The Browns will have to prove to a new coach and the fans that their model for the front office can work.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lots to talk about from the Browns front office to the search for a coach to the Cavs need to make the playoffs to a new hot prospect for the Tribe.
About the Browns front office ...
Like many fans, I've been wanting to know exactly how the Browns have set up their front office.
Question: Who made the decision to fire Rob Chudzinski?
Answer: That came down to two guys -- owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner.
Obviously, it was discussed with General Manager Mike Lombardi and Assistant General Manager Ray Farmer. But it was Haslam and Banner who made the call.
Q: Who has control of the roster?
A: It really comes down to Banner. The plan was not for Lombardi to be the general manager. He was supposed to be Director of Player Personnel. But when the Browns had a chance to add Ray Farmer to the front office, Lombardi was promoted to general manager.
When the move was announced before the season, here is what Banner said: "The change in Mike's title was a reflection of the need to create the assistant general manager title in order to get permission from Kansas City for Ray to be free to interview with us. There's no change in Mike's position at all. It's purely an add of Ray."
Obviously, Banner is not scouting fifth-round right tackles or guys on the bottom of NFL rosters. Lombardi, Farmer and the scouts cover that. It's up to Lombardi to put all the reports together and make a recommendation.
But Banner makes the final decision.
Q: Where does the coach fit?
A: Consider how the Baltimore Ravens do business. Ozzie Newsome is listed as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Eric DeCosta is the Assistant General Manager. He is the team's draft expert. Former Browns General Manager George Kokinis is a "senior special assistant." Coach John Harbaugh and DeCosta have real input, but it comes down to Newsome to make the final decision.
Q: Can you give an example of how it worked with the Browns?
A: Yes, Lombardi liked Barkevious Mingo. The Browns also liked Alabama defensive back Dee Milliner. But they went to Mingo because Milliner had several injuries at Alabama -- and that was Banner's decision who to pick in the first round.
But a seventh-rounder such as Armonty Bryant was unearthed by Lombardi and his football people.
The decision to commit $74 million ($35 million guaranteed) to free agents Desmond Bryant and Paul Kruger was made by Banner. Chudzinski also was consulted on the free agents and some of the draft picks.
Yes, Banner's background is the business side and the salary cap. That's why he added Farmer to Lombardi -- to help with player evaluation.
Q: What did you make of Haslam saying, "I never thought about that" when asked about Lombardi not being at the press conference for firing Chudzinski?
A: It was a bad answer from the owner, who really seemed confused. Cleveland.com's Tom Reed asked it, and it was a good question. The answer is Banner is running the football operation - everything from free agents, to the draft, to the hiring of coaches.
Why didn't Haslam just say that? Beats me. It reflected poorly on him.
Q: So Lombardi shouldn't appear?
A: Just the opposite. Lombardi should occasionally do a press conference to talk about the draft and player personnel. He has worked in the media and can handle himself well in those forums.
But when the Browns have big decisions, they have decided that it's Banner's voice that needs to be heard. It's why they didn't bring Lombardi out for the Chudzinski press conference. But I do hope they have him available as the draft approaches, and after the draft.
In essence, Banner acts as the general manager/CEO with Lombardi and Farmer as his assistants.
The new coach will be part of the set-up, as he is in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and many other franchises where the general manager is in charge.
The Browns problem ...
It's clear that Houston had a direct plan when firing Gary Kubiak before the end of the season -- hire Penn State's Bill O'Brien, which the Texans did.
Tampa Bay was determined to hire Lovie Smith as its new coach. He was a former Bucs assistant, and was fired after having a 10-6 record with the Bears in 2012. That deal was quickly closed.
The Browns and at least three other teams are still fishing. They are competing with each other for some candidates.
The Browns believe that they can overcome the stigma of impatience that surrounds the firing of Chudzinski after one year. And they also have to prove that ownership is in steady hands, as Haslam's Pilot/Flying J remains under investigation by the FBI.
If something happens to Haslam on the legal front, the team likely will roll over to another member of his family. That's what Eddie DeBartolo did with the 49ers when he got into legal trouble. The team is now owned by his nephew, Jed York.
Even more than the fast firing of Chudzinski, the biggest obstacle for the front office is that the combination of Haslam/Banner/Lombardi hasn't proven much of anything -- other than it can pile up draft picks and clear salary cap room. Many fans and football people have major doubts about the organization.
On one level, the Browns have promise.
