The Search

[motherscratcher]

And WTF is up with 'high ceiling' love. Fucking things are hard to paint. God forbid you have recessed lights up there that burn out.

High ceilings suck.

The process of finding our next sucks.

Getting/Not Getting Kelly or anyone else we don't really know anything about sucks.

High Ceiling:

[Hikohadon]

Tomorrow on Craigslist:

For Sale: Gently used NFL franchise.
"Rabid" fan base.
Great history.
Motivated seller, $900,000,000 or best offer.

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

Luria offering him Payton money on top of part-ownership of Pat's versus Phil Knight leaving the severed head of the Oregon Duck in his bed versus...

Blech. We're fucked, aren't we.

[justmebd]

WTAM reporting Banner/Haslem "Livid" at Kelly and his agent right now.

Dead Frog looking more and more attractive. I hear he has good legs.

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

Go Whiz! I hear you can get a good deal on a used Chad Henne or Matt Cassell.

[mattvan1]

WTAM reporting Banner/Haslem "Livid" at Kelly and his agent right now.

Dead Frog looking more and more attractive. I hear he has good legs.

I thought David Dunn and Little Napolean were buds?

[Hikohadon]

WTAM reporting Banner/Haslem "Livid" at Kelly and his agent right now.

Dead Frog looking more and more attractive. I hear he has good legs.

I thought David Dunn and Little Napolean were buds?

I guess he and the other Little Napolean are closer. Or his earning potential is higher.

[Triple-S]

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.s ... um=twitter

so he was non-committal?

[mattvan1]

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2013/01/browns_walk_away_from_chip_kel.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

so he was non-committal?

Maybe true, maybe spin.

At this point I couldn't give shit.

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2013/01/browns_walk_away_from_chip_kel.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

so he was non-committal?

Translation: I don't think Jimmy Joe are very happy with Chipper right now.

[bookelly]

I gotta hand it to CHIPPER. He managed to piss off at least two fan bases, one new owner and his President, the local media in three cities, his entire coaching staff at Oregon and several Arizona waiters in one 24 hour period. Kinda impressive actually.

[kennesawmountainwahoo]

I can't get upset about this. College coaches who are also NFL virgins have such a good history. Although stiffing your prospective bosses on a pre-arranged dinner meeting is probably not a good idea. Execs are funny that way.

[Hikohadon]

The Browns walked away from Oregon coach Chip Kelly because they weren't sure his heart was 100-percent into leaving Oregon, a league source told the Plain Dealer today.

With Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner committed to bringing a championship team to Cleveland, they weren't about to settle for anything less than a 100-percent commitment, the source said.

Sensing that Kelly was waffling on whether or not to jump to the NFL or stay with the Ducks, the Browns removed themselves from the running and flew home from Arizona to restart their search without him.

In other news, I didn't get the sense that Megan Fox was totally committed to sleeping with me, so I figured she wouldn't be as good if she were "unfocused" so I told her to hit the bricks.

My decision, not hers.

[justmebd]

You're too good for Megan Fox. You need to set your sights higher.

May I suggest some British Page 3 models?

[Hikohadon]

You're too good for Megan Fox. You need to set your sights higher.

May I suggest some British Page 3 models?

I thought about Keeley Hazell, but her accent is very off-putting, so I told her to take a flying leap.

Again, my decision, not hers.

[peeker643]

The Browns walked away from Oregon coach Chip Kelly because they weren't sure his heart was 100-percent into leaving Oregon, a league source told the Plain Dealer today.

With Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner committed to bringing a championship team to Cleveland, they weren't about to settle for anything less than a 100-percent commitment, the source said.

Sensing that Kelly was waffling on whether or not to jump to the NFL or stay with the Ducks, the Browns removed themselves from the running and flew home from Arizona to restart their search without him.

In other news, I didn't get the sense that Megan Fox was totally committed to sleeping with me, so I figured she wouldn't be as good if she were "unfocused" so I told her to hit the bricks.

My decision, not hers.

Who's the knob-slobbing shill who's name is attached to that affront to journalistic integrity?

