I respect Tony Grossi, and know that he has some contacts. I do feel he's not always objective, but know that he tries to be.
I finally read this old article of his on why Chud was fired.
Like a lot of Tony's stuff, it reads like a Soap Opera, but I had to look in the mirror and try to be objective myself, and separate myself from my preconceptions.
And much of what he wrote rings true. That is, it's plausible given the various parties, how they operate, their agendas, and what happened.
I suggest you read the article if you haven't already, because I won't rehash it here. Rather, I'll do a summary:
Per the article, which I can't say for sure is true, there was friction between Chud and the front office. Banner did monkey around with Chud's personnel against his wishes. This part is true, since it was a Banner decision:
He de-activated CB Chris Owens. Tony concludes that he was pushing his own draft pick, Leon McFadden, who until then the coaches hadn't used. That's plausible.
I'm not sure where Tony got the idea that Banner suggested that Chud cut either Luavao or Little from the roster in order to send a message to the other players, and remain unconvinced. But it is possible. At any rate, Chud did not.
I think what's more plausible is that Chud was asked to BENCH Little, and he refused. And I'm not even sure who's side I'm on here! Little early on resumed his Braylon Edwards imitation and I felt he should be benched---only who would replace him?
I wonder if this was before or after Benjamin was injured. I also wonder what the other unknown recievers might have done. I just don't know (and don't pretend to).
But accountability was the watchword from the firing to the hiring of Mike Pettine, and one of the first questions the front office probably asked Pettine was "If you've got a reciever who keeps dropping balls and cost you at least one win, what do you do with him?"
...Ya know?
I think Tony wants to side with Chud, and know that most of those who read the article did.
But I'm not influenced by where Chud came from, or the fact that he's a genius (he really is). All this article did for me was explain some things.
Joe Banner wants to build a lasting dynasty, which means go young and maximize the draft now. Accept a disappointing season now, just looking for improvement through the first year.
He traded two lower draft picks last draft for two higher ones this time, and then traded an unproductive back for another first round pick with this in mind.
He may well have forced Chud to use McFadden before he wanted to (before he was ready--he's widely considered very talented), and discarded the much older Owens. He wanted the guy to get experience.
He may well have asked Chud about it: "I want Leon to get some reps. I know he's still learning, but we're playing for 2014 here, and Owens is probably gone then." And maybe Chud said "I've got to go with my best players. Leon will get his shot, but he's not ready yet--he'll get exploited."
As the GM, I would have accepted this. Banner did what he did, and Chud probably complained about it.
Joe is sitting next to Jimmy, watching the games. Little drops a perfect touchdown pass which would have won a game. He drops more. What is Jimmy saying to Joe?
"Why is he still playing!?!"
Suggestions were made, and it sounds like Chud rejected all of them. I'm not knocking him, since in his place I would have done most of the same things. I wouldn't have cut Weeden (I seriously doubt that Banner wanted him cut in the middle of the season). I wouldn't have replaced a shaky Campbell with Weeden...I'd seen enough of Weeden my own self...
And you know, Tony, I really doubt that Banner suggested that move too. Where did you get that? It doesn't make sense. At his WORST, Campbell was better than Weeden, who Banner inherited.
In the end, the team did get worse instead of better in the second half. As I've said before, that's irrefutable. A fairly healthy defense started rolling over in the fourth quarter, game after game. What was that about?
WHY did Campbell start sucking? COULD Chud have done anything about it?
So ok, Banner interfered a little on the personnel side. But I can understand why he did. Here Lombardi AND FARMER had to have been consulted, so this isn't about Banner thinking he's a football guy. Most likely, the personnel people felt that McFadden was mature enough to be okay.
OK so they were wrong. McFadden sucked. Owens was better.
I could go on with this all day, but at the end of it it's this: The front office and Rob Chudzinski were not on the same page, and an adversarial situation occurred. The team regressed, and Jimmy and Joe (more Jimmy than Joe, I'll bet) decided to take the PR hit now rather than let the situation grow worse.
I think the biggest reason the coaching search took so long is because the front office wanted to spend some extended time with the candidates to MAKE SURE they shared the same vision and were on the same page.
Now, I'm reading from others who are several rungs below Grossi all sorts of irrational crap about this.
I don't believe that any of the coaches was really upset about the TRich trade, or that it undermined the team even a little. If you don't believe me, ask the Colts.
I don't care about Jimmy's legal troubles, and don't think that pleading guilty and going to prison is required for him to use the word "accountability". He can be a crook, but he still owns the team and if he thinks a guy who drops passes or allows sacks should be benched he's right, period. You people watch too many bad movies.
