the season. The Browns' GM can say he thinks his team is better than its 1-5 record.
But the Browns are still 1-5.
More importantly, they haven't been playing as if there is any reason to believe they would be better than 1-5. At least not with the league's worst offense, under former coordinator Maurice Carthon.
TIMEOUT: Don't read anything into Savage's non-answer about his role in Carthon ``resigning.'' On paper, it may be a resignation. In reality, he was fired. Nor was the idea of replacing Carthon purely that of coach Romeo Crennel. Savage watched the same games as the fans and didn't like what he saw on offense. That was conveyed strongly to Crennel.
So back to the season, ``the remaining 600 minutes of football,'' as Savage described it at Friday's news conference.
The GM is counting on new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson to turn the players Savage acquired into the offense Savage expected.
After 11 starts, what do we know about Charlie Frye?
The young quarterback can sure take a punch. He can run around. He is respected by the players on offense. He has been given no chance to show much of anything else.
Savage talked about one of the goals for this season being to ``promote, preserve, protect'' the quarterback from the University of Akron. There are games when Frye probably feels as if he has been promoted to tackling dummy. This can't continue.
Davidson is an offensive line coach. Supposedly, he and Carthon had ``philosophical differences.'' Supposedly, many of the players preferred Davidson's approach. Supposedly, the formations and blocking schemes often didn't match. That led to Frye being left vulnerable and the offensive line looking worse than it should.
TIMEOUT: There usually is some tension between the men who obtain the players and those who coach them. General managers and scouts often overrate the players they acquire; coaches tend to underrate them.
Here's what the next few games (not just this Sunday) should tell us:
? If Frye continues to take a beating...
? If confusion continues, with tardiness in bringing in plays and guys not sure where to stand before the snap...
? If we have fullbacks passing and running sweeps...
Then the organizational problems extend deeper than Carthon.
Savage continually stressed there was ``blame to go all around.'' But at the same time, the biggest finger for the NFL's worst offense is being pointed at the man who was pointed to the door Monday night.
TIMEOUT: Davidson is another Bill Parcells/Bill Belichick disciple. In New England, he was assistant line coach. Jets coach Eric Mangini tried to hire him as offensive coordinator. The Browns promoted Davidson from offensive line coach to assistant head coach, giving him a raise to stay. They did so for this moment, when he was to take over the offense. Could that be why he and Carthon were not exactly pals? Then again, Carthon had few close associates on the team.
The only projected Sunday starters on offense not obtained by Savage are Kellen Winslow, Terrelle Smith and Dennis Northcutt (assuming he does start). Right tackle Ryan Tucker is out indefinitely with an undisclosed illness. He'll be replaced by Kelly Butler, cut by the Detroit Lions after training camp.
Savage wants to believe Frye will be his quarterback. He needs to know if Braylon Edwards is a receiver worthy of being the third pick in the draft, or another tease of a player with an inflated ego and inconsistent performances. The Browns are so heavily invested in Edwards that it's critical Davidson find a way to make Edwards a big-play receiver.
TIMEOUT: Joe Jurevicius must be on the field more than Northcutt as a receiver this weekend -- no question. And yes, Winslow does have a tender knee that needs to be rested, but not on third down!
Savage has invested a significant slice of the salary-cap pie for linemen such as Kevin Shaffer, Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman. He worked hard to bring in veteran center Hank Fraley to replace injured center LeCharles Bentley. The coaches are starting to work in Lennie Friedman at guard, giving Andruzzi and Coleman a few plays off each half. Good idea, as both veterans have been playing with banged-up bodies for years.
Savage hopes he has a functional line for now, buying him time to upgrade in the future. Nothing we've seen this season sustains that, unless Davidson can indeed make a serious impact.
TIMEOUT: Did you take a look at the Browns schedule? Two games with the Pittsburgh Steelers. At San Diego, Atlanta and Baltimore. Of the other five remaining games, only the final two (Tampa Bay and at Houston) are against teams with a losing record. Yikes!
Savage mentioned how it has been nearly three years (back to the 2003 season) since the Browns have won two in a row.
He talked about how this has been painful and frustrating to the fans. He mentioned that he believes the Browns need to ``build a program, change the mentality'' of all the losing and constant changes of the past.
He emphasized his confidence in Crennel and in his ability to find players. He said it is going to take more time. The Savage/Crennel team has been here for 1 ? seasons. That's not long. Problem is, this year's 1-5 team often has looked worse than last season's 6-10 model.
Fans have heard it all before. Nonetheless, that's all true, which is scary enough. Even more frightening is, if Savage can't turn the team around, then what? Fire everyone and start over? Again?
That's why these final 10 games are important to determine if some talent is here, if Savage has made more right calls than wrong calls, and if Crennel can indeed regroup the team and lead.
If not...
Fans should not even want to think about that.