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AP Newsbreak: Browns, Crennel agree to 2-year extension



1/28/2008, 11:43 p.m. EST
By TOM WITHERS

The Associated Press
 



CLEVELAND (AP) — Coach Romeo Crennel has agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, who won 10 games in his third season and finally returned to NFL respectability.



Crennel's agent, Joe Linta, said Monday night that the sides have agreed in principle to the extension but it hadn't been signed yet. The deal could be finalized as early as Tuesday.



The 60-year-old Crennel, the league's oldest coach, had two years remaining on the five-year deal he signed on Feb. 8, 2005. Once the extension is finalized, Crennel will be signed through the 2011 season.

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Crennel began 2007 on the hot seat after going just 10-22 in his first two seasons. However, Crennel, who won three Super Bowl rings as New England's defensive coordinator before coming to Cleveland, guided the Browns to a 10-6 mark — their best since 1999 — and the club just missed making the AFC playoffs.




The extension is not a surprise. Last month, general manager Phil Savage said the Browns intended to reward Crennel for turning the team around after years of disarray.



"He really deserves an extension," rookie tackle Joe Thomas said last week. "He did a great job this year and you can see that his plan is kind of taking hold, what his vision was when he first got hired.



"It will be nice for him to finally not feel the heat from everybody."



Crennel's extension comes after some major turnover on his coaching staff.



Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was fired Jan. 11 and replaced by Mel Tucker, who previously coached Cleveland's secondary. Also, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who was being considered by Baltimore as its next head coach, was given a two-year extension through 2011.



Tucker, too, got an extension and the Browns want to have Crennel in line with his coordinators.



Linta began negotiations with Savage at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., last week.



Crennel's days with the Browns seemed to be down to a few after they were drubbed 34-7 at home by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener. But sparked by quarterback Derek Anderson, Cleveland quickly turned it around, went 7-1 at home, and missed the postseason because of a tiebreaker.



The Browns credited Crennel's calmness, poise and guidance with getting them through a difficult stretch. He's very popular with Cleveland's players, who awarded Crennel a game ball following a season-ending win over San Francisco.



"He's like a father figure," defensive lineman Shaun Smith said. "I feel like he should have been coach of the year. He deserves it. The team went from 4-12 to 10-6. He's straightforward. He tells the truth.



"He doesn't sugarcoat anything. And if he can't answer something for you, he'll get you an answer in an hour."

OK, Romeo...take us to the promised land.

cleveland.com

Sounds good to me. Just need to get DA and JL signed now.

Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel has agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2011 with the team worth between $3.8-$4.2 million per season, a league source told Scout.com.

Crennel had two years left on his original five-year deal which was valued at more than $2 million per season. Crennel could make up to $4.2 million in each season of the two-year extension depending on the team's achievement.

Scout.com

Good for RAC I can't think of anyone more deserving, he simply did a masterful job pulling this team together.

Brown to the Bone

First Congrates to RAC.....Fine job....Lets keep it going..


2nd....This was imparative to get RAC and extension before FA period. Players now know RAC is signed thru 2011, Players wanna play for RAC and knowing he's signed will make it that much easier.

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"He really deserves an extension," rookie tackle Joe Thomas said last week. "He did a great job this year and you can see that his plan is kind of taking hold, what his vision was when he first got hired.

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Or this

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He's like a father figure," defensive lineman Shaun Smith said. "I feel like he should have been coach of the year. He deserves it. The team went from 4-12 to 10-6. He's straightforward. He tells the truth.

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Or this

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"He doesn't sugarcoat anything. And if he can't answer something for you, he'll get you an answer in an hour."

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Or this

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Tucker, too, got an extension and the Browns want to have Crennel in line with his coordinators.

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Take your pick,, anyone of these reasons is why RAC got an extension. Perhaps all of them...

I was rather amazed at the number of folks on this board that thought RAC did a pretty good job last season, yet didn't want him to get an extension. I couldn't figure that out at all..

But it's pretty clear that the players respect RAC and that Phil Respects RAC. These are the guys that REALLY know his worth.. Certainly, none of us has that much of an inside track to know.

But in the end, I get the feeling the extension happened because of this:

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The Browns credited Crennel's calmness, poise and guidance with getting them through a difficult stretch. He's very popular with Cleveland's players, who awarded Crennel a game ball following a season-ending win over San Francisco.

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Speaks Volumes about him as a man and coach.

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I was rather amazed at the number of folks on this board that thought RAC did a pretty good job last season, yet didn't want him to get an extension. I couldn't figure that out at all..

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here either, As fans we dont always agree with every move a coach makes, nobody does, But what a 360 from what players say about RAC compared to a few years ago hearing what players thought about Butch.

