ESPN REPORTS: Browns eye Schottenheimer for 2009

PLEASE GOD...

via. ESPN.com

The Cleveland Browns are formulating a plan that ultimately could lead to the return of Marty Schottenheimer as their coach for the 2009 season, according to sources.

The Browns would also be open to considering Bill Cowher if he sends stronger signals that he's ready to return, the sources said.

The Browns plan to fire coach Romeo Crennel after a disappointing year, regardless of injuries the team has suffered, the sources said. Pubicly, owner Randy Lerner has only said he will evaluate Crennel after the season.

The future of general manager Phil Savage also has been the source of speculation by various media outlets. Sources said Lerner prefers to retain Savage to run his personnel department but could scale back his overall duties, which include the final say on all roster moves.

Before the 2008 season, Savage signed a four-year contract extension for an average of
$2.7 million per year, the sources said.

However, Lerner is contemplating a different authority -- or "voice" of the franchise -- that can filled by an experienced coach like Cowher or Schottenheimer, the sources said.

Schottenheimer recently said he had no plans to return to the sidelines, but sources said he would consider coming back "for the job ... with a team that has a good core of talent."

Schottenheimer, 65, was fired by the San Diego Chargers after leading the team to a 14-2 record in 2006 and a first-round playoff bye. But a home second-round playoff loss to the New England Patriots and a broken relationship with general manager A.J. Smith led to a surprising dismissal in February 2007. Several Chargers players were upset that Schottenheimer was fired.

Schottenheimer was the Browns' defensive coordinator under Sam Rutigliano in 1980 but took over as head coach when Rutigliano was fired midway through the 1984 season. Schottenheimer had a 44-27 record with the Browns, won three divisional titles, had four playoff appearances and two AFC Championship Game appearances before he was fired by owner Art Modell.

Overall, in coaching stints with the Browns, Chiefs, Redskins and Chargers, Scottenheimer is one of only seven coaches with at least 200 career victories. His playoff record is 5-13.

Chris Mortensen is a senior NFL analyst for ESPN.

SUPERLAWYER: Fred Nance could be new director of the NFLPA

The Mayor sent this to me yesturday.

For those of you, especially if your from Cleveland, who don't know who Fred Nance is...

GET HIP!!! GOOGLE HIM

Anyone who has half a brain and pays attention to life outside of they're house, should know who Mr. Nance...

Reports from Cleveland's Crain's Magazine release...

Cleveland superlawyer Fred Nance is one of 14 candidates to replace the late Gene Upshaw as executive director of the NFL Players Association, the Associated Press reports.

The AP, citing “a person with knowledge of the search process,” says four contenders are former NFL players and union presidents: Trace Armstrong, Mike Kenn, George Martin and Troy Vincent. Also making the cut is sports attorney David Cornwell. The union last week narrowed the list of candidates to “about 14” from 25, the AP says.

“The remaining candidates are scheduled to meet individually with the Chicago-based search firm, Reilly Partners, through the end of the year before a list of finalists is determined,” the AP reports. “The new executive director is scheduled to be selected at the NFLPA's annual meeting in Hawaii in March.”

The story reminds us that Mr. Nance has lots of sports ties.

In addition to representing Cavaliers star LeBron James, Mr. Nance worked with former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his eventual successor, Roger Goodell, to secure a football team for Cleveland after the original Browns left for Baltimore.

UPDATE: Browns Pursuing Bill Cowher

A source with knowledge of the situation tells us that the Browns have approached former Steelers coach Bill Cowher regarding the possibility of becoming the next coach in Cleveland.

Per the source, the Browns are willing to give Cowher a contract worth $8 million to $9 million per year.

Presumably, Cowher’s arrival would occur only if G.M. Phil Savage were fired or significantly marginalized.  (Maybe Savage can go work for the Bills — or if all else fails he can root for them.)  Cowher would want final say over personnel, and Cowher would want to install one or more of his former Steelers colleagues into key positions.

Likely candidates, if they can finagle a path out of Pittsburgh, would be director of football operations Kevin Colbert and/or director of business operations Omar Khan.

Cowher played for the Browns (i.e., Ravens) from 1980 through 1982, and he served as special teams coach in 1985 and 1986.  He was moved to defensive backs coach in 1987, and he remained in that position through 1988.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ORIGINAL POST