Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner will speak to the media at 11:30 a.m. to comment on today's firings. Chat live with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore.
You can also join Mary Kay along with Dennis Manoloff during a live call-in show today at 2 p.m.
Chip Kelly is reportedly a hot NFL candidate this offseason after going 45-7 in four years as the head coach at the University of Oregon.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns today fired coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert, marking the start of the shakeup that was expected when new owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner took over earlier this year.
Shurmur, hired by Heckert and former team president Mike Holmgren, leaves with a 9-23 record as an NFL coach.
One name that has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Shurmur is Oregon head coach Chip Kelly. He is reportedly being sought by a number of NFL clubs, including the Eagles and Panthers. Kelly, the offensive genius behind the high-octane Ducks, is 45-7 in four years at Oregon.
Another name rumored to be on the list is Penn State's Bill O'Brien.
Other names expected to be on the Browns" radar are the following NFL offensive coordinators: Josh McDaniels (Patriots), Greg Roman (49ers), Bruce Arians (Colts), Mike McCoy (Broncos), Dirk Koetter (Falcons), Jay Gruden (Bengals) and Kyle Shanahan (Redskins). On the defensive side, former Browns assistant and Cleveland native Mel Tucker of the Jaguars is expected to draw interest, along with Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Arians formerly was offensive coordinator for the Browns and has performed well this season for the Indianapolis Colts while standing in for head coach Chuck Pagano, who has been battling cancer.
Then there are always the big-name candidates such former Bucs and Raiders coach Jon Gruden and former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, both of whom have some ties to Haslam. Alabama coach Nick Saban has been linked to the Browns, but sources have told The Plain Dealer that he's staying put.
Which of the rumored candidates would you like to see take over as head coach of the Browns? Or if there's someone you'd like to see the Browns hire who is not on this list, add it in the comments below:
Read what local NFL experts and sports fans are saying on social media about the firings and what may come next for the franchise and then have your say in the comments section.
The Cleveland Browns are starting over once again as they fired head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert today. The moves come less than 24 hours after the Browns completed a 5-11 season with a 24-10 loss at Pittsburgh.
Read what local NFL experts and sports fans are saying on social media about the firings and what may come next for the franchise and then have your say in the comments section.
Read quick-hits on the Browns firing Pat Shurmur and Tom Heckert, as well as Sunday's season-finale loss at the Steelers from Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston.
1. Pat Shurmur's raw deal included the lockout last season, Joe Haden's suspension this season, injuries to key players, Peyton Hillis passing on everything being a professional means, and a youth movement mandated by Shurmur's also-deposed bosses. I'd cry a river over it except. . .
2. Shurmur insisted on calling all his own plays last year, some of them (tight end up the middle) of the curious and curiouser kind; unfathomably put Colt McCoy, who had been leveled on a head-to-head hit by the Steelers' James Harrison, back into a game, in a move so bereft of good sense the NFL changed the examination procedures for possible concussions during the season; and awarded the keys of the kingdom to Brandon Weeden. The offense, filled with shallow crossing patterns, appears to have been as bad a fit to the bazooka-armed, but inaccurate Weeden as Eric Mangini's caveman ball was to Mike Holmgren's West Coast offense.
3. The Browns beat two teams with a winning record in a two-year, 9-and-23 stagger with the Big Show's host of extras. They slipped past Cincinnati this year and beat the Steelers then too, courtesy of eight Steelers turnovers, on a day when Ben Roethlisberger was sidelined and Pittsburgh was down to its third-string QB. Shurmur was 2-10 against the AFC North.
4. The one time when Shurmur's Browns were demonstrably playing for something, to beat Washington, without Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, and extend the Browns' long-shot playoff hopes to the last two weeks of the season, the team fell with a monstrous thud. The Browns lost a 14-10 halftime lead and fell meekly, 38-21, at home. The screwball game plan in the second half devolved into Weeden and more Weeden -- only three rushes from scrimmage. Brad Childress called the plays, but Shurmur OK'd them.