Fans are always looking for that extra something, better coach, diamond in the rut player, get this player, that player,....Well as Browns fans we need to remember a few years ago and the disaster our FO was in....We have something right now that good, clean & working, lets keep it going, let keep continuity in our FO & team....The grass isnt always greener....Lets be thankfull we have RAC.....it could be worse, we could still be playing rotating coachs

oootayyy
Romeo had to strike while the iron was hot.....and before it cools. Good for him...and it's only money to us.

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He's straightforward. He tells the truth.

"He doesn't sugarcoat anything. And if he can't answer something for you, he'll get you an answer in an hour."

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An extention well deserved...

Could have an effect on free agency too as some free agents want to know who their coach is going to be if they happen to sign a mutiyear deal.

There is already a post about his agreed contract extension

Crennel gets 2-year extension
Tuesday, January 29, 2008Mary Kay CabotPlain Dealer Reporter
Browns coach Romeo Crennel agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension Monday night, his agent Joe Linta said. The deal, through 2011, is believed to be in the $4 million-per-year range.

"Romeo is very happy to have this done," said Linta. "[Browns owner] Randy Lerner took the opportunity to make sure that Romeo Crennel is the face of the franchise for years to come and rewarded him for the fine job he's done in helping to turn this franchise around. The ship is headed in the right direction and the Browns recognize Romeo's value to the organization."

Crennel had two years remaining on his original five-year deal. He was unavailable for comment Monday night. Linta said the two sides have agreed in principle but that the deal has not yet been signed.


The extension comes after Crennel led the Browns to an unanticipated 10-6 record after most national experts predicted they'd be lucky to win six games. He also began the season on the hot seat after going 10-22 in his first two years, 1-11 vs. the AFC North.

But this year, Crennel rebounded to lead the Browns to a 3-3 mark against their AFC North foes, including a sweep of the Ravens.

A defensive-minded coach who won three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, Crennel was instrumental in the ouster of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham earlier this month and the promotion of secondary coach Mel Tucker to coordinator.

Browns General Manager Phil Savage said in his season-ending press conference that the Browns intended to extend Crennel's contract. Negotiations began last Tuesday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Crennel's challenge will now be to improve the Browns' 30th-ranked defense

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1201599116271000.xml&coll=2

This is for the players too. Considering how they speak of him, there must of been a lot of noise to keep him.

congrats to RAC.

I'm not so sure that this was a HUGE offseason priority, but it is deserving. But somone will have to pay for this, you just don't double a salary without some sort of fallout. Is there a ticket price increase in the future?

Well, they're increasing a lot of ticket prices for the 2008 season. Maybe Lerner will just increase Aston Villa's ticket prices since the Pound and Euro are stronger than the dollar!

Congrats to RAC!

More good news. I'm very happy for Romeo. Took him a long time to get his shot and he's making the most of it here in Cleveland! Congratulations RAC!

There is one part of this that I greatly dislike ........ and that's the way that every agent treats one winning season like a mandate from God for more money.years for his client.

I could see if we had won the Super Bowl this year ...... but we went 10-6. It was a very good year ..... but so great that an extension/raise was deserved? I dunno. It seems like the most modest of successes gets treated like a Super Bowl win ..... and that a coach doing the job he was hired to do should somehow be rewarded as extraordinary effort and accomplishment.

Good for RAC... I've always liked him and was hoping that he would do well in Cleveland... but I really hope that he can keep it going this year.

I like Romeo a lot. I still think this is premature and would like to have seen them wait another year.

I understand how you feel, myself and others have probably felt the same way. However,

I believe that RAC has been a primary reason for the overall culture change of the team. They play for 60... They are physical... They are improving.... They win at home... The are contending for the playoffs... There are Pro Bowlers on the team... Quality FA's sign to play in Cleveland... They are not getting in trouble on or off the field... They believe in one another... They know they can win...

Just a few things to mull over to help with the concern... Maybe... Maybe not...

Congrats to RAC. If nothing else it just means more long-term security for his family.

I would have liked to see him get the extension after next season though. But I understand why we did it now.

I find it ironic that the same stuff I was most critical of RAC for in previous years is the stuff I praise him for now. The steadiness and the "keep chopping wood" aspect of never resting on your laurels.

Hopefully this regime hoists the Lombardi soon...what a moment that will be.

All this really means is if we slide back and RAC gets canned in two years he gets paid for two more... that is all it means ... no more/no less... in this business your only as good as your last season and sometimes game .. ...

Daman .. one good year doesn't mean SQUADOOSH ... u guys seem to always want to jump to conclusions ... your way to quick to pull the trigger ..