People wonder why I don't read that piece of shit paper (much less by that rag) or go to their piece of shit site. Good God. And the worst part is there are sheep out there who will feel better about themselves tonight because their team took a stand.

Now you pissed me off.

[Fire Marshall Bill 2.0]

Is now good time to tell everyone here in 9 hrs I'm leaving for Florida by myself, sansa wife, on a 2 1/2 week road trip to sleep off hangovers in the sun while eating shrimp and sucking Marguritas...?

[motherscratcher]

Only 2 1/2 weeks?

[FUDU]

The Browns walked away from Oregon coach Chip Kelly because they weren't sure his heart was 100-percent into leaving Oregon, a league source told the Plain Dealer today.

With Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner committed to bringing a championship team to Cleveland, they weren't about to settle for anything less than a 100-percent commitment, the source said.

Sensing that Kelly was waffling on whether or not to jump to the NFL or stay with the Ducks, the Browns removed themselves from the running and flew home from Arizona to restart their search without him.

In other news, I didn't get the sense that Megan Fox was totally committed to sleeping with me, so I figured she wouldn't be as good if she were "unfocused" so I told her to hit the bricks.

My decision, not hers.

Diane's available, her & I decided to just be friends.

[justmebd]

You're too good for Megan Fox. You need to set your sights higher.

May I suggest some British Page 3 models?

I thought about Keeley Hazell, but her accent is very off-putting, so I told her to take a flying leap.

Again, my decision, not hers.

Kelly Brook keeps doing all these photo shoots in bikinis and lingerie, just BEGGING for my attention. When is she going to understand I'm married and just move on with her life?

[rbm0183]

At least things are starting to look up with the news that they are going to interview Marc Trestman.

[Gradysmanldy]

Gotta remember that all of the options at this point are serious upgrades to Shur, even if the GM candidates are not quite on par with Heckert. Happy with Horton, Whiz, Lovie, Tres.....provided they get a competent GM.

I think that verticals offense Whiz runs would look nice with Weeds and the WR in house.

Bummed about the Chip thing, but glad in the end he went back to school....would have been worse to have a halfassedly committed coach who goes back tithe NCAA when the team struggles in its first few years and the media calls you a flop. (Which would have invariably happened here, as he put hi players and system in)

Bummed they lost THEIR plan C in Maronne, regardless of what I felt about him. Liked to see Hasban aggressively pursue their guys, and sorry to see it fail to work out.

Still good theater watching twitter for updates on the search. Hope Tres is brought in for an interview, and sincerely hope a SF package is on the table.

[Hikohadon]

I'm hoping by "Tres" you don't mean Tressel.

[dmiles]

Not sure about the coaching search but I do need some dental work mo and since Tijuana is no longer an option here in Orlando, swing by, I can provide all the Stroh's you can drink.

[Gradysmanldy]

I'm hoping by "Tres" you don't mean Tressel.

Absolutely not. Marc trestman, or however you spell it (on spotty Sri Lanka Internet)

Btw they block porn sites here, which is interesting if OT

[mattvan1]

At least things are starting to look up with the news that they are going to interview Marc Trestman.

Back 2 back Grey Cup Championships, baby!

[neoleo]

Let me ask a question.

Is it possible that Chip Kelly wasn't the Browns top choice? Seems to me like we're putting a lot of stock into the reports and "sources" of media personalities that we spend all year shitting on (rightfully so). I just don't get the hate for Haslam and Banner already, when they're going through a process that hasn't even played out yet. We're blaming them for missing their guy, when it's possible that's not even the case (and this isn't me buying the PD article, I was skeptical of those "sources" all along saying Kelly was so close to signing).

In my mind, it's very possible that Kelly was one of the Browns top choices, but not necessarily THE top choice. They had to act quickly to line up an interview for a few reasons - he's a hot commodity, he was available to be interviewed at that specific time, and because he was one of their top candidates that had the most questions to be answered. If he were 100% the top choice, I don't understand why they would have wasted their time interviewing anybody else besides Ray Horton to satisfy the Rooney Rule.

I'm sure a lot of you on this board have interviewed people in your career, and you know the person you interview first isn't always your top choice. I get the difference between an NFL coaching search and Joe Schmoe's job, but the point remains the same. You have a list of top candidates going in, you interview them as they're available, and then your list begins to reorder itself as questions become answered.