There are three picks in the top 35 -- and 10 overall. And they do have more salary cap room than anyone else. And they do have Pro Bowlers in Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron, Alex Mack, Joe Thomas and T.J. Ward (alternate). Five players (add Joe Haden to the list instead of Cameron) were named to the two All-Pro teams.
But what the Browns have to do is convince a coaching candidate that they can quickly put these pieces together and win some games.
The Browns plan to wait until they have a new coach to decide if they will re-sign free agents Mack and Ward. It's hard to imagine any coach not wanting them. In fact, if a coach didn't want them, you have to wonder about the coach.
About the cap ...
The Browns cleared $19 million off their salary cap for this season by releasing the following:
1. Usama Young, who was paid $2 million by Oakland. He appeared in 12 games and battled injuries. He has 2.5 sacks as a safety.
The Browns created extra cap space by releasing several veterans last off-season, including former tight end Ben Watson. Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer 2. Ben Watson was due $3.5 million. He played for New Orleans, catching 19 passes -- two for touchdowns.
3. Dimitri Patterson was claimed off waivers by Miami. He was paid $4.5 million by the Dolphins and injuries limited him to six games.
4. Scott Fujita was cut, his salary cap figure for 2013 was $3.5 million.
5. Chris Gocong (achilles injury) was cut, his salary cap figure was $5.5 million. Gocong last played in 2011.
6. The Browns have an estimated $46 million of salary cap room. Assuming they sign Mack and Ward, that figure drops quickly -- but there still will be a lot of cash available.
The Three Stooges ...
Some readers emailed that the best question asked at the Haslam/Banner press conference was: "Can you assure the fans that you don't have the three stooges running this operation?"
It's good for a laugh and a lot internet hits and attention.
But that was not the best question.
I was against the firing, but I consider the stooge part disrespectful. It doesn't matter who is at the podium or what the forum.
But I also understand that we live in a confrontational, name-calling world -- and I'm out-of-touch.
People often don't ask questions at press conferences, they make statements or spout off opinions wanting a reaction.
Banner and Haslam are big boys. They can handle it. Fans probably think they deserve to be treated that way.
As one fan wrote me, "The Cleveland Browns made a very wise and gutsy move by undoing what should not have happened in the first place ... hiring a totally inept coach. Now if only the Plain Dealer will follow suit and fire you for being the impostor of a sports reporter that you so clearly are!!!!"
I received more than 150 emails about Chudzinski's firing. Only five favored it. I'm using a few of these because the anti-Browns voices have been heard.
One was from Mike Mucci: "Mr. Haslam and Mr. Banner are sincere, they should not be thrown under the bus. They did Chud right. He's getting paid ($10.3 million). They are correct. This team did not improve. They are doing the right thing. Urgency must prevail. The situation with the Browns is different than any other franchise in the league. It can't wait for three year rebuilds. Look at what other teams did in one year, yes even with QB problems."
Another was from Robert Straub: "Tired of coddling 4-12. Jimmy Haslam is a sales guy. Bottom lines matter. He gave him 2 very experienced assistants and couldn't match Pat Shumur's 5-11."
About the Tribe, exactly a year ago ...
The moves made last January and February, including the signings of Ryan Raburn, left, and Nick Swisher, helped propel the Indians to the playoffs last season. Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer In the first week of January, the Tribe already had Terry Francona in place as manager.
They had signed Mark Reynolds and Brett Myers to one-year contracts as free agents. Myers was supposed to be the fifth starter, Reynolds was supposed to play first base and do some time as the designated hitter.
Yan Gomes was the "prospect" in the Mike Aviles deal.
Nick Swisher signed his four-year, $64 million deal on Jan. 3, 2013.
For what it's worth, on Jan. 3, 1963, Frank Lane left the Tribe to become general manager of the Kansas City Athletics. No one wept (other than tears of joy) when he left town.
The Indians had yet to sign Scott Kazmir (Jan. 8), Ryan Raburn (Jan. 21) or Jason Giambi (Feb. 9) to minor league contracts. When the Tribe did, no one knew what -- if anything -- to expect from them.
Shin-Soo Choo had been traded to the Reds. Drew Stubbs was set to take over in center, with Michael Brantley in left and Swisher in right field.
The big hope for the Tribe rotation was not Corey Kluber, it was Trevor Bauer (obtained in the Choo deal).
In early January, did any Tribe fan expect:
1. Ubaldo Jimenez to be 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA?
2. Kazmir to be 10-9 with a 4.04 ERA?
3. Gomes to take the starting catcher's job away from Carlos Santana?
4. Kluber to be 11-5 with a 3.85 ERA while Myers was 0-3 with an 8.02?
5. Michael Bourn to sign with the Tribe, $48 million for four years?
6. Giambi to hit perhaps the biggest homer of the season? Raburn to be a clutch hitter and key part of the lineup? Reynolds to be cut in August after hitting .301 with eight homers in April?