Joe Banner a hypocrite, passing the buck? What buck? What the hell are you talking about? It's his fault because he traded the two draft picks and TRich? Because the converted defensive end got only five sacks playing part time as a rookie? Because Hoyer got maimed? Because the QB he inherited was a bust? Because of a heart condition?
Another genius pointed out that all five Pro-Bowlers were inherited. So Joe Banner is refusing to be accountable because none of his ROOKIE draft picks made the Pro Bowl now! The bar keeps getting higher and higher!
You could have said that they missed on Paul Kruger. Pick on him about Bess being some sort of head case. About McFadden vs. Owens (a little). I'd say "Yeah he blew those all right!".
But nooooooo!
You're like my freaking ex! You keep going and going and going and making it up as you go along! Reality means nothing to you--you go all psycho when you start bashing somebody!
Aw crap I give up.
Anyway, Tony's article was pretty good. Thanks Tony.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Misc. Browns Analysis Analysis Stuff
Following the hiring of Mike Pettine as the new Browns' head coach--and the Senior Bowl--I've looked around the web for useful information and dumbassitude.
I've been rather disappointed in the latter, and tend to ignore the usual "We're all gonna die everybody sucks" mantras (Mantra: a repetitive chant used to quiet the conscious mind and induce a state of meditation. Meditation is a state of non-thought.)
But first the good stuff: Dilan James of the Bleacher Report really impressed me with a thorough, objective, and thoughtful bio of Mike Pettine, and projections of how he might operate.
With the Bleacher Report, I tend to read articles expecting to find something stupid and ignorant to mar even the best articles, but in this lengthy piece I couldn't find anything. This guy is a pro.
At the Senior Bowl, the inexplicably dissed Derrick Carr completed 7 of 12 passes for 45 yards with a 17-yard TD. It doesn't sound impressive, but that was pretty much the best performance of any of the six quarterbacks.
I don't get why this guy is being discussed as "working himself into" the bottom of the first round. He's eclipsed his brother David, a number one overall draft pick, at the same school. His first year as a starter was in a pro style system, and he has 27 starts.
Beyond the stats in the Senior Bowl, at least two of his incompletions were perfectly placed deep throws: The ball went where only the reciever could catch it, and there was no chance for a pick. These were big-time throws, and Josh Gordon or Jordan Cameron probably hauls them in.
Carr is separated from his bust brother by almost a generation, and unlike his brother has football OCD. David's biggest problem was that he was a good family man. Meaning he spent quality time with his kids. Meaning that when practice was over, he went home--ya know? Derrick's not like that. He's a junkie.
Along with RB James White, unheralded small-school RB David Fruellen averaged 5.5 YPC.
Read for yourself at the Senior Bowl Website: This game was rich in hybrid passrushers suitable for a 3-4, DTs, and bigger cornerbacks. There were also several offensive linemen that will be drafted high.
TE Crocket Gilmore is just a freak.
In my never-ending search for mental midgetry among fans this week, I find myself forced to resort to Hey Tony! Tony is pretty smart, but I can always find stupid ignorant questions:
Look, I know that firing Chud after one year was unpopular (including with me), but it's assenine to jump over the cliff in the second year of a new regime based on this.
The coaching search was deliberately thorough, and the stupid thing to do would be to hire the first guy they could just so they could beat everybody else.
It is true that the candidates were concerned about the quarterback situation and an owner that seemed to have an itchy trigger finger, but I need to restate this: The Browns might have a quarterback (named Hoyer). Pettine knew this. He learned it the hard way.
So the national and local pundits who keep repeating that the Browns have "no quarterback" are ignoramuses. You could reasonably say that the Browns have no proven quarterback, since Hoyer got injured before he could prove to be consistant--and beat defenses who had game-tape on him. But to just dismiss a guy who did what he did is just infuriatingly stupid. I root for these fighters; these underdogs, mainly because everybody else wants to dismiss them.
Anyway, Tony's first questioner was already talking about Pettine eventually forcing this incompetant front office out.
It sure didn't take long for Joe Banner to go from highly respected front office guy to idiot, did it? (I should qualify that: The ex-GMs, players, and coaches I listen to still think he's pretty smart, even though many disagree with the Chud firing. It's guys like this that have issues with premature expostulation that don't).
I need more evidence. No necktie parties just yet. Go home and sober up.
