bubba9497
January-4th-2005, 11:16 PM
Browns focus on Savage; interview Childress
http://warroom.sportingnews.com/nfl/articles/20050104/591181.html
Butch Davis left the Cleveland Browns - and a mess. Phil Savage could be the one who cleans it up.
Savage, the Baltimore Ravens' director of player personnel and a former assistant coach with the Browns, has moved to the top of the team's list of candidates to become Cleveland's general manager.
Meanwhile, the team's coaching search got under way Tuesday as the Browns interviewed Brad Childress, Philadelphia's offensive coordinator, two sources within the league told The Associated Press.
Browns owner Randy Lerner and president John Collins met with Childress, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Eagles have a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs, and the break gave the Browns an opportunity to meet with the 48-year-old Childress, who has been on Andy Reid's staff since 1999.
The Browns are also expected to interview Terry Robiskie, their interim coach for the final five games after Davis quit. Also, they got permission from Pittsburgh to interview assistant head coach Russ Grimm later this week.
While the coaching search is wide open, the pursuit of a GM is focusing on Savage.
On Monday, Lerner and Collins had a four-hour discussion with the 39-year-old Savage, credited with helping the Ravens amass one of the NFL's most star-studded rosters.
Savage just completed his second year as Ravens personnel director. Before that, he served as the club's director of college scouting and was instrumental in drafting Pro Bowlers Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis and Ed Reed.
Savage's eye for talent would go a long way in helping rebuild the star-starved Browns, who have had just one player - Jamir Miller (2002) - make the Pro Bowl since they returned to the league in 1999.
"I think it will be one way or the other in the next couple of days," Savage said at a speaking engagement in Baltimore. "Obviously they're not finished talking with me and I'm probably not finished talking with them. It's up in the air.
"I don't want to say that I'm leaving, staying or going because I really don't know at this point. I do know this: If I were to go somewhere else it would be because I really felt it was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up."
Savage was an assistant coach with Cleveland from 1991-95.
Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome was considered the Browns' top choice, but Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti didn't want to lose him.
"I'm happy where I am," Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end with Cleveland from 1978-90, said from the Orange Bowl in Miami. "I'm part of the competition committee, so I understand. I'm under contract and in a very good situation."
Newsome feels Cleveland would be an equally good spot for Savage.
"No question, Phil is well-suited for the job," he said. "He has been ready for this opportunity for the past three or four years. He turned down other opportunities that weren't right for him."
A crucial offseason began for the Browns one day after they finished an injury-ravaged 4-12 season with a win over Houston. The victory snapped a nine-game losing streak and provided some comfort to the Browns, whose dismal season included Davis' resignation on Nov. 30.
"It's been a terrible year," said kicker Phil Dawson, who ended his on an upswing by making five field goals in Sunday's win. "What's frustrating is that I'm six years into this thing and we're right back where we were - if not behind."
The Browns' offseason makeover started roughly, too. Armed with a list of candidates and a travel itinerary, Collins and Lerner hit the road hoping to talk with as many as seven GM candidates.
But on Monday, their first day to formally request permission to interview team executives under contract, the Browns had their list whittled down. Newsome, Tennessee GM Floyd Reese, Atlanta assistant GM Tim Ruskell, Pittsburgh director of football operations Kevin Colbert and Philadelphia vice president of player personnel Tom Heckert all informed the Browns they weren't interested or weren't being granted permission to be interviewed.
Once the Browns decide on a hire, the new GM has his work cut out.
There's the matter of quarterback Jeff Garcia, who never got comfortable during a miserable first season in Cleveland. There's Robiskie, who thinks he should be the next coach and has the players' backing. There's a $2 million signing bonus due wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, the team's top playmaker. There's impending free agency for cornerback Anthony Henry and Kelly Holcomb. And there are holes on both sides of the ball.
As the Browns cleaned out their lockers Monday, many wondered how much more cleaning was to come.