5. Just as fans don't like the college BCS system because the system is rigged and love the Big Dance of the NCAA basketball tournament because almost everybody deserving gets his shot, they were not that "into" Weeden because he was handed the quarterback job. With a better running back, better offensive line and much better receivers, he didn't do much better than the benched McCoy.
At the very least, there should be a fair and open QB competition next summer. Intangibles, such as leadership ability, mean more at QB than any other position. McCoy is very strong in them.
6. Let's not go overboard on Thad Lewis. He played well in a game in which the goals, as well as the patterns, were short. His didn't complete anything over 15 yards in the air.
7. At 6-2, Lewis had no passes batted down. (The only one in the game came against Roethlisberger.) Defensive lines, by comparison, played volleyball with the 6-4 Weeden. The difference was the ability of Lewis to move out of the pocket to extend plays and change the passing angles.
8. I got real tired of hearing play-by-play man Spero Dedos talk about the Steelers being unaccustomed to a meaningless December. They last missed the playoffs way back in... give me a moment... 2009.
9. Joe "Bottom-Line" Banner is going to pay big bucks to keep two special teamers in Josh Cribbs and Phil Dawson? Really? Oh, puhleeze.
Dawson is so good it was a shock when he missed a 39-yard field goal against the Steelers. But it says so much about the poverty of talent here that the best player on the team is the place-kicker.
Travis Benjamin is younger, faster and the return man of the future. Cribbs' usefulness is being legislated away by the rules changes on kickoffs, anyway.
10. Tom Heckert had more of a case to stay on as general manager than Shurmur as coach. The biggest draft decision I didn't like, taking interior defensive lineman Phil Taylor over an elite wide receiver, was done in part because Heckert thought he was working on Holmgren's five-year plan. That changed with the ownership change.
11. There was a lot of talk about big improvement from Holmgren and then in a lower key by Shurmur this season, but the biggest chance for it was to win the RG3 sweepstakes. With the lack of urgency endemic to the Holmgren regime, the Browns let Washington outhustle them. That was the first franchise QB since Bernie Kosar at whom they had a shot. Sunday, Griffin, the No. 2 pick in the draft, joined Andrew Luck, the No. 1 pick, as rookies who led their teams to the playoffs. Nothing Heckert did with the rest of the roster would make up for what he did not do with Griffin.
12. Save the outrage about Harrison's shot on Lewis. Taylor's cheap shot on Kelvin Beachum was worse.
13. Some teams (this means you, Philadelphia) quit Sunday. The Browns didn't. But the Eagles' Andy Reid also was ousted on Monday. Both were so deep-sixed, they should've coached with scuba gear Sunday.
14. This time, Banner/Jimmy Haslam is making the purge. But we've gone from Chris Palmer's "runaway train" to "Believe It or Butch;" from the inept GM (Dwight Clark) to the absentee one (Phil Savage) to George Kokinis, the Friendly Ghost; to the end of Shurkert/Heckmur. This constant upheaval has to end sometime.
15. There's a saying it's not how you start, it's how you finish. Maybe the pieces put in place by Heckert and developed by Shurmur mean this is, while not the beginning of the end, at least the end of the beginning. Before there can be a finishing touch, though, you need a franchise quarterback.
16. I still don't see one.
To reach Bill Livingston:
blivingston@plaind.com, 216-999-4672
On Twitter: @LivyPD
Talk about all the moves and what lies ahead for the Browns with The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff along with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore during a special audio PD Sports Insider live at 2 p.m.
It's a huge day in Berea as Pat Shurmur and Tom Heckert were both fired and owner Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner held a press conference to talk about it.
Talk about all the moves and what lies ahead for the Browns with The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot and Glenn Moore during a special audio PD Sports Insider live at 2 p.m.
Post your comments and questions in the chat room or call into the show. The phone number is 440-678-7599.
The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in mp3 format.
Rumors of more coaching candidates to replace Pat Shurmur surface.
PITTSBURGH - Speculation on which coach will replace Pat Shurmur in Cleveland is running high.