Another guy wondered if the top quarterback drafted would refuse to come to Cleveland (see now the players all think it sucks too ok?). That makes sense, since no quarterback in his right mind would come here to be stuck with Gordon, Cameron, Joe Thomas and bums like that.
Another guy wasn't really dumb at all, as he speculated about Mingo at ILB, where the unfairly bashed Robertson plays.
Don't laugh. Mingo could do that. I'm not sure about Pettine's defense, but in Ray Horton's, Roberts was more a safety than a linebacker, as he often had to cover tight ends who towered over him. Mingo matches up better with these guys.
I really doubt that Pettine would designate Mingo a starter at this position, but wouldn't be at all surprised to see him running with tight ends more.
This reminds me--I found more dumbassitude in the Bleacher Report! Somebody called Mingo a "huge disappointment" because he had only five sacks as a rookie playing part-time at a new position. How utterly mindless.
Mingo will certainly return bigger and stronger, but with his metabolism it's not realistic to expect him to get much over 245 lbs. First and foremost he must rush the passer and set the edge, which is why he'll need that extra heft and strength, but he can do much more. I believe Pettine will use him all over the place.
The issue here is Paul Kruger. Unlike Mingo, Kruger is a veteran and was a disappointment (smart people don't use words like "huge" all the time). At 8 mil a year, if Pettine can't get him going, he's a GMF.
You don't want Paul in coverage, so if he can't nail quarterbacks, he's a bust. Pettine will experiment with different fronts and matchups to see if Kruger does better with his hand on the ground or as a joker first.
Right now, OLB is a position of need. You can't count on Kruger, or even be certain of Mingo. Sheard looks good, but Groves is 33, and you really need four.
Fortunately, in the Senior Bowl alone there were three excellent 3-4 OLB prospects (who can also play 4-3 DE), and this draft in general looks deep there. I'd like to see more talent at this position, because without it there's no flexibility, and Mingo can't be moved around as much as he could be otherwise.
Now, Tony himself is not a dumbass, but is sometimes pessimistic about retaining free agents. Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore, Bill in New England, and the people in Pittsburgh often don't extend or re-sign potential free agents.
Ozzie tells them to go test the waters and get some offers, then come back and we'll see if we can afford you. The agents and players appreciate this, and he retains a surprising number of younger veterans.
Tony would rightfully point out that those are perennial contending teams with franchise quarterbacks, so the players tend to want to stick around, even if they make less money. The Browns? Well?
Good point, but Pettine and Haslam aren't BS-ing about the good points here: five Pro-Bowlers, young talent, draft picks (incuding a franchise QB calibre first rounder) and yes YES HOYER. H O Y E R.
So they might not lose Ward or Mack.
If they lose Ward, they have Josh Aubrey. This might alter the scheme to a cover 2 with twin safeties, but Aubrey is a hell of a player. Nor is the book closed on Bademosi, who is still young.
The loss of Mack would be tougher. There are players on the roster who could play center, but not as well. And the use of one of these at that position would take him away from guard. There are good centers in this draft, but rookie centers make mistakes.
The disruption would be bad. A veteran might make the correct line-calls, but the unit would take time to become cohesive and integrated. Pettine could really do without that, as it could cost him games.
I hope they can keep Mack. I really do.
I've been rather disappointed in the latter, and tend to ignore the usual "We're all gonna die everybody sucks" mantras (Mantra: a repetitive chant used to quiet the conscious mind and induce a state of meditation. Meditation is a state of non-thought.)
But first the good stuff: Dilan James of the Bleacher Report really impressed me with a thorough, objective, and thoughtful bio of Mike Pettine, and projections of how he might operate.
With the Bleacher Report, I tend to read articles expecting to find something stupid and ignorant to mar even the best articles, but in this lengthy piece I couldn't find anything. This guy is a pro.
At the Senior Bowl, the inexplicably dissed Derrick Carr completed 7 of 12 passes for 45 yards with a 17-yard TD. It doesn't sound impressive, but that was pretty much the best performance of any of the six quarterbacks.
I don't get why this guy is being discussed as "working himself into" the bottom of the first round. He's eclipsed his brother David, a number one overall draft pick, at the same school. His first year as a starter was in a pro style system, and he has 27 starts.
Beyond the stats in the Senior Bowl, at least two of his incompletions were perfectly placed deep throws: The ball went where only the reciever could catch it, and there was no chance for a pick. These were big-time throws, and Josh Gordon or Jordan Cameron probably hauls them in.