"Who knows what's going to happen this offseason?" Holcomb said. "Who knows who's going to be the general manager or the coach? Who knows where I'm going to be? Who knows where anybody is going to be?"
http://warroom.sportingnews.com/nfl/articles/20050104/591181.html
Butch Davis left the Cleveland Browns - and a mess. Phil Savage could be the one who cleans it up.
Savage, the Baltimore Ravens' director of player personnel and a former assistant coach with the Browns, has moved to the top of the team's list of candidates to become Cleveland's general manager.
Meanwhile, the team's coaching search got under way Tuesday as the Browns interviewed Brad Childress, Philadelphia's offensive coordinator, two sources within the league told The Associated Press.
Browns owner Randy Lerner and president John Collins met with Childress, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Eagles have a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs, and the break gave the Browns an opportunity to meet with the 48-year-old Childress, who has been on Andy Reid's staff since 1999.
The Browns are also expected to interview Terry Robiskie, their interim coach for the final five games after Davis quit. Also, they got permission from Pittsburgh to interview assistant head coach Russ Grimm later this week.
While the coaching search is wide open, the pursuit of a GM is focusing on Savage.
On Monday, Lerner and Collins had a four-hour discussion with the 39-year-old Savage, credited with helping the Ravens amass one of the NFL's most star-studded rosters.
Savage just completed his second year as Ravens personnel director. Before that, he served as the club's director of college scouting and was instrumental in drafting Pro Bowlers Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis and Ed Reed.
Savage's eye for talent would go a long way in helping rebuild the star-starved Browns, who have had just one player - Jamir Miller (2002) - make the Pro Bowl since they returned to the league in 1999.
"I think it will be one way or the other in the next couple of days," Savage said at a speaking engagement in Baltimore. "Obviously they're not finished talking with me and I'm probably not finished talking with them. It's up in the air.
"I don't want to say that I'm leaving, staying or going because I really don't know at this point. I do know this: If I were to go somewhere else it would be because I really felt it was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up."
Savage was an assistant coach with Cleveland from 1991-95.
Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome was considered the Browns' top choice, but Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti didn't want to lose him.
"I'm happy where I am," Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end with Cleveland from 1978-90, said from the Orange Bowl in Miami. "I'm part of the competition committee, so I understand. I'm under contract and in a very good situation."
Newsome feels Cleveland would be an equally good spot for Savage.
"No question, Phil is well-suited for the job," he said. "He has been ready for this opportunity for the past three or four years. He turned down other opportunities that weren't right for him."
A crucial offseason began for the Browns one day after they finished an injury-ravaged 4-12 season with a win over Houston. The victory snapped a nine-game losing streak and provided some comfort to the Browns, whose dismal season included Davis' resignation on Nov. 30.
"It's been a terrible year," said kicker Phil Dawson, who ended his on an upswing by making five field goals in Sunday's win. "What's frustrating is that I'm six years into this thing and we're right back where we were - if not behind."
The Browns' offseason makeover started roughly, too. Armed with a list of candidates and a travel itinerary, Collins and Lerner hit the road hoping to talk with as many as seven GM candidates.
But on Monday, their first day to formally request permission to interview team executives under contract, the Browns had their list whittled down. Newsome, Tennessee GM Floyd Reese, Atlanta assistant GM Tim Ruskell, Pittsburgh director of football operations Kevin Colbert and Philadelphia vice president of player personnel Tom Heckert all informed the Browns they weren't interested or weren't being granted permission to be interviewed.
Once the Browns decide on a hire, the new GM has his work cut out.
There's the matter of quarterback Jeff Garcia, who never got comfortable during a miserable first season in Cleveland. There's Robiskie, who thinks he should be the next coach and has the players' backing. There's a $2 million signing bonus due wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, the team's top playmaker. There's impending free agency for cornerback Anthony Henry and Kelly Holcomb. And there are holes on both sides of the ball.
As the Browns cleaned out their lockers Monday, many wondered how much more cleaning was to come.
"Who knows what's going to happen this offseason?" Holcomb said. "Who knows who's going to be the general manager or the coach? Who knows where I'm going to be? Who knows where anybody is going to be?"