The fact that we're interviewing everybody from college coaches, to top NFL assistants, to head coaching retreads to MFing CFL coaches should be proof that these guys are going through with a process, and not just focusing in on one guy ala Shurmer.

And that, to me, is all we can ask for. Save the hate for when it's deserved, because chances are pretty high that it will be, but right now it just seems like people are mad just for the sake of being mad.

[FUDU]

Good point neo, not to mention the backlash b/c we didn't land Chip, when there is legit risk with Chip coming on board. Landing Chip was in no way a guarantee of anything other than somebody that wouldn't let his playbook blow across the field into the D-coordinators hands.

[jerryroche]

The fact that we're interviewing everybody from college coaches, to top NFL assistants, to head coaching retreads to MFing CFL coaches should be proof that these guys are going through with a process, and not just focusing in on one guy ala Shurmer.

You're taking a big leap of faith. None of us peons can be sure of anything, except that interviewing multiple candidates at least makes it LOOK like they're going through a process — even if they desperately wanted Kelly to be their guy, were shat on, and now are stuck without any decent options.

We don't want to believe that our new owner and CEO have suffered a terrible miscalculation and made their first rookie mistake. But it may, in fact, be true.

[pup]

So, since Chip Kelly decided he wanted to be a total douchebag, the guys running this ship are now idiots. I was on board with the hiring of Kelly and still think the guy could coach at this level. However, it isn't like the Browns are the only people that missed on his actual desire to come to the NFL. The Eagles. Anyone reporting that he was already assembling a staff. Shit, Adam Caplan reported THURSDAY that 3 assistants were basically already hired, because everyone was so sure Chip was leaving.

Chip's choice to go back to Oregon saves a little Jimmy/Joe face in my opinion. Had they allowed him to leave that meeting and the guy went to the Eagles...that would have been embarrassing. Having him stay at Oregon takes a little sting off.

Still down with waiting to see what the process leaves us with before I am so sure I want to kill the guys in charge. Just because you might have missed on your first target, it does not mean the mission cannot be successful.

[Hikohadon]

Neo, that is a well thought out and lucid argument.

Denied.

(Sorry, good line from My Cousin Vinny, couldn't resist its use)

I highly doubt they spent 7 hours interviewing Ray Horton or Ken Whisenhunt. The fact that they just hapen to live in the city where they were going to pursue Chippy had a lot more to do with their interview than any real desire to consider them.

And the O'Brien and Marrone interviews felt like CYA movew in case Chip turned them down, which could be described as prudent if not for the fact that those CYA guys are now gone.

But the main reason I believe that Chip was their main focus all along was that Jimmy wanted to make a "big splash" and Chip was the Shiniest Object available.

I could very well be wrong and in all fairness should give them the benefit of the doubt, but my defense mechanisms are now permanently set to "distrust" when it comes to Browns decision makers.

Regardless their intent and what the reality might be, the impression that was created in the fan base was Chip was the guy they wanted and they had him, the fan base got excited about the prospect, and then it got yanked away. So no matter what the reality, the coach they finally DO hire will be the Brandon Weeden of coaching to a lot of the fans, the unexciting door prize.

Just as with Weeds, all the new guy needs do is win to change the perception. But if he doesn't, there will be no patience due to the "botched job" that Jimmy Joe did. So even if Jimmy Joe did everything "right" in reality (let's face it, unlikely), they still fucked up by letting public perception get out of their control.

[Hikohadon]

Chip's choice to go back to Oregon saves a little Jimmy/Joe face in my opinion. Had they allowed him to leave that meeting and the guy went to the Eagles...that would have been embarrassing. Having him stay at Oregon takes a little sting off.

Agree. Would've looked much worse if he went to the Eagles.

[mattvan1]

Let me ask a question.

Is it possible that Chip Kelly wasn't the Browns top choice?

Their real first choice is coaching a game tonight. But as he seems to be unlikely to leave 'Bama, I think Kelly and O'Brien were 1A and 1B.

[e0y2e3]

Kelly was one behind Saban. Coach BoB interviewed with the Browns for roughly one hour and was never offered the job (per his own words).

