Source: Browns pursuing Bill Cowher
A source has told ProFootballTalk.com that the Cleveland Browns are pursuing Bill Cowher to possibly become their next head coach.
Per the source, the Browns are willing to give Cowher a contract worth $8 million to $9 million per year.
Presumably, Cowher’s arrival would occur only if G.M. Phil Savage were fired or significantly marginalized. (Maybe Savage can go work for the Bills — or if all else fails he can root for them.) Cowher would want final say over personnel, and Cowher would want to install one or more of his former Steelers colleagues into key positions.
Likely candidates, if they can finagle a path out of Pittsburgh, would be director of football operations Kevin Colbert and/or director of business operations Omar Khan.
Cowher played for the Browns (i.e., Ravens) from 1980 through 1982, and he served as special teams coach in 1985 and 1986. He was moved to defensive backs coach in 1987, and he remained in that position through 1988.
This is obviously interesting news but keep in mind the source. PFT rarely (if ever) reveals their sources and I’m not so sure they don’t make 50% of their stories up. And how convenient is it that they released this story the same day word surfaced that current Browns’ GM Phil Savage sent a Bills’ fan an e-mail with the words “F&*% You” in it?
I don’t want to dash any hopes for Browns fans because the story might be 100% accurate, but I’m going to wait until a more reputable sports site does a follow up.
Screw your caution, Anthony — I’m buying this hook, line and sinker.
Trading How-Incompetent-Art-Thou Romeo for Cowher would be the best thing to happen to Browns fans in a long time. I’m a little on the fence about losing Savage — I think his reputation doesn’t exactly match the results at this point — but he’d be an acceptable loss if it meant bringing Cowher into the fold.
I think what all Brown’s fans are asking for is a coach with passion. Let’s be honest…we have not had a passionate coach since Marty. We need someone with the conviction to grab a player by the helmet, pull them down into the coaches face and get screamed at. For decades we have had coaches that stand on the sidelines with as much as much passion and conviction as a stone. We need them fired up, we need a coach to pull a BE off the field and say, “When you can catch a ball, then you can get back on that field” Is the answer Cowher? Fassel? Marty? I don’t know…but it is tough to be a lifelong Brown’s fan and pay to watch this product on the field. We need energy, heart, and soem good old fashioned butt kicking to get into these folks heads. It’s sad when it appears that your best bet to score in a game is Phil Dawson. Do something and do something quickly!
I’d be all over that! As a Michigan Browns fan, I can tell you there’s no love for Romeo here in Michigan. Even if things aren’t his fault (he’s certainly not the worst coach we’ve had recently)… it’s time for a change. I’m not sure he’s great at motivating and controlling the team. Bill would bring passion, energy and rich insight into our division. Whatever the cost, he’s worth it. Make it happen Browns! I LOVE Phil Savage… I think he’s actually better than our record… but i agree with the first post… he’s a small price to pay to get Bill with our team.