Romeo Crennel was fired this morning, as reported by Mary Kay Cabot in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

Crennel coached the Browns for four seasons and compiled a 24-40 record. Despite a strong 10-6 season last year, the Browns never made the playoffs during Crennel’s regime and seemed to take a huge step backward this season, culminating in yesterday’s terrible 31-0 loss to the Steelers.

Crennel was reportedly going to meet with Browns owner Randy Lerner this morning. No word on if the meeting occurred, or if Crennel was simply fired. It is no secret that Randy Lerner wants Bill Cowher to become the next head coach of the Browns (as do many Browns fans). Lerner is also reportedly interested in bringing in New England VP Scott Pioli to run football operations.

According to Cabot, Lerner will meet with the media at 10:00 this morning.

According to a report by Tony Grossi in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, owner Randy Lerner made the decision to fire Phil Savage before today’s 31-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Shortly after the Browns completed a 4-12 season with a 31-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns confirmed that Savage was fired.

Owner Randy Lerner made the decision prior to the game. A source said the decision was based on problems with Savage’s communication and leadership skills.”

According to reports that surfaced earlier today, Randy Lerner is focusing his initial efforts on bringing in either Scott Pioli of New England or Bill Cowher to be the new leader of the Browns football operations.

We’ll see. With the Patriots playoff hopes hanging in the balance right now, needing a Jets win over the Dolphins, the immediate availability of Scott Pioli is in question. And Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported earlier today that Bill Cowher has stated emphatically that he will not coach in 2009, but may in 2010.

Right now, too much is up in the air. But one thing is for sure: Lerner is ready to get on it. He reportedly has interviews scheduled all next week and obviously would like to a get GM in place to lead the coaching search and establish some continuity leading into the draft.

Part of the reason why Lerner was so quick to fire Phil Savage was the spate of bad PR that came upon the Browns this season that did not involve the team’s porous play on the field — and there was plenty of that. A quick rundown:

Phil Savage and Kellen Winslow Disagreement

Phil Savage Sends F-You Email to Fan

And, of course, there were the numerous thinly veiled shots at the coaching staff that, while probably true, are probably not going to make any future coaches want to play for Phil Savage.

Going back to watching the Dolphins game. I’ll have more later.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage will be asked to step down on Monday. Cabot says that nothing will happen before Monday unless one of the two forces the issue. In addition, Cabot reports that Browns owner Randy Lerner is targeting former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher and New Englad Patriots Executive Vice President Scott Pioli, and that he he would be “ecstatic” to have the chance to land both.

Mike Florio over at PFT has already pooh-poohed the idea of a Pioli-Cowher partnership in Cleveland, saying that both would demand final say. Thus, a partnership is merely a Lerner pipe dream with no actual chance of happening. I tend to agree.

Additionally, Chris Mortensen of ESPN is also reporting the Browns’ interest in Cowher and Pioli, but that there may be a silver living for Romeo Crennel and/or Phil Savage. Mortensen says that if the Browns are unable to persuade Cowher or Pioli to join the organization, Savage has a chance to maintain his role as GM.

There are a couple more interesting nuggets, from the Cabot report:

1. Romeo Crennel may be asked to stay in Cleveland in a different capacity that head coach, perhaps as defensive coordinator, especially if Scott Pioli joins the Browns. Crennel worked with Pioli in New England, and Randy Lerner is apparently impressed the class and dignity with which Romeo Crennel has conducted himself. Florio pooh-poohed this idea too, saying it would be difficult for the players to have the former head coach still in the building with a new man in charge. I agree. No way Crennel stays.
2. Should the Browns not get Bill Cowher to be the head coach, they may go the coordinator route to fill the opening. Names being thrown around are Rex Ryan of Baltimore, Jason Garrett of Dallas, Jim Schwartz of Tennessee, Steve Spagnuolo of the New York Giants, and Josh McDaniels of New England. Another name mentioned who might be interviewed: Urban Meyer of Florida.