[justmebd]

I think Chip was the No. 1 candidate, and they went after him with everything they had. Turns out Kelly was a douchebag enjoying the attention.

Part of the problem was the media going out of its way to be the FIRST to report where Kelly was going. The media now is CYA mode, telling everyone "That's what our sources TOLD us!!"

"Trust but Verify" is part of Journalism 101, but nobody pays attention anymore.

While interviewing Cardinals guys made sense while they were in Phoenix, I have to think the Browns also had a Plan B should Kelly go elsewhere.

I'm not jaded on the new ownership group yet, I'll give them a chance to let me down before I go into Randy Lerner mode with my attitude.

I'm thinking it's Whisenhunt, but we'll see what the next day or two brings.

[mattvan1]

Kelly was one behind Saban. Coach BoB interviewed with the Browns for roughly one hour and was never offered the job (per his own words).

Coach BoB cut his interview short after his agent got word of the pay raise. Much the same way Kelly waffled long enough for Phil Knight to rise from his hyperbaric chamber and give Nike U more $$$ and new unis.

[e0y2e3]

I really don't understand how deciding to stay at your college (after Phil Knight stepped up on the money side) makes anyone a douchebag.

People don't spend 20+ hours interviewing in a 30 hour window just for attention, they do it to actually weigh their options.

Fucking eh, haven't any of you interviewed for a job and not taken it before?

[Hikohadon]

Kelly was one behind Saban. Coach BoB interviewed with the Browns for roughly one hour and was never offered the job (per his own words).

Agree. Saban was probably his choice from the second he bought the team.

And he probably called Saban right before he walked in to meet Kelly and said "Last chance, I'm walking in to meet the Chipper."

[e0y2e3]

Kelly was one behind Saban. Coach BoB interviewed with the Browns for roughly one hour and was never offered the job (per his own words).

Coach BoB cut his interview short after his agent got word of the pay raise. Much the same way Kelly waffled long enough for Phil Knight to rise from his hyperbaric chamber and give Nike U more $$$ and new unis.

For the tenth gawd damn time, this wasn't some simplistic money grab from BoB:

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1456317

I can confirm behind the scenes discussions with people at PSU going on over the course of this year centered around EXACTLY what is outlined in this piece. If PSU didn't step up and offer BoB enough power to correct the establishment problems at PSU he was gone.

This is what I was referring to the other day.

Fucking Browns fans: "COACH BOB USED US FOR MONEY AND COACH KELLY USED US FOR ATTENTION!!! WAAAAAAAH!!! WAAAAAAAAH!!!"

[Hikohadon]

I'm thinking it's Whisenhunt, but we'll see what the next day or two brings.

You know, I don't have a huge issue with Whisenhunt, not gonna hate that hire.

But I don't see where the demand for Whisenhunt is so high that they can't wait around at this point and interview, say, Mike McCoy.

If you have identified a guy you want to go hard for and do that, then I have no issue with it. But if you don't get that guy and just hire another guy quickly for the sake of having hired a guy quickly, I think that is a mistake.

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

I really don't understand how deciding to stay at your college (after Phil Knight stepped up on the money side) makes anyone a douchebag.

People don't spend 20+ hours interviewing in a 30 hour window just for attention, they do it to actually weigh their options.

Fucking eh, haven't any of you interviewed for a job and not taken it before?

Its more than just the 20+ hours of interviews. Its the talk of having his replacement already in place in Oregon, his assistant coaches and Lombardi already named, all the rumors of how he's a shoo-in for the Browns. There was a lot more smoke there than there was with O'Brien. And that this is the second year in a row the hype machine fired up only for him to ride triumphantly back into Eugene with Pat Forde waiting on him on bended kneepads.

He could've been given this a lot of really really careful thought, sure. From the cheap seats, though, it looks like he just went on a weekend publicity tour.

[mattvan1]

Kelly was one behind Saban. Coach BoB interviewed with the Browns for roughly one hour and was never offered the job (per his own words).

Coach BoB cut his interview short after his agent got word of the pay raise. Much the same way Kelly waffled long enough for Phil Knight to rise from his hyperbaric chamber and give Nike U more $$$ and new unis.

