obie7661
11-30-2006, 01:04 PM
BEREA, Ohio - Browns general manager Phil Savage strongly backed coach Romeo Crennel on Thursday, temporarily snuffing speculation the club was on the verge of another coaching change.
"Romeo has the total support of (owner) Randy Lerner and myself," Savage said during a news conference. "He has the respect of the team. We believe in him."
Crennel, just 9-18 in two seasons with Cleveland, has come under heavy attack for the Browns' 3-8 record and a perceived lack of player discipline. During Sunday's 30-0 loss to Cincinnati, wide receiver Braylon Edwards argued with teammates - a spectacle that led many to think Crennel had lost control of his team.
Savage refuted that notion and vowed his support to Crennel "in the next five games, in the upcoming offseason and next year."
"Romeo and I are in this together," Savage said. "Some of the problems we've had this year you can't lay at the feet of one person."
The Browns have again been riddled with injuries at key positions, making progress nearly impossible.
Still, Savage feels the club has made small strides in getting back to respectability, and feels the Browns have fewer problems with player conduct that most NFL teams.
"I feel like we're going to come out on the other side of this," he said.
Several Browns players were pleased to hear Savage's support of Crennel, hired in February 2005 after winning a Super Bowl as New England's defensive coordinator - his fifth title as an assistant.
"Romeo is a great guy and when people taste blood they are going to try and gobble him up," tight end Kellen Winslow said. "He's got nothing to worry about. He's a great coach."
"Romeo has the total support of (owner) Randy Lerner and myself," Savage said during a news conference. "He has the respect of the team. We believe in him."
Crennel, just 9-18 in two seasons with Cleveland, has come under heavy attack for the Browns' 3-8 record and a perceived lack of player discipline. During Sunday's 30-0 loss to Cincinnati, wide receiver Braylon Edwards argued with teammates - a spectacle that led many to think Crennel had lost control of his team.
Savage refuted that notion and vowed his support to Crennel "in the next five games, in the upcoming offseason and next year."
"Romeo and I are in this together," Savage said. "Some of the problems we've had this year you can't lay at the feet of one person."
The Browns have again been riddled with injuries at key positions, making progress nearly impossible.
Still, Savage feels the club has made small strides in getting back to respectability, and feels the Browns have fewer problems with player conduct that most NFL teams.
"I feel like we're going to come out on the other side of this," he said.
Several Browns players were pleased to hear Savage's support of Crennel, hired in February 2005 after winning a Super Bowl as New England's defensive coordinator - his fifth title as an assistant.
"Romeo is a great guy and when people taste blood they are going to try and gobble him up," tight end Kellen Winslow said. "He's got nothing to worry about. He's a great coach."