Not only does Mary Kay Cabot write on Cleveland.com how Oregon coach Chip Kelly is the "it" coaching candidate, but ESPN's Chris Mortensen writes how the Browns will pursue Penn State's Bill O'Brien.
Mortensen estimated it would take $9.2 million to buy out O'Brien's contract.
Mortensen writes:
O'Brien would not necessarily jump at any NFL opportunity but if he did leave Penn State it would qualify as a surprise after the former Patriots offensive coordinator was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in his first season as the Nittany Lions coach in 2012.
The ball is in the court of Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner (The News-Herald).
Coach Pat Shurmur throws a verbal jab at the media (CantonRep.com).
Browns end season with another loss (Ohio.com).
Firing an NFL coach has a ripple effect (The News-Herald).
Steelers end season with a victory over the Browns (Post-Gazette).
Browns play hard in what is probably Shurmur's last game (ESPNCleveland.com).
Phil Taylor defends his hit on rookie OL (TribLive.com).
The Browns will have the No. 6 overall pick in 2013 (ESPN).
Pat Shurmur delivers emotional speech to players (Cleveland.com).
Thad Lewis is impressive in NFL debut (Cleveland.com).
Andy Reid is out as Philadelphia Eagles coach (NY Daily News).
Browns general manager Tom Heckert said he regrets that the firing process took so long, considering the writing has been on the wall for a long time.
BEREA, Ohio - Former Browns General Manager Tom Heckert, who was fired this morning along with coach Pat Shurmur, said he knew when CEO Joe Banner took over in October that he'd be gone.
Heckert worked under Banner as GM in Philadelphia, where they helped mold the Eagles into perennial contenders. Heckert left the Eagles to come here and have final authority over all football decisions, a power that coach Andy Reid had in Philly.
"Yes, I knew, just because of the contract situation,'' he said. "I'm sure that's why (Banner) took this job, was to have that (final authority). I'm assuming that's one of the reasons why, and that's why I did too, so I understand that.''
Heckert said he never tried to make a case for himself.
"No, no not at all,'' he said. "It was one of those things I knew was going to happen with the situation with my contract. I had final say over everything and that probably wasn't going to be the case here, so either way, it probably wasn't going to work out.''
He said there was never any discussion of him having a reduced role, without final say over all football decisions.
Heckert, who has two years left on his Browns contract, also said he regretted that the firing process took so long, considering that the writing was on the wall since October when owner Jimmy Haslam and Banner took control.
"It's tough no matter what, but it just seems like it kind of dragged on a little bit because we kind of knew what was happening,'' he said. "They basically said they hadn't made up their minds until a week or two ago. But being around people who aren't going to be here, it's uncomfortable for everyone.''
Other highlights of the Heckert interview:
• On interviewing for another job: "Obviously I'll let this sink in a little bit and see what happens. Fortunately I have some years left on my contract so I don't have to do anything right away. I want to go into the right situation. I don't want to just jump into somewhere where I don't think has a chance. That's one of the reasons I came here. I thought it would be a great opportunity to build something and if something like that came available, that would be great. But I could do something else. I'd like to be a GM for the right situation, and if that happens, great, but if not, I'm sure I can do a lot of other things too.
• On re-joining Reid, who was fired by the Eagles today: "If that opportunity arose, I'd love it. He's a phenomenal coach and a great person. That would fantastic if that ever happened down the road.''
• On the rest of his personnel staff: "Almost everybody's still under contract. Yeah, they're really great. I think they're going to retain all of the personnel guys, which is great. It's a great group of talented guys.''
• On if they'll retain any of the coaches: "I think they'll wait and see who the new coach is.''
• On if he has feelers for a new job yet: "I haven't really talked to anyone yet. Now that this has happened, I'm sure I'll talk to some people.''
• On how the firing went down this morning: "Jimmy and Joe both came in and they were great. It was a very, very good conversation.''
• On the shape he's leaving the 5-11 Browns in: "Obviously we're still a very, very young team, but I think we're very talented. The offensive and defensive lines are very good, and everyone knows how I feel about the quarterback and the running back. The young receivers, Greg Little, Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin are all going to be really good. We feel like there's a lot of good young talent on both sides of the ball.''