For the tenth gawd damn time, this wasn't some simplistic money grab from BoB:

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1456317

I can confirm behind the scenes discussions with people at PSU going on over the course of this year centered around EXACTLY what is outlined in this piece. If PSU didn't step up and offer BoB enough power to correct the establishment problems at PSU he was gone.

This is what I was referring to the other day.

Fucking Browns fans: "COACH BOB USED US FOR MONEY AND COACH KELLY USED US FOR ATTENTION!!! WAAAAAAAH!!! WAAAAAAAAH!!!"

I read the piece when you posted it and just re-read it now. I guess if I would have used the phrase "agent got word of the increase in authority" it would have been fine?

Dude, O'Brien took the interviews to gain leverage with the PSU administration - it spells that out clear as day in your link. Never said it was bad or wrong - it's a fact. And it's a credit to BoB that he did cut things short and not waste everyone's time.

Kelly is just unprofessional. No way to argue that. Yes I have interviewed for jobs I did not take. But I didn't waste everyone's time while doing so. And that's not sour grapes; this board is littered with posts about what a colossal mistake that would have been.

And BTW, let's not be too broad brush with "Browns fans". Some of us here can actually think for ourselves. Not many, admittedly, but some.

[CleSportsTruth]

The Stenographer weighs in: Say, what about this Gruden fellow?

B/c, clearly, Doug Marrone was a bigger priority over Chucky.

[CleSportsTruth]

OR NOT.

Nice call, MKC. Nice call.

[bucknutz94]

I really don't understand how deciding to stay at your college (after Phil Knight stepped up on the money side) makes anyone a douchebag.

People don't spend 20+ hours interviewing in a 30 hour window just for attention, they do it to actually weigh their options.

Fucking eh, haven't any of you interviewed for a job and not taken it before?

Plan on doing just that in a week. I am extremely happy in current role but if one of the two companies I am interviewing with next week blows me away with an offer I'll take it. You're stupid if you don't explore opportunities...which is just what Kelly was doing. He appears quite happy in Oregon, but was willing to see if another opportunity blew him away. It appears one didn't.

[TouchEmAllTime]

OR NOT.

Nice call, MKC. Nice call.

How does she pull a check, is there some affirmative action going on over there?

[Triple-S]

Screw it.

go with Bernie's old QB Coach.

May as well.

[peeker643]

Couple things from my own perspective:

I'm not mad that Chip ain't coming or that the Browns are floating it was their call. Fine with both. I'm disgusted, as a guy with a journalism degree and some common sense, that MKC is relaying that horseshit. Fine for the Browns to try and save face. We all do it. Not fine for a journalist to accept the company line in the interest of keeping her access or playing nice. It's shitty.

As to Trestman, he was here in late 80's and it was rocky at times but not because of him. He was in a bad situation w/Bernie, etc as Bernie was Manning-like in the specific sense he wanted/demanded control of the offense. The Trestman Browns were actually pretty good offensively. I have no idea why he fell off the NFL map but he was also very young when he was here and maybe he didn't play nice with others.

Not sure he's head coaching material but not sure he's not.

And before we forget, Chip could have come here and people would be fellating Jimmy and Joe. And then he could have Spurriered and people would be spewing venom at Jimmy and Joe.

There was never a guarantee with him or anyone else. This thing could be a mess, they could get their 13th choice and that guy could be Lombardi. It will all play out.

[andrew6586]

The over under on the obscene amount of money the Browns will throw at Saban tomorrow is $7M per year. I'm taking the over.

[Hikohadon]

As to Trestman, he was here in late 80's and it was rocky at times but not because of him. He was in a bad situation w/Bernie, etc as Bernie was Manning-like in the specific sense he wanted/demanded control of the offense. The Trestman Browns were actually pretty good offensively. I have no idea why he fell off the NFL map but he was also very young when he was here and maybe he didn't play nice with others.

Not sure he's head coaching material but not sure he's not.

He's been a pretty damn good coach in the CFL. Not sure how much that means, but it is successful head coaching experience.

I actually wouldn't mind that hire at all.