Carr is separated from his bust brother by almost a generation, and unlike his brother has football OCD. David's biggest problem was that he was a good family man. Meaning he spent quality time with his kids. Meaning that when practice was over, he went home--ya know? Derrick's not like that. He's a junkie.
Along with RB James White, unheralded small-school RB David Fruellen averaged 5.5 YPC.
Read for yourself at the Senior Bowl Website: This game was rich in hybrid passrushers suitable for a 3-4, DTs, and bigger cornerbacks. There were also several offensive linemen that will be drafted high.
TE Crocket Gilmore is just a freak.
In my never-ending search for mental midgetry among fans this week, I find myself forced to resort to Hey Tony! Tony is pretty smart, but I can always find stupid ignorant questions:
Look, I know that firing Chud after one year was unpopular (including with me), but it's assenine to jump over the cliff in the second year of a new regime based on this.
The coaching search was deliberately thorough, and the stupid thing to do would be to hire the first guy they could just so they could beat everybody else.
It is true that the candidates were concerned about the quarterback situation and an owner that seemed to have an itchy trigger finger, but I need to restate this: The Browns might have a quarterback (named Hoyer). Pettine knew this. He learned it the hard way.
So the national and local pundits who keep repeating that the Browns have "no quarterback" are ignoramuses. You could reasonably say that the Browns have no proven quarterback, since Hoyer got injured before he could prove to be consistant--and beat defenses who had game-tape on him. But to just dismiss a guy who did what he did is just infuriatingly stupid. I root for these fighters; these underdogs, mainly because everybody else wants to dismiss them.
Anyway, Tony's first questioner was already talking about Pettine eventually forcing this incompetant front office out.
It sure didn't take long for Joe Banner to go from highly respected front office guy to idiot, did it? (I should qualify that: The ex-GMs, players, and coaches I listen to still think he's pretty smart, even though many disagree with the Chud firing. It's guys like this that have issues with premature expostulation that don't).
I need more evidence. No necktie parties just yet. Go home and sober up.
Another guy wondered if the top quarterback drafted would refuse to come to Cleveland (see now the players all think it sucks too ok?). That makes sense, since no quarterback in his right mind would come here to be stuck with Gordon, Cameron, Joe Thomas and bums like that.
Another guy wasn't really dumb at all, as he speculated about Mingo at ILB, where the unfairly bashed Robertson plays.
Don't laugh. Mingo could do that. I'm not sure about Pettine's defense, but in Ray Horton's, Roberts was more a safety than a linebacker, as he often had to cover tight ends who towered over him. Mingo matches up better with these guys.
I really doubt that Pettine would designate Mingo a starter at this position, but wouldn't be at all surprised to see him running with tight ends more.
This reminds me--I found more dumbassitude in the Bleacher Report! Somebody called Mingo a "huge disappointment" because he had only five sacks as a rookie playing part-time at a new position. How utterly mindless.
Mingo will certainly return bigger and stronger, but with his metabolism it's not realistic to expect him to get much over 245 lbs. First and foremost he must rush the passer and set the edge, which is why he'll need that extra heft and strength, but he can do much more. I believe Pettine will use him all over the place.
The issue here is Paul Kruger. Unlike Mingo, Kruger is a veteran and was a disappointment (smart people don't use words like "huge" all the time). At 8 mil a year, if Pettine can't get him going, he's a GMF.
You don't want Paul in coverage, so if he can't nail quarterbacks, he's a bust. Pettine will experiment with different fronts and matchups to see if Kruger does better with his hand on the ground or as a joker first.
Right now, OLB is a position of need. You can't count on Kruger, or even be certain of Mingo. Sheard looks good, but Groves is 33, and you really need four.
Fortunately, in the Senior Bowl alone there were three excellent 3-4 OLB prospects (who can also play 4-3 DE), and this draft in general looks deep there. I'd like to see more talent at this position, because without it there's no flexibility, and Mingo can't be moved around as much as he could be otherwise.
Now, Tony himself is not a dumbass, but is sometimes pessimistic about retaining free agents. Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore, Bill in New England, and the people in Pittsburgh often don't extend or re-sign potential free agents.
Ozzie tells them to go test the waters and get some offers, then come back and we'll see if we can afford you. The agents and players appreciate this, and he retains a surprising number of younger veterans.
Tony would rightfully point out that those are perennial contending teams with franchise quarterbacks, so the players tend to want to stick around, even if they make less money. The Browns? Well?
Good point, but Pettine and Haslam aren't BS-ing about the good points here: five Pro-Bowlers, young talent, draft picks (incuding a franchise QB calibre first rounder) and yes YES HOYER. H O Y E R.