• On if he thinks the team's poised to take off: "I really do. That's the hardest part of this whole thing. Pat and I both felt next year was going to be a really exciting year for the Browns. Unfortunately we're not going to be a part of it.''
• How disappointing is this: "It's very disappointing. You're in this thing to win and we think we're on the verge of it. We spent a lot of time dealing with these players and developing relationships with these guys. I went out with a few of the players last night. We had a small gathering and it made me feel really good. We had a good time. It's a great team, it really is. This is one of the best locker rooms I've been around in my 20 years. There's no animososity or controversy. They were really fun to be around.''
• On if he'd require final say elsewhere: "It's important, but it's not a dealbreaker. Obviously I'll make decisions with the head coach. It depends on who the person is. It really does.
• On if Shurmur will get another head coaching opportunity: "I really, really think he should. I think he deserves it and I think he will. I thought he did a phenomenal job under the circumstances. I don't think anybody in the history of the league had to go through some of the things he had to go through, including a lockout and the sale of the team. I think he's going to be a really good coach.''
Browns coach Pat Shurmur and Tom Heckert have been fired by the Browns. The Browns will begin interviewing their replacements soon.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The brief Pat Shurmur tenure is officially over. The Browns this morning announced that Shurmur has been fired after two years as head coach and also that General Manager Tom Heckert is out after three years.
Shurmur, hired by Heckert and former team president Mike Holmgren, leaves with a 9-23 record as an NFL coach.
“We felt that these moves were in the best interests of the Cleveland Browns and our future,” Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam said in a team release. “I enjoyed getting to know Tom and Pat over the past several months, and want to thank them, not just for their contributions to the Browns, but also the insight they were able to provide. They are both fine men and hope they have the best of success as they move forward with their careers.”
“This decision was not an easy one because of my relationship with Tom and Pat and the fact that they are both quality people,” said Browns CEO Joe Banner. “Ultimately our objective is to put together an organization that will be the best at everything we do. On the field, our only goal is trying to win championships. I have a great deal of respect for Tom and Pat, and I want to wish them and their families nothing but the best.”
Both Shurmur and Heckert are expected to have other opportunities before too long. Shurmur might be a candidate for the Vikings' offensive coordinator job, according to CBS Sports' Jason LaCanfora. Heckert is expected to draw interest from several teams with general manager vacancies.
One or both might also have a chance to be reunited with Andy Reid, who was fired this morning by the Eagles. Reid reportedly has already been calling around to assemble his staff and has his sights set on the San Diego job, according to profootballtalk.com.
“I am extremely proud of the players on this team, who I felt made tremendous strides and helped to make the Cleveland Browns relevant again,” Shurmur said in the release. “I want to thank them, as well as my entire coaching staff for making the past two years enjoyable. My coaches are outstanding teachers and even better men. They helped me lead these players through a unique time of transition. This group of players will achieve success soon, and there will be a part of me that will feel very good when that happens.
“I want to thank Randy Lerner, Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert for bringing me in and having the faith in me to lead this football team. I am disappointed that we did not win more games, but I do know the Browns are on their way to becoming a consistent winner. I appreciated the time spent with Jimmy (Haslam) and Joe (Banner), and wish them all the best as they provide a new vision for the Cleveland Browns.”
Both Shurmur and Heckert had known for a while that the ax was likely to fall right after the season.
"Listen, I get this,'' Shurmur said on Thursday. "We have not won enough football games and I know that’s the way this things works, but in our situation I see improvement and I’ll leave it at that.''
Shurmur stressed that he and his staff had to play with a young roster -- 26 players with less than two years' experience -- and that the team was built for the long haul, not necessarily to contend this year.
"We came into a less-than-ideal situation when we got here,'' said Shurmur. "I’m proud of the work that the guys that I hired did in terms of inspiring the players to improve. It’s a little different thought process when you’re working with so many young ones. There are certain things you’ve got to keep hammering home that when you’ve got a veteran crew, you know you talk about other things.''