I am on record stating that I agree with the premise of the guys over at Cowher09.com, that I think Bill Cowher would be a great choice for the Browns. If the Browns do not get Cowher, I would love to see them go the coordinator route and give an up-and-coming coach their first head job. Look at Miami, Atlanta, and Baltimore. All three teams experienced a huge turnaround this season and all had experienced GMs in place who chose first-time head coaches. Whether it is Scott Pioli or Phil Savage making the choice (in which case, we would be assuming, Bill Cowher is not an option), I think they should choose the best of the aforementioned candidates through the interview process.

Except for Urban Meyer.

I don’t want to discuss Urban-Meyer-to-the-Browns too much, because I don’t think it can possibly be realistic, but I just want to go on record saying I think it is completely preposterous. Some coaches are born to be college football coaches (Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban) and some guys are born to coach in the NFL. Urban Meyer is an awesome coach, but, like Bob Stoops, I think he is a college coach and would not have success in the NFL. I know he has Bowling Green and Midwest roots, but please. How many times do we have to see college coaches fail in the NFL before owners and GMs will stop thinking they can find the next Jimmy Johnson?

Randy Lerner, please listen to me: DO NOT get tempted by Urban Meyer.

I cannot decide if I would rather see an offensive guy or a defensive guy be brought in. On the one hand, the Browns D could use an overhaul and a more experienced leader. Mel Tucker is a good secondary coach, but has been a bit overmatched this season as a defensive coordinator, at least in my opinion. We do not get consistent pressure on opposing QBs and seem to play on our toes too much, reacting instead of forcing the action.

However, Romeo Crennel was a defensive coordinator. And the Browns D, while it has shown flashes of potential, has not markedly improved over the past four years. I think the talent has, but the consistency and performance in key, late-game situations, has not. And the D has, sadly, been the strength of this year’s team. The offensive woes of the Browns have been discussed ad nauseum this season. Injuries, underperforming “stars”, and horrible coaching has led to the 5-game TD drought. But once 2009 begins, there will still be talent to work with on offensive.

Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson will be back at QB. Joe Thomas is a Pro Bowl offensive lineman. Braylon Edwards has talent, if he can pull his head out of his ass. Kellen WInslow obviously is supremely talented, but struggles to stay healthy. Joe Jurevicius should be back. Jamal Lewis-Jerome Harrison-Jason Wright, if deployed effectively, can be an effective trio of running backs, a poor team’s answer to the Giants three-headed trio.

So maybe a guy like Josh McDaniels or Jason Garrett could breathe life into the offense? I live in Dallas and the star of Jason Garrett has faded a bit this year with the struggles of the Cowboys offense. What McDaniels at NE have been able to do without Tom Brady has been impressive.

At the end of the day, I don’t think it matters whether the choice is offensive or defensive. What Randy Lerner needs to do is find the coach who brings the right ATTITUDE to Berea. The biggest frustration for many Browns fans over the past few years has been the lack of an attitude, a killer instinct, a swagger. We had for a few brief moments in 2007, but it completely evaporated this year. I think that is why most people are excited about the thought of Bill Cowher. Even Steelers fans question some Bill Cowher’s decision-making and Xs-and-Os thinking. But no one has ever, ever questioned his attitude.

The Browns have talent, as they proved last year. What they need is a complete overhaul in mindset. If the choice is not Bill Cowher, then Randy Lerner needs to find a new head coach who can define a winning attitude for the Cleveland Browns, just like the Steelers did in hiring Mike Tomlin. He was inexperienced, but he is a winner and has a winning attitude. (Damnit I hate the Steelers.)

I don’t know who that coach is, and I’m just a blogger so it’s not my job to know. But I do know that it is time for the Browns to make the right decision about who will lead their organization, and that the #1 criteria needs to be attitude and leadership above all else.

First, General Manager Phil Savage was outed for replying to a fan’s insulting email with an “F… you.”

Then, Browns quarterback Brady Quinn came up with a fractured index finger on his throwing hand. The fingertip injury apparently happened during the Browns-Buffalo game Monday night. However, a hand specialist cleared Quinn to play Sunday against the Houston Texans in what may turn out to be another game on the snowy, windy tundra that is Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Phil Savage f-word email story was retold on national sports shows with former NFL general managers, athletes and analysts weighing in on the impulsiveness and unprofessionalism of the act.