So they might not lose Ward or Mack.
If they lose Ward, they have Josh Aubrey. This might alter the scheme to a cover 2 with twin safeties, but Aubrey is a hell of a player. Nor is the book closed on Bademosi, who is still young.
The loss of Mack would be tougher. There are players on the roster who could play center, but not as well. And the use of one of these at that position would take him away from guard. There are good centers in this draft, but rookie centers make mistakes.
The disruption would be bad. A veteran might make the correct line-calls, but the unit would take time to become cohesive and integrated. Pettine could really do without that, as it could cost him games.
I hope they can keep Mack. I really do.
Friday, January 24, 2014
I Like Mike
Dawidoff tells how Pettine at the scouting combine "hoped to discover 'a bitch-kitty pass rusher.' By this he meant a defensive end or, in a 3-4 alignment, an outside linebacker who would smell a warm quarterback and become an insatiable, unblockable, pocket-infiltrating force of war-daddy bedlam." (Pettine, in Marc Sessler article).
You gotta love anybody who talks like that! And he might even be able to turn somebody already on the team into that. I like that the last interview was at the Senior Bowl, where they can all check out the best seniors with enough brains to be there.
The consensus among the real pros on NFL Radio is that Pettine is excellent.
I was really hoping for the offensive coordinator for a future Hall of Fame QB who runs his own offense. You really can't miss with those guys as long as you have your own future Hall of Fame quarterback, and they actually really can run an offense themselves.
But I'll settle for this guy.
Sons of coaches are good bets. You've got the Harbaughs and Rex Ryan. Ryan is bombastic and all that, but he's actually been a really good head coach. The 2013 Jets weren't very talented and had a rookie QB. Prior to that, Marc Sanchez just never panned out.
Mike Pettine also looks just a tad like the guy in American Pawn, who I really like.
Much is being made about all the good offensive coordinators being off the board. That's not good, but as usual, it's being blown up into a disaster of epic proportions. There are a ton of assistants all over the place awaiting their opportunity just as Mike was, and every "experienced" OC was an assistant first.
Cleveland in general has a fixation with "experience" and "proven". If a lot of you had your way, the only quarterbacks we'd have seen would have been Weeden and Campbell. Mingo wouldn't have played. Gordon might still be on the bench.
This just in from Dawg Pound Daily: They might be chasing Kubiak. Cool!
I love what Pettine said about adapting the system to the roster. Right out of the gate. It sounds like he's got absolutely nothing carved in stone, and will only start on his playbook after he sees what will work best here on offense and on defense.
That, for me, was the most important thing he said. This guy is a thinker, and not a blockhead.
Niether was Chud, or Horton...but this is what we got, and I'll take it.
Pat Kirwan says that Derrick Carr (who is doing great at Senior Bowl practices) might have "worked himself into" the first round. I can't fathom this. I want to know what's wrong with this guy aside from being the MUCH MUCH younger brother of a bust.
And I can buy that the Browns like Manziel--but more than Bridgewater? Enough to trade up for him?
The justifications for trading up to three first round picks for this little dude are laughable. He'd sell tickets. He'd give the offense a personality. I've heard very little about how well he'll actually DO as a pro.
One guy says they should take him over Bridgewater, not because he's any better, but for the aforementioned reasons.
Is you crazy? All these quarterbacks we've had crap out and you think selling tickets is more important than ability. And heeerrreee we goooo again!
I can't pretend to know if Manziel is or isn't a future franchise QB, but niether can the guy who wants to sell tickets. Just draft the best pro prospect, period. That's called common sense.
I think the front office is leaking disinformation. Nice job!
You gotta love anybody who talks like that! And he might even be able to turn somebody already on the team into that. I like that the last interview was at the Senior Bowl, where they can all check out the best seniors with enough brains to be there.
The consensus among the real pros on NFL Radio is that Pettine is excellent.
I was really hoping for the offensive coordinator for a future Hall of Fame QB who runs his own offense. You really can't miss with those guys as long as you have your own future Hall of Fame quarterback, and they actually really can run an offense themselves.
But I'll settle for this guy.
Sons of coaches are good bets. You've got the Harbaughs and Rex Ryan. Ryan is bombastic and all that, but he's actually been a really good head coach. The 2013 Jets weren't very talented and had a rookie QB. Prior to that, Marc Sanchez just never panned out.
Mike Pettine also looks just a tad like the guy in American Pawn, who I really like.
