Cowher not interested in Browns coaching job

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Browns fire Crennel after four seasons; Cowher not interested

Associated Press

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland's offseason has already begun with a disheartening loss. Bill Cowher is not interested in coaching the rebuilding Browns.

Following a 4-12 season that began with Cleveland pegged as one of the NFL's rising teams, the Browns fired coach Romeo Crennel on Monday. The ouster came one day after general manager Phil Savage was dismissed by owner Randy Lerner.
Cowher not interested
In his first attempt to upgrade his franchise for next season, Browns owner Randy Lerner already has been rebuffed as Bill Cowher told him he's not interested in coaching next season. More ...

Lerner has begun interviewing for both openings and met with Cowher on Saturday night in New York. The former Pittsburgh Steelers coach and current CBS analyst told him he has no intention of returning to coaching in 2009. He asked Lerner to remove him from his list of coaching candidates.

"The explanation that he gave," Lerner said, "was that he was very focused on his kids and his life in North Carolina, and the way he's living in a noncoaching or, if you will, a civilian existence and that he wasn't finished with that."

Crennel went 24-40 in four seasons with the Browns, who entered 2008 with huge expectations but collapsed amid injuries and uneven play on offense and defense. They didn't score an offensive touchdown while losing their last six games and posted their fifth season of at least 10 losses in six years.

"I would like to thank Randy Lerner for giving me the opportunity to coach the Cleveland Browns," Crennel said in a statement. "Some progress was made in my four years here, but not enough to go forward in this position.

"The support from the community and the fans has been greatly appreciated. Though this past year has been tough, my experience in Cleveland has been a good one. I did not win enough games so I must move on. Thank you for the opportunity."

Although Crennel's dismissal had been expected for some time, Lerner waited until after the season out of respect for the 61-year-old coach and former defensive coordinator. Crennel had never been a head coach at any level before taking over the Browns in 2005.

"Romeo was a gentleman through and through," said Lerner, who met with the coach Monday morning. "He was gracious to a fault."

Crennel told Lerner he may be willing to stay with the team in another coaching capacity.

Crennel was regarded as the top coordinator available when the Browns hired him shortly after they brought in Savage. Crennel accepted Lerner's offer in the hours after winning his third Super Bowl as New England's defensive coordinator. Crennel won two previous Super Bowl rings as an assistant coach with the New York Giants.

Cowher wouldn't be the first coach to change his mind. But Lerner said he left the meeting feeling as if the door was closed.

"He wasn't coy. He spoke very clearly," Lerner said. "He was very prepared to describe his position. It wasn't a dance."

Lerner said he never talked finances with Cowher.

"It wasn't that kind of meeting," Lerner said. "This was an informal visit to get out on the table that he was not prepared to be considered a candidate. Had I heard otherwise, I would have skipped that meeting."

Crennel's vast experience, defensive knowledge and even-keeled demeanor were vital at the time for the Browns, who were coming off a 4-12 season under Butch Davis. Cleveland went 6-10 in Crennel's first year and just 4-12 in 2006, when they lost six of their last seven games.
Romeo Crennel
Cleveland Browns

Seasons: 2005-08
Record: 24-40

But after a 10-6 season in 2007, Crennel was given the contract extension through the 2011 season. With an explosive offense and six Pro Bowlers, the Browns were rewarded with five prime-time TV appearances but their schedule proved too much.

They were also ravaged by injuries. Quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn were lost for the season, forcing Crennel to start recently signed Bruce Gradkowski in the season finale at Pittsburgh. The Browns were beaten 31-0, dropping Crennel to 0-8 in his career against the Steelers -- the only full-time Browns coach not to beat Cleveland's rival.

Crennel was genuinely respected by the Browns. The players referred to him as RAC, his initials, and were disappointed they didn't play better for him. Quinn admired the way Crennel handled talk of his departure.

"It says a lot about someone going through adversity who continues to coach and do their job," he said. "To me and the rest of the guys that said a lot about coach Crennel and who he is."

 

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The jut-jawed former Steelers coach and No. 1 target on Lerner's coaching wish list told the Browns he is not interested in joining them.

During a meeting on Saturday night in New York, Cowher, who has worked as a studio analyst for CBS since stepping down following the 2006 season, informed Lerner he has no intention of returning to coaching in 2009 and asked to be taken off the list of possible candidates.

"The explanation that he gave," Lerner said, "was that he was very focused on his kids and his life in North Carolina, and the way he's living in a noncoaching or, if you will, a civilian existence, and that he wasn't finished with that."

Lerner said he and Cowher had a long conversation about the Browns and Cowher's days as a player and assistant coach in Cleveland.

Cowher, who is certain to be coveted by several other teams, could change his mind. But Lerner said he left their meeting feeling as if it would be their last.

"He wasn't coy. He spoke very clearly," Lerner said. "He was very prepared to describe his position. It wasn't a dance."

Lerner said he never got a chance to make a financial pitch to Cowher.

"It wasn't that kind of meeting," he said. "This was an informal visit to get out on the table that he was not prepared to be considered a candidate. Had I heard otherwise, I would have skipped that meeting and said let's get to it [business]."

A source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that although Cowher told the Browns he is not interested in their job, he has not ruled out a return to coaching somewhere in 2009. The source also said Cowher could still listen to opportunities to coach elsewhere next season.