In fact, the story was so bizarre that I’ve dusted off the “Laugh-In” Flying Finger of Fate Award, given each week by hosts Rowan and Martin for the dumbest news item of the week. (To those under 40, Laugh-In was a political comedy considered very controversial and edgy for its day.)

Phil Savage’s vulgar email sent to a fan later identified on WKNR AM/850 as “Brett” was dumb on several levels.

Number one, the email exchange which began with Brett calling Phil Savage “the worst GM in the NFL” and asked why Jerome Harrison wasn’t used more, was sent at 11:37 p.m., Monday, as the Browns were beating the Buffalo Bills.

Savage responded at 12:17 a.m., more than 20 minutes after the game ended with: “Go root for Buffalo – F— you.”

Two, was the Browns 29-27 victory over Buffalo so uninteresting to Savage that he opened up his blackberry to read emails from fans?

At that time of night, every Browns fan in Cleveland seemed to be holding its collective breath while Phil Dawson kicked the 56-yard field goal for the lead, giving the Bills enough time to kick – and miss — a 47-yarder with less than one minute left in the game, and secure a Browns victory. (I didn’t even think of checking my emails or answering the phone.)

And three, why the heck would Savage care what one fan wrote. This incident makes ESPN analyst and former Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer’s comment of the Browns making moves to please the fans a lot more credible.

One WKNR sports talk show producer also wondered aloud how any fan could get access to Savage’s email address. Well, I guess it is available on the Cleveland Browns Web site. (Although I can’t say this is the case as of this writing.)

My suggestion to Phil: Pay more attention to the game. It might help when it comes draft time. And if you are bored sitting in your loge, email your wife or something.

Perhaps a good policy would be for the Browns to set up an automatic email from Savage to emailing fans, stating, “The Cleveland Browns thank you for emailing me with your helpful suggestions and comments. We read all of our emails and care what fans have to say. We hope you continue to support our Cleveland Browns.. Go, Browns.

Your friend, Phil.”

You probably won’t catch Mr. Savage emailing an f-bomb to a fan, again.

You can “bet your sweet bippy” on it.

[tags]phil savage, cleveland browns, nfl[/tags]

Coach Romeo Crennel made the announcement after the Browns morning practice in the team’s Berea facility.

Apparently, Quinn said his finger was still sore after Wednesday’s practice, according to Cleveland.com. The fracture was discovered in an X-ray. Quinn was then examined by a hand specialist who cleared Quinn to play.

Crennel described the injury as a “small fracture” and said Quinn would wear a splint on the finger when he is not practicing or playing.

Comments to this news, also reported on WKNR 850 ranged from “I’d rather see Brady with a fractured finger play, than Derek Anderson” to a “fan” wondering if this fracture could be used as an excuse for Quinn throwing interceptions against the Texans, not being able to throw long, etc. to “I’d rather see (Ken) Dorsey play, than Anderson.”

My take is, I wonder if Quinn will actually be able to play.

The Browns are notorious for underplaying and minimizing injuries. Ryan Tucker’s “knee” for instance, only allowed him to play in the Browns vs. Giants game which turned into Cleveland’s first win of the season – and the Giants’ only loss. Go figure.

Browns General Manager Phil Savage found himself on the hot seat, recently, for trying to keep under wraps the fact that tight end Kellen Winslow’s “undisclosed illness” and a three-day stay at The Cleveland Clinic was actually due to a staph infection. Winslow was suspended one game with pay for blowing the whistle on his actual illness to the media, but this was actually overturned after the Browns backed down.

By the way, Winslow has a “sprained shoulder”, which occurred when Winslow caught a crucial Quinn pass in the second last Browns play in Monday night’s Buffalo game right before Phil Dawson’s 56-yard field goal.

I am sick about this latest injury report – as are all Browns fans – and also wonder how this “small fracture” will affect Quinn in just his third start in the NFL.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo was out of action (on the football field) for several weeks.