Much is being made about all the good offensive coordinators being off the board. That's not good, but as usual, it's being blown up into a disaster of epic proportions. There are a ton of assistants all over the place awaiting their opportunity just as Mike was, and every "experienced" OC was an assistant first.
Cleveland in general has a fixation with "experience" and "proven". If a lot of you had your way, the only quarterbacks we'd have seen would have been Weeden and Campbell. Mingo wouldn't have played. Gordon might still be on the bench.
This just in from Dawg Pound Daily: They might be chasing Kubiak. Cool!
I love what Pettine said about adapting the system to the roster. Right out of the gate. It sounds like he's got absolutely nothing carved in stone, and will only start on his playbook after he sees what will work best here on offense and on defense.
That, for me, was the most important thing he said. This guy is a thinker, and not a blockhead.
Niether was Chud, or Horton...but this is what we got, and I'll take it.
Pat Kirwan says that Derrick Carr (who is doing great at Senior Bowl practices) might have "worked himself into" the first round. I can't fathom this. I want to know what's wrong with this guy aside from being the MUCH MUCH younger brother of a bust.
And I can buy that the Browns like Manziel--but more than Bridgewater? Enough to trade up for him?
The justifications for trading up to three first round picks for this little dude are laughable. He'd sell tickets. He'd give the offense a personality. I've heard very little about how well he'll actually DO as a pro.
One guy says they should take him over Bridgewater, not because he's any better, but for the aforementioned reasons.
Is you crazy? All these quarterbacks we've had crap out and you think selling tickets is more important than ability. And heeerrreee we goooo again!
I can't pretend to know if Manziel is or isn't a future franchise QB, but niether can the guy who wants to sell tickets. Just draft the best pro prospect, period. That's called common sense.
I think the front office is leaking disinformation. Nice job!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Jimmy Haslam and Black Helicopters
In Dear Tony this week, I read a lot of dumbassitude from the askers.
One guy was demanding accountability for the front office's blown personnel moves. This wasn't really that stupid, since Kruger failed to produce, and Mingo needs more time. It was, however, a superficial and shallow assessment.
Mingo was never expected to be a superstar in his first season at a new position, and there's little reason to doubt that a bigger, stronger Mingo won't return next season much improved.
Kruger...I can't address that.
But the Browns had no second round draft pick, and trading the 4th and 5th rounders was NOT a dumb move, as this season they now have additional third and fourth rounders duh.
The front office wasn't to blame when Owens and others were lost to injury. Their retention of Sheard was in itself a smart move, as I and others were hoping they'd trade the defensive end who might or might not become a good 3-4 OLB.
You can't give them an A-plus or anything, but the moves they made were generally good, and you need to wait two more years to see how those low and undrafted offensive linemen pan out. And lets give a recovered Owens a chance, ok? For that matter, it's a little early to inter Kruger.
Another guy wondered why on earth Haslam would ever hire Banner, with his reputation. Now that was pure idiocy. Banner was one of the most respected front office execs in football. Everybody except this guy knew it.
A couple more intelligent people asked about the possibility that Peyton Manning would retire after this season and become the head coach or replace Banner.
That would be a dream come true. Tony seems to think that Peyton would go to the front office rather than coaching, and would probably try broadcasting first. He didn't elaborate on that.
I just hope he's wrong. Peyton Manning as the Browns new head coach? WOW! This is something we can dream about.
The Haslam connection is strong here, so I do think this is possible. As Tony informed me in the same article, the NFL sort of played matchmaker between Haslam and Banner, but Haslam has his own opinions, and it's looking like he's starting to flex his muscles.
Jimmy can trust Manning's opinions on Gace, and probably other coaching candidates as well. And if Peyton does retire, you just know that Jimmy will make a strong offer to make him the head coach himself.
Tony thinks that Haslam was particularly upset with the losses to the Jets and Jaguars. I believe the losses to the less-talented Steelers burned him up too. While I would never have fired Chud after his first year, I do understand it.
But Tony's black helicopter side came out a little, as he suggested that the front office felt that Chud started out with the wrong quarterback.
Weeden was good and bad as a rookie in a West Coast system to which he was ill-suited. With a season's experience and the introduction of an offensive system better suited for him, there was no reason to question starting the first round pick.
It's possible that the front office felt that Chud stuck with Weeden longer than he should have, but not that it was wrong to just do the rational thing.
Tony really, really doesn't like Lombardi. He tries to be objective, but the bias undermines him. Tony probably actually believes that Lombardi wanted Chud to start HOYER in game one.
