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Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou?
Here is the wire story about his firing. No word on if this will impact the local KFC franchises...
Crennel fired after Browns' 4-win season
ESPN.com news services
Updated: December 29, 2008, 4:50 PM ET
BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns fired coach Romeo Crennel following a 4-12 season.
The decision came one day after general manager Phil Savage was dismissed. Owner Randy Lerner met with Crennel on Monday morning and the team announced the coach's firing moments before a news conference began.
Lerner, who's been expected to make a run at former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, said Monday that Cowher told him he was not interested in joining the Browns.
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.
Lack of approval
Romeo Crennel never cracked 50 percent this season in ESPN.com's SportsNation NFL coach approval ratings. He finished at just 20 percent.
Crennel's rating | All coaches
A source told 1050 ESPN Radio's Andrew Marchand that Cowher would listen to the New York Jets about their opening, but that he recently renegotiated his CBS contract for next season and plans to remain there.
As far as finding a new GM, Lerner has asked for permission to talk to Patriots vice president of personnel Scott Pioli. The Boston Globe reported that the Patriots gave the Browns permission to interview Pioli.
Pioli does not have final authority on personnel decisions with the Patriots, however. That belongs to Bill Belichick. If any team offers Pioli final authority, he is allowed to break his contract with the Patriots.
Crennel had three years left on a contract extension he signed in January after the Browns went 10-6 and just missed the playoffs last season.
Crennel went 24-40 in four seasons with the Browns, who entered 2008 with huge expectations but collapsed amid a series of 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.
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, who had never been a head coach at any level before taking over the Browns in 2005.
Pittsburgh Steelers Cleveland Browns
NFL.com Video
Watch highlights from the Pittsburgh Steelers' 31-0 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Crennel was regarded as the top coordinator available when the Browns hired him in 2005, 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.
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.
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 tagged as one of the league's rising teams entering '08. They were rewarded with five prime-time TV appearances but their schedule proved to be too much.
They were also ravaged by injuries as 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.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
ESPN.com news services
Updated: December 29, 2008, 4:50 PM ET
BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns fired coach Romeo Crennel following a 4-12 season.
The decision came one day after general manager Phil Savage was dismissed. Owner Randy Lerner met with Crennel on Monday morning and the team announced the coach's firing moments before a news conference began.
Lerner, who's been expected to make a run at former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, said Monday that Cowher told him he was not interested in joining the Browns.
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.
Lack of approval
Romeo Crennel never cracked 50 percent this season in ESPN.com's SportsNation NFL coach approval ratings. He finished at just 20 percent.
Crennel's rating | All coaches
A source told 1050 ESPN Radio's Andrew Marchand that Cowher would listen to the New York Jets about their opening, but that he recently renegotiated his CBS contract for next season and plans to remain there.
As far as finding a new GM, Lerner has asked for permission to talk to Patriots vice president of personnel Scott Pioli. The Boston Globe reported that the Patriots gave the Browns permission to interview Pioli.
Pioli does not have final authority on personnel decisions with the Patriots, however. That belongs to Bill Belichick. If any team offers Pioli final authority, he is allowed to break his contract with the Patriots.
Crennel had three years left on a contract extension he signed in January after the Browns went 10-6 and just missed the playoffs last season.
Crennel went 24-40 in four seasons with the Browns, who entered 2008 with huge expectations but collapsed amid a series of 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.
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, who had never been a head coach at any level before taking over the Browns in 2005.
Pittsburgh Steelers Cleveland Browns
NFL.com Video
Watch highlights from the Pittsburgh Steelers' 31-0 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Crennel was regarded as the top coordinator available when the Browns hired him in 2005, 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.
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.
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 tagged as one of the league's rising teams entering '08. They were rewarded with five prime-time TV appearances but their schedule proved to be too much.
They were also ravaged by injuries as 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.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.