My advice: Wear a splint and bandage on the finger at practice and the game, too.

I once had a tiny fracture in my right pinkie finger that not only hurt like heck, but when I finally did go to the hospital emergency room, I ended up with a splint surrounded by a gigantic wraparound bandage, 10 times the size of my finger. It took six weeks before getting the bandage off – and the finger is still crooked.

Not that it matters to anyone but myself, but fortunately, since I am left-handed, I can still throw a football like before. More information than you wanted?

OK, Midnight Writer will keep the updates to Quinn’s condition.

Go, Browns!

The Associated Press is reporting that Romeo Crennel has confirmed that Phil Savage did, in fact, send an email containing a expletive to a Browns fan who had emailed him repeatedly during the Browns-Bills Monday Night Football game.

Per the AP:

Coach Romeo Crennel confirmed Thursday that Savage sent the e-mail, which was first reported on sports blog deadspin.com.

Crennel says he understands Savage’s frustration and spoke with him Thursday about the incident. Crennel says it’s unfortunate that it happened, adding “in tough times, tough things happen.”

According to the report on Ohio.com:

”We all get frustrated at times,” Crennel said in his daily news conference.

He continued by saying people try to be ”professional” and hold it in, but ‘’sometimes things slip out.”

”It’s unfortunate that it slipped out,” Crennel said.

Interestingly, the Ohio.com report also states that WKNR’s Tony Rizzo said on the radio that he spoke to the fan, and the fan actually said that he deserved the email response from Phil Savage. He apparently later apologized to Savage after heading from the Browns GM.

I don’t really know what to say, other than I was obviously wrong in doubting this story when it first broke yesterday on Deadspin. I certainly think that my reasons for having doubt were well founded: this is out of character for Phil Savage (at least my impression of him), and it certainly does not make sense, and there was not any solid proof behind it that I could..

But when you read confirming quotes from the head coach, I’m not really sure there is anything else to say.

Looks like I picked the wrong story to call BS on.

(Update 6:00 PM ET – Phil Savage has acknowledged that the rumored email exchange occurred.)

Before I even begin explaining this story, let me just say right now, with my credibility on the line I suppose, that I absolutely do not believe the following rumor.

I was not going to post anything about it, so as not to further the rumor, but I know how these stories spread like wildfire across the web; and with dissing Phil Savage being a popular pasttime for many football writers and bloggers (even those on this site), I figured a voice of dissension could add some value to the conversation.

On now with the rumor.

Rumors began circulating on the Internet today that Phil Savage sent a terse and profane email response to a frustrated fan who had emailed him. Per Deadspin.com, who originally broke this story, Phil Savage received the following email during Monday night’s Browns-Bills game:

You are easily the worst GM in the NFL. Chud, Crennel and Tucker should
NOT have jobs. How the hell do you play prevent defense the entire
game? How do you NOT use Jerome Harrison more? Why the hell would you
throw the ball with 6 minutes left? This is officially a regime that is
worse than Butch Davis’. By the way, just like last week – this email
was written while the Browns still had the lead.

And according to the Deadspin.com account of the story, Phil Savage responded with this:

Go root for Buffalo-f#@* you-

I only decided to post about this once I saw it picked up by ProFootballTalk.com and other major sports blogs in addition to Deadspin. And I don’t want to throw Deadspin.com under the bus or cast aspersions upon their credibility — but their post about the Phil Savage email certainly leaves me with more questions than it does answers.

I am assuming that Deadspin has some sort of journalistic criteria that they follow before posting an item. At least, I hope they do. This is the type of blog post that grow crazy legs and take on a life of its own pretty quickly; it’s the kind of thing that could make an owner wonder about the mindset and conduct of his General Manager.