I really, really, really doubt that. When Tony doesn't like somebody, he gets a little crazy. Lombardi knew as well as anyone that Hoyer had hardly played any NFL downs, and that it's common sense to let the current starter continue to start until he proves he sucks.
Jimmy Haslam seems pretty impatient. At least in Peyton Manning and probably some other people he clicks with, he's probably getting pretty good advice.
My glass is half full. We'll see.
One guy was demanding accountability for the front office's blown personnel moves. This wasn't really that stupid, since Kruger failed to produce, and Mingo needs more time. It was, however, a superficial and shallow assessment.
Mingo was never expected to be a superstar in his first season at a new position, and there's little reason to doubt that a bigger, stronger Mingo won't return next season much improved.
Kruger...I can't address that.
But the Browns had no second round draft pick, and trading the 4th and 5th rounders was NOT a dumb move, as this season they now have additional third and fourth rounders duh.
The front office wasn't to blame when Owens and others were lost to injury. Their retention of Sheard was in itself a smart move, as I and others were hoping they'd trade the defensive end who might or might not become a good 3-4 OLB.
You can't give them an A-plus or anything, but the moves they made were generally good, and you need to wait two more years to see how those low and undrafted offensive linemen pan out. And lets give a recovered Owens a chance, ok? For that matter, it's a little early to inter Kruger.
Another guy wondered why on earth Haslam would ever hire Banner, with his reputation. Now that was pure idiocy. Banner was one of the most respected front office execs in football. Everybody except this guy knew it.
A couple more intelligent people asked about the possibility that Peyton Manning would retire after this season and become the head coach or replace Banner.
That would be a dream come true. Tony seems to think that Peyton would go to the front office rather than coaching, and would probably try broadcasting first. He didn't elaborate on that.
I just hope he's wrong. Peyton Manning as the Browns new head coach? WOW! This is something we can dream about.
The Haslam connection is strong here, so I do think this is possible. As Tony informed me in the same article, the NFL sort of played matchmaker between Haslam and Banner, but Haslam has his own opinions, and it's looking like he's starting to flex his muscles.
Jimmy can trust Manning's opinions on Gace, and probably other coaching candidates as well. And if Peyton does retire, you just know that Jimmy will make a strong offer to make him the head coach himself.
Tony thinks that Haslam was particularly upset with the losses to the Jets and Jaguars. I believe the losses to the less-talented Steelers burned him up too. While I would never have fired Chud after his first year, I do understand it.
But Tony's black helicopter side came out a little, as he suggested that the front office felt that Chud started out with the wrong quarterback.
Weeden was good and bad as a rookie in a West Coast system to which he was ill-suited. With a season's experience and the introduction of an offensive system better suited for him, there was no reason to question starting the first round pick.
It's possible that the front office felt that Chud stuck with Weeden longer than he should have, but not that it was wrong to just do the rational thing.
Tony really, really doesn't like Lombardi. He tries to be objective, but the bias undermines him. Tony probably actually believes that Lombardi wanted Chud to start HOYER in game one.
I really, really, really doubt that. When Tony doesn't like somebody, he gets a little crazy. Lombardi knew as well as anyone that Hoyer had hardly played any NFL downs, and that it's common sense to let the current starter continue to start until he proves he sucks.
Jimmy Haslam seems pretty impatient. At least in Peyton Manning and probably some other people he clicks with, he's probably getting pretty good advice.
My glass is half full. We'll see.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Dear John Elway:
It sounds like you will need an offensive coordinator pretty soon, and I would like to apply for this opening. It seems like the best way to become the head coach of the Cleveland Browns is to be an offensive coordinator for a future Hall of Fame quarterback who runs his own offense.
Since the other guy is probably remaining in New England to get Tom Brady's coffee and stuff, I would like to do that for Peyton.
I'm highly qualified. I've been a cab driver and delivery contractor so I can drive people around and go get stuff. I also make a mean cup of joe, if I do say so myself.
I can promise you lots of yards and points as long as Peyton is healthy. I might even do ok if he is injured but can stand or sit next to me during games.
I'm so glad I can be honest with a guy like you, who knows it wasn't really Mike Shanahan--ya know?
I am very interested in this position until Peyton Manning retires or the Browns hire me as their head coach. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely, Wile E Coyote
Since the other guy is probably remaining in New England to get Tom Brady's coffee and stuff, I would like to do that for Peyton.
I'm highly qualified. I've been a cab driver and delivery contractor so I can drive people around and go get stuff. I also make a mean cup of joe, if I do say so myself.