7. Danny Salazar to start the Tribe's playoff game? The Tribe to even be in the playoffs?
8. Last January, the Tribe was coming off a 68-94 season and even with the signing of Swisher, it was hard to project them to win even 81 games -- much less 92.
About Carlos Santana ...
Carlos Santana, shown from a game last season, continues working at third base in the winter league. Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer 1. Carlos Santana played eight games at third base in Venezuela, committing four errors. He made two in his first game. The Indians want the experiment to continue. He has shown some promise.
2. Antonetti on Santana: "It was Carlos' decision to try third and he has worked hard at it. He is an established player, he didn't need to do it. He's a work in progress over there, but we are a long way from opening day. It's great to see all the work that he's putting in."
3. If Santana can even play third against lefties, it allows the Tribe to sit Lonnie Chisenhall (.111, 4-of-36) vs. lefties. Santana batted .299 vs. lefties (.865 OPS). Santana can also play first and catch. He played 38 games at third (12 errors) in 2005-07, when he first signed with the Dodgers and was in the low minors.
4. When Manager Terry Francona moved Santana to the No. 4 spot in the batting order for the final two months of the season, Santana hit .275 (.910 OPS) with nine homers and 29 RBI in 48 games.
About Jesus Aguilar ...
It's been several years since the Tribe has had a legitimate power hitting prospect in its farm system.
But Jesus Aguilar has changed all that.
"We view him as a possible mid-season call-up," said Tribe General Manager Chris Antonetti. "It will depend how he does at (Class AAA) Columbus. He has a lot of power and it's exciting to see all the steps that he took this season."
At the age of 23, Aguilar batted .275 (.776 OPS) with 16 homers and 105 RBI at Class AA Akron. The 105 RBI was an Akron franchise record, and he batted .341 with runners in scoring position.
"That's a very tough place to hit," said Antonetti.
In the Venezuelan winter league, he hit .327 (1.000 OPS) with 18 homers and 50 RBI.
At 6-foot-3 and listed at 250 pounds, Aguilar has to be careful with his weight. He is a right-handed hitter, and a decent first baseman.
About the Cavs ...
After three years of losing, it's time for the young Cavaliers to finally learn what winning is really like.Thomas Ondrey / The Plain Dealer An ESPN story claims the Cavs should not make the trade for Pau Gasol -- because they are likely to miss the playoffs, period.
There are all kinds of numbers in the story. One of the keys is that the Cavs have lost 11 games by at least 10 points, indicating they are often over-matched. But lately, they've been playing a lot of overtime.
Four of their last 11 games have gone into overtime. Yes, the Cavs are 3-8 in that span, but they no longer are being blown out of the gym most nights.
ESPN's Kevin Pelton makes a strong case for the Cavs being a long-shot to make the playoffs -- even in the awful East.
But here's the problem: A fourth trip to the lottery would be absolutely the wrong message to send to young players such as Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and the rest.
Exactly what have they been learning the last few seasons as the Cavs have collected lottery ping-pong balls?
They travel on private jets, make millions of dollars and play for a franchise that had stopped pushing hard to win from the moment LeBron James left in the summer of 2010 for Miami.
The hiring of Mike Brown to coach and teach defense is supposed to change all that.
So was the decision to sign veteran Jarrett Jack, to not trade Anderson Varejao, and to gamble on Andrew Bynum.
On the court, the Bynum signing didn't pay off. But his contract may help the Cavs secure Gasol or someone else, thanks to the complicated world of the NBA salary cap and the luxury tax.
Heading into Saturday's game at Brooklyn, the Cavs are 11-21 -- yet only two games out of the eighth (and final) playoff spot in the East. They are three games out of the No. 6 spot.
They also are one more solid veteran player away from making a serious playoff run.
Consider that only two members of the Cavs have any clue about winning -- Jack and Varejao. They have been on playoff teams. The other key young players need to experience it, to play in games that really mean something.
You can argue about the different draft picks and the spectacular flop that has been the early returns from Anthony Bennett.
But the Cavs can make the playoffs with one more significant addition, be it Gasol or someone else. And yes, it would be a short-term move.
After all the long-term agony inflicted upon the fans in the what is now the fourth season since James left, it's critical that the Cavs don't stay content with this basic roster for the rest of the season.