I can’t say for certain one way or the other if this rumor is true. I have no knowledge either way. What I can say is that it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, for many reasons:

1. People who know Phil Savage tell me that this is completely out of his character, that he does not talk or communicate that way. I’ve only met Phil Savage once and gleaned the rest of my impression of him from newspaper articles and radio appearances, but I have to say that an email like this flies in the face of every impression I’ve had of him.
2. As of posting this, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer has no mention of this story on their website. I have to believe that if there was truth to it, that the Plain-Dealer would have had time to investigate it and report something. The Deadspin article came out around 5 or 6. That there is not even a mention on the Plain-Dealer website leads me to believe that there is not anything to the story. No chance that they just leave this hanging in the sports blogosphere if it’s really a story.
3. More importantly, it just seems completely ludicrous to think that the General Manager of an NFL team would a) even respond to a rambling, negative fan email; and b) respond in such a way that is basically indefensible and would surely result in a fine, punishment, or even the loss of his job.

Forget any impression I have of Phil Savage. I met him once, have heard positive things from family members who have met him and from friends in the Browns organization, but I suppose he could curse like a sailor and be a totally nasty and miserable man behind closed doors. You never really know with public figures who we only know through their media persona.

But to send that kind of email?

I realize that many Browns fans have questioned some personnel decisions made by Phil Savage (while lauding some as well, to be fair); but I don’t think anyone has ever honestly considered Phil Savage to be legally insane or masochistic. To send an email like this would basically be akin to firing yourself, and would kill any chances of latching on as a GM elsewhere in the present or the future.

Without anything more to back this up than just a supposedly verbatim transcript of an email, we are supposed to believe that Phil Savage was this nuts? I don’t buy it.

If they had a screenshot of the email, I might be more likely to think it could be true. But how easy would it be to send an email saying “I said this to Phil Savage and look what he typed back!” And then type whatever you want. For a disgruntled Browns fan, a boored Steelers fan, or a drunk idiot looking to cause trouble, it wouldn’t be too difficult to do.

This just doesn’t smell right to me. It doesn’t make sense. If it’s true, this will be the biggest piece of drama yet for the Browns in a season of drama, and will no doubt make like pretty difficult for Savage and the team. But without more to go on, I’m going on record as saying that I don’t believe it. I’ve had the same questions for Phil Savage as any other Browns fan this season regarding his handling of the Kellen Winslow situation, the defensiveness of his radio appearance in the aftermath of the Kellen saga, the quarterback troubles, etc. So calling me a Phil Savage apologist, if you are so inclined, would not be accurate.

But I try to use common sense to decide what is right and what is BS. On the one hand, I am a daily visitor to Deadspin and I can’t believe that they would post something like this without being sure it was true. And on the other hand, I simply cannot believe, no matter how frustrated Phil Savage is, that he would do something this short-sighted, vulgar, and idiotic.

With the information I have now, I’m calling BS on this one. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out, but I’m not buying into this story without more proof than what we have right now.

(Update: The original Deadspin post has been updated, and now includes the following quote: “So until I can find out whether or not this is the real deal — which may be hard, let’s just keep this in the ‘might be a prank’ file.“ So not a confirmation, nor a retraction. ProFootballTalk has put out a couple of new stories about the Savage email this morning as well.)

(Side note: It is ironic that the original post about this story from Deadspin included a link to Midwest Sports Fans. For a new blog trying to make its name on the web, this is not small deal. I never thought I’d be refuting the story that our first Deadspin link came from, but here we are. Still love the site, I just can’t buy into this story without a little more than what’s there. Thanks for the link though…always sincerely appreciated.)

Rumors within the NFL and sports talk stations and blogs are that Cleveland Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel will get the axe unless the Browns somehow salvage their 2008 season.

And what is more, Romeo Crennel probably knows it.

The whole Bill-Cowher-for-Browns-Coach buzz has been gaining momentum with each Cleveland loss, botched clock, player discipline problems, (i.e. Kellen Winslow outing Phil Savage in Staphgate, Braylon Edwards’ refusal to speak to the media about uncomfortable, uncool things like dropping the football) — and the latest split in team unity voiced by running back Jamal Lewis after the Browns lost 14-point and 13-point leads against Baltimore and Denver.

“This is a man’s game,” Lewis told reporters following the Denver debacle at Cleveland Browns Stadium. “Some people have to check their egos at the door.”