I like RAC .. thought he did a nice job this year ... did'nt think it merrited an estension because it was one good year and all he did was HIS JOB ... he IMPROVED a team that should have IMPROVED ...

WITH THAT SAID I have no probs with the extension ..

Y-town .. his agenst job is to get the BEST POSSIBLE DEAL HE CAN for his client .... thats what his agent did .. I have no clue why U would'nt expect the agent to ask for an extension .. ITS HIS JOB ... I agree with U that it was pre-mature and not deserved because of one good job ..but WERE NOT HIS AGENTS ...

If u were his agent what would U have done???? ... and if u say anything other than try to get him the best deal I can .. then we know you'd be a CRAPPY ASS agent ...

Good luck RAC ... GO GET UM BUD ...

I just hope he earns it, and then some.

I know what you're saying but it also involves more than just Rac..
We need more talent...and some of that talent will be young guys who have to grow..
Plus Phil is going to have hit FA hard...

I did say on the earlier thread I dislike coaches getting these early extensions without having won anything..but I get why it was done...

How many times does a coach actually end up having to wait to the end of their contract to extend?

And one positive is this... RAC can focus on this team, and not himself after a pretty good season, instead of trying to get a team ready to play when he has to worry about putting food on the table and supporting his family.

We all know extensions for coaches don't mean anything b/c he could still get fired if the wheels fall of the wagon. This increases the morale of the team though definitely.

I don't know, looking at RAC, it looks like he doesn't have any trouble putting food on the table...

I'm with Attack on this one. I think this has as much to do with sending a message to the FA market as it does with rewarding Romeo. Extending RAC accomplishes several things:

- rewards RAC for the work he's done so far (yeah, maybe a bit premature, but there really isn't a negative impact -- I don't think Romeo is the kind of guy who's satisfied with a single winning season)
- properly aligns the contracts of the HC and the rest of the coaching staff
- sends a message internally and externally that the FO feels that the Browns are on the right track and that they intend to build on what they've put in place to date.

The last point is particularly important, IMO. If I were an FA, I'd certainly want to make as much money as possible. However, I would also want to sign on with a team that was on the rise and had some stability going forward. I think its a good move for both RAC and the Browns.

Now is the time for Randy to get Phil an extension, as well. PS has done a great job remaking the team from scrap. This way, all the top management of the Browns can be signed up long term.

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Daman .. one good year doesn't mean SQUADOOSH ... u guys seem to always want to jump to conclusions ... your way to quick to pull the trigger ..

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As if what you say and how you say it is gospel,, Get over yourself Diam,,,,

it may not be gospel ... but its about a jillion times closer to it than the drivel U come up with on a daily basis .... *LOL* .....

witch ways the wind blowing today Daman????

You really aren't all that smart all you.,, you actually believe the stuff you put on here.. amazing... simply amazing...

I didn't realize that you were smarter than RAC, Savage, Lerner and the players.. if that's true, then why the hell aren't you a billionaire owner of a team,, and while your at it, why don't you scout the players, get the contracts set up and signed, Meet weekly with the press to tell them how smart you are then hurry back to coach every single position on the team and get us to a Superbowl.,.,


To hear you tell it, everything you say is smart and anyone who thinks you are incorrect or doesn't agree with you is an idiot,, or at the very least can't make a significant contribution to this board or any other,,

Arrogant thinking to say that least,,., go away little man!

<<< There is one part of this that I greatly dislike ........ and that's the way that every agent treats one winning season like a mandate from God for more money.years for his client. >>>

Amen and thank you. Let him finish out his contract and then we'll talk extension. He's 60 years old already; so if he lasts through this extension; we're going to have a 64 years old man roaming the sidelines in 2011. Umm, can't see it.
And could someone please tell RAC's agent to keep his mouth shut about "Randy Lerner taking the opportunity to make sure that Romeo is the
face of the franchise for years to come and reward him for the fine job he's done in helping to turn this franchise around". Last month RAC was the face of the Browns, now he's become the face of the franchise. So this means the agent thinks RAC should grace the cover of the Browns' media guide? Pffft. Gee, you think Savage had something to do with the turn around? I mean just a few months ago this coach was flipping coins to determine a starting QB --- how fast we forget.

It's just agent-speak alpoe; they are all talk like fawning lackeys. Part of the job.

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We all know extensions for coaches don't mean anything b/c he could still get fired if the wheels fall of the wagon. This increases the morale of the team though definitely.

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This was a VERY smart move. The intangibles here far outweigh the contract itself. Next season should be a WHOLE lot of fun.

This is a good move by Cleveland. He is a good coach and the players respect him and believe in him. I'm glad to have this deal done.

How is RAC's one year success any different than Chudinski's? No one seemed to complain about him getting an extension.