I can promise you lots of yards and points as long as Peyton is healthy. I might even do ok if he is injured but can stand or sit next to me during games.
I'm so glad I can be honest with a guy like you, who knows it wasn't really Mike Shanahan--ya know?
I am very interested in this position until Peyton Manning retires or the Browns hire me as their head coach. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely, Wile E Coyote
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Smooth Move, Ex-Lax
Firing Rob Chudzinski was stupid.
I can respect that he didn't improve on last year's win/loss record despite having the services of not one, but three quarterbacks and not one, but two new systems. Still, what did Banner and Haslam say when they hired him?
They said that continuity was important. I took that to mean that Chud would have a "free" season to get his feet wet and establish the systems and core players. After over a decade of musical head coaches, this just made sense to me.
And there they go, firing him right out of the gate!
Idiocy!
Oh, but here come the black helicopters! I hear the grinder going in Grossi's shop: It was Lombardi's idea (and by the way all their personel moves sucked).
It was Banner's ego. It was Chud not towing the line.
No, I think this was far more likely Jimmy Haslam himself. Haslam is a businessman and saw a lack of progress, period. (And by the way, that's irrefutable. After showing signs of great progress around mid-season, the team tapered off late.)
I lay the majority of this at Campbell's feet. He started out great, then became mediocre. Not Chud's fault. But maybe Jimmy is just a bottom-line kinda guy.
He was a minority owner in Pittsburgh. He knew that that team is aging and in decline. He could go over the two rosters position-by-position and feel good about his new team sweeping the Steelers.
It didn't happen. You're fired.
I'm just guessing, but my guess is better than most.
I feel so terrible about McDaniels withdrawing his name from the search! I was so looking foreward to another Belichick protege joining the ranks of Mangini and Crennel as yet another great Belichick tree head coach! Especially after the great job he did in Denver!
What an awesome resume, too! Coaching Tom Brady! Whatever will Tom do without him?
Wait--who is Denver's coordinator? HE coaches Peyton Manning! Those credentials are just about as good! Let's hire him! Or maybe the guy who coaches Drew Brees!
I don't know who they'll hire, but I know damn well that Turner is angry, and might well want out (can't blame him). There's a good chance that any offensive coordinator hired to replace Chud might want to install his own system, and nudge him out.
The whole quarterback thing is up in the air. Turner would prefer a more traditional quarterback to Manziel, but the new guy might like the little guy just fine.
They just fired the guy who brought the Read-Option to the NFL for Cam Newton....go figger.
I can respect that he didn't improve on last year's win/loss record despite having the services of not one, but three quarterbacks and not one, but two new systems. Still, what did Banner and Haslam say when they hired him?
They said that continuity was important. I took that to mean that Chud would have a "free" season to get his feet wet and establish the systems and core players. After over a decade of musical head coaches, this just made sense to me.
And there they go, firing him right out of the gate!
Idiocy!
Oh, but here come the black helicopters! I hear the grinder going in Grossi's shop: It was Lombardi's idea (and by the way all their personel moves sucked).
It was Banner's ego. It was Chud not towing the line.
No, I think this was far more likely Jimmy Haslam himself. Haslam is a businessman and saw a lack of progress, period. (And by the way, that's irrefutable. After showing signs of great progress around mid-season, the team tapered off late.)
I lay the majority of this at Campbell's feet. He started out great, then became mediocre. Not Chud's fault. But maybe Jimmy is just a bottom-line kinda guy.
He was a minority owner in Pittsburgh. He knew that that team is aging and in decline. He could go over the two rosters position-by-position and feel good about his new team sweeping the Steelers.
It didn't happen. You're fired.
I'm just guessing, but my guess is better than most.
I feel so terrible about McDaniels withdrawing his name from the search! I was so looking foreward to another Belichick protege joining the ranks of Mangini and Crennel as yet another great Belichick tree head coach! Especially after the great job he did in Denver!
What an awesome resume, too! Coaching Tom Brady! Whatever will Tom do without him?
Wait--who is Denver's coordinator? HE coaches Peyton Manning! Those credentials are just about as good! Let's hire him! Or maybe the guy who coaches Drew Brees!
I don't know who they'll hire, but I know damn well that Turner is angry, and might well want out (can't blame him). There's a good chance that any offensive coordinator hired to replace Chud might want to install his own system, and nudge him out.
The whole quarterback thing is up in the air. Turner would prefer a more traditional quarterback to Manziel, but the new guy might like the little guy just fine.
They just fired the guy who brought the Read-Option to the NFL for Cam Newton....go figger.
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