The insinuation by Jamal Lewis that his teammates were quitting on him — and Romeo Crennel — could have been blamed on Jamal’s frustration and embarrasment after the Thursday night Browns-Bronocs game.

But when Joshua Cribbs chimed in with the same allegations of team members packing it in early, and deep, deep sources close to the locker room report that some of the players openly talk back to Crennel, the story of a divisive locker room and that appearance that Crennel could have lost control of his players could mean that the jobs of the entire Browns coaching staff may be in jeopardy next year.

Enter the movement to bring in Bill Cowher, former coach of the Superbow Pittsburgh Steelers — Cleveland’s longtime rival. Cowher’s mug is smiling now, behind a desk at CBS, making a go at being a broadcaster and commentator, but lacking the presence of pacing the sidelines.

Questions as to why Cowher would want to return to 100-hour work weeks to field a new team — and if so, why the Cleveland Browns — will be addressed in my column later this week.

By the way, rumors really began flying about Cowher coming to Cleveland after anonymous sources began phoning radio talk show hosts claiming Cowher bought a house in Strongsville, an upper middle class suburb southwest of Downtown Cleveland.

But Kenny Roda, sports talk jock for ESPN 850AM, WKNR, tried to shed light on the subject a couple of weeks ago when he claimed Cowher was simly investing in Greater Cleveland property to build a llama or alpaca farm. (Can you picture “the Face” in blue jean overalls chasing down a stubborn llama?)

We shall see.

Regardless, General Manager Phil Savage may have sealed his fate with more than just his poor performance in handling the Kellen Winslow and staph infection fiasco; that would just be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

While Phil Savage earned his salary and more in drafting Joe Thomas and finagling for Brady Quinn, first round draft pick Braylon Edwards’ inconsistent play, giant ego and 12 dropped passes in the past nine games has reduced this player’s value.

Another first reound draft pick, Kamerion Wimbley is not getting to quarterbacks, making him a bust.

But perhaps it was the handling of the quarterbacks in 2007 that may have cost the Browns a playoff berth last year and a winning season this year.

Because Brady Quinn held out for more money (his agent is Tom Condon), he arrived late at the 2007 pre-season training camp and was not allowed to compete for the quarterback job that Charlie Frye ultimately won.

We all know how that turned out. And when Derek Anderson began losing his touch when the games began to count, Brady Quinn still stood on the sidelines with his clipboard, getting only eight snaps in one game the entire season.

It became evident from the first snap against Dallas in the home opener that Anderson did not perform well under pressure. Yet, Quinn was stuck with that stupid clipboard to hold until Anderson fell to his knees, then his ass, in disgust after being intercepted multiple times on the road against the Ravens in a game that now looks like a microcosm of the 2008 Browns season.

(Bookmark our Cleveland Browns news page and check back often to stay up-to-date on the latest Cleveland Browns news from around the web.)

[tags]cleveland browns, bill cowher, brady quinn, phil savage, nfl[/tags]

(Sunday morning update: The Browns have lifted the suspension of Kellen Winslow after text messages surfaced from a Browns PR employee that pressured Winslow to keep quiet about his staph infection.  Winslow will still not play against the Jaguars.)

Today during his weekly radio spot will Wills and Snyder on The Big One, WTAM 1100 in Cleveland, Browns GM Phil Savage commented publicly on the Kellen Winslow suspension for the first time. (Thanks to our own MidnightWriter and ProFootballTalk.com for the alerting us to the interview.)

You can listen to Phil Savage discuss Kellen Winslow on WTAM 1100 here.

I took a quick listen, and here are the highlights:

As to the reportedly “heated” conversation that Kellen Winslow and Phil Savage had in the tunnel following the Washington game, and prior to Kellen Winslow’s comments, Savage said that their conversation was, in fact, not heated. He said might have been awkward somewhat, with Winslow in a football uniform and Savage in a suit, but that both he and WInslow handled themselves with respect.

As to the suspension, Phil Savage explained that this was something he and Browns ownership and Romeo Crennel discussed all Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. Savage felt that Kellen Winslow went public with remarks without giving team an opportunity to respond, and in doing so Winslow called into question the integrity of the organization — despite the fact that Browns had stood by Winslow in the aftermath of his motorcycle accident and subsequent rehab. In addition, he reasserted that Browns have done everything to combat staph problem

“It just showed a lack of professional restraint,” Savage said about the comments by Winslow.

Phil Savage then went on, at length, discussing his primary point: that the Cleveland Browns are bigger than one person.

“That’s the bottom line in this situation,” explained Savage. “We couldn’t and won’t allow one person to tear down the organization. So we had to do something.”

Savage also took exception to the notion that he does not care for his players, a response to Winslow’s charge that he felt like “a piece of meat.” Without refuting Winslow’s claim that Savage never called him while he was in the hospital, Savage went on at length about the extent of his duties as GM and how he still makes time to find personal connections and personal time for almost every player. I agree with Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, that Savage went overboard here, and sounded a little whiny and defensive. But his basic point was that any notion that he does not care about his players is falsely based.

Phil Savage then discussed the Browns organization as a whole, and how the organization’s commitment to winning and to the team (”T-E-A-M” as he spelled out) led to Winslow’s suspension:

“[The Browns] will never ever ever have a group of people who are more committed to winning, and doing things the right way, with character, with integrity, with dignity, from the group that’s over there right now,” explained Savage.

He continued, “I’m not going to sit here and allow for one second all those people and the many, many others in the organization who love this team, as well as lot of the players, almost every single man on that team, who gives everything they have on the field, and off the field for us to be embarrassed by some unnecessary remarks that occurred this week. So for us to be characterized in this way on a national stage is absolutely unacceptable, and that’s why we did what we did.

“The team is the most important thing in the entire structure of this, and we cannot allow one person to disrupt that.”

The conversation then turned to the nature of Winslow’s illness and hospitalization. Savage said that HIPA won’t allow them to reveal the nature of an illness without the individual’s approval. He said, to paraphrase, that It seemed that the people involved “wouldn’t want it out there.” It was all agreed upon that Winslow and the Browns would keep the nature of the illness under wraps, and that agreement was reached the weekend before the Giants game. Savage did say that it was a non-football illness that occurred during the bye week. After the game, Savage explained, the whole thing changed with regard to keeping the situation under wraps.

The question was then posed to Phil Savage, can you go forward with Kellen Winslow?

“Absolutely,” Savage responded. “You know, if he’s willing to do the things that he’s said publicly that he’s willing to do, which is that he wants to be Brown, he wants to be a productive member of the team….certainly we would welcome him back. We’ve gotta do what’s best for the team, and the people that are on this team have to do what’s best for the team and not always necessarily what’s best for themselves.”

Phil Savage did say one thing that seemed to refute other reports I have been hearing regarding the supposedly expedited appeal. He said that, as of late last night, the appeal hearing will be on Tuesday, which would obviously be after the Jacksonville game.

From my perspective, the last thing that Phil Savage said, regarding individuals doing what’s best for the team and not necessarily themselves, was the most interesting. I have had a sneaking suspicion since this situation cropped up that Winslow’s desire for a new contract, and the influence of Drew Rosenhaus, might have as much to do with his actions as anything. While Savage never even hinted in that direction specifically, the general assertion seems to be there that Kellen Winslow’s actions were selfish and in his own best interests, with little regard to the team. How much the contract issue plays into that obviously is not known for certain, my gut feeling remains that it has as much to do with it as anything.

Anyway, we wanted to hear from Phil Savage and now we have. He and the organization felt a suspension was necessary to preserve the integrity of the team. The more I hear about this story, the more I agree with him; but obviously I would like to see this get resolved as quickly as possible, see the Browns pull out a much needed W against Jacksonville this weekend, and then get Kellen Winslow back to being the dynamic, game-changing playmaker that he was last year.

The best interests of the team may be for Kellen Winslow to sit this week’s game out, as much to prove a point as anything else. But we all know that the best interests of the team’s long-term success in 2008 revolves around Kellen Winslow becoming a productive member of this offense once again.

[tags]kellen winslow, phil savage, cleveland browns, nfl, football[/tags]