Heckert said the hardest part for him is all the guys he brought here for what was supposed to be the long-term.
"If things don’t work out, it changes people’s lives,'' Heckert said in a quasi-farewell news conference Dec. 14. "And I’ve been on the other end. You don’t blame anybody. It’s hard. I’ve got a scouting staff that’s really young, and we’ve got people that are having babies. It’s tough on those guys. But we signed up for it.”
The Browns will quickly begin interviewing candidates for both vacancies. One of the names they'll pursue, according to sources, is Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, who is reportedly sought after by a number of NFL clubs, including the Eagles and Panthers. Kelly, the offensive genius behind the high-octane Ducks, is 45-7 in four years at Oregon.
Also on the Browns' short list, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, is Penn State's Bill O'Brien, who may be heavily pursued by the Eagles. Banner could be competing with his former team for two of the biggest names in this year's coaching derby.
Other names expected to be on the Browns' radar are the following NFL offensive coordinators: Josh McDaniels (Patriots), Greg Roman (49ers), Bruce Arians (Colts), Mike McCoy (Broncos), Dirk Koetter (Falcons), Jay Gruden (Bengals) and Kyle Shanahan (Redskins). On the defensive side, former Browns assistant and Cleveland native Mel Tucker of the Jaguars is expected to draw interest, along with Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Then there are always the big-name candidates such former Bucs and Raiders coach Jon Gruden and former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, both of whom have some ties to Haslam. Alabama coach Nick Saban has been linked to the Browns, but sources have told The Plain Dealer that he's staying put.
From a GM standpoint, multiple reports have linked Banner to former Browns personnel executive and current NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi, who worked here with Bill Belichick. Others have said Lombardi might have an opportunity with another team.
Other GM candidates could include the Falcons' David Caldwell, the Bills' Doug Whaley, the Chiefs' Ray Farmer, the Cardinals' Steve Keim and Jason Licht, and the Seahawks' John Idzik.
Heckert acknowledged it will be tough not to finish what he started.
"Yeah, you know it’s going to be disappointing,'' he said. "But I do get it. I can’t just sit around and pout about it, I’ve got to go try to do it somewhere else.''
Heckert infused the roster with young talent, including defensive starters Joe Haden, T.J. Ward, Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard. He also drafted or signed young backups Billy Winn, Craig Robertson, Buster Skrine and Tashaun Gipson. On offense, he brought in five contributors this season in Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden, Josh Gordon, Travis Benjamin and Mitchell Schwartz.
"We were told, when I first came here, that you’ve got five years to fix this thing,'' said Heckert. "Things change. You’ve just got to roll with it. It’s something you’ll think about, but there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Heckert also complimented Shurmur for getting all the young players ready to compete this season.
"He should get the credit because he's done a heck of a job,'' said Heckert. "Times were tough. There's some mistakes made during the games and it's tough on those coaches. I think he's done a phenomenal job with that. The offense this year, that's a lot of young guys to throw in there. I think the staff's done a great job.''
Shurmur, who got the job after spending two seasons as the Rams' offensive coordinator, admitted earlier this month that one of his mistakes was not hiring an offensive coordinator in his first season, especially after the 2011 lockout. Shurmur was also criticized for game-day decisions, such as handing off to Alex Smith last season in a loss to the Rams and not going for it this year on fourth-and-1 in Indianapolis.
"Pat was dealt a tough hand,'' said one insider. "He had the lockout his first year, and then the team was sold in his second season. Not many coaches have to deal with huge obstacles like that.''
It's not yet known which, if any, members of the coaching or personnel staffs will survive the purge.
The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert on Monday. CineSport's Justin Shackil and The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff discuss where the team goes from here.
The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert on Monday. CineSport's Justin Shackil and The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff discuss where the team goes from here.
Plain Dealer Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot talks about Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner searching for a new head coach and GM after firing Pat Shurmur and Tom Heckert. Watch video
BEREA, Ohio -- Plain Dealer Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot talks about Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner searching for a new head coach and GM after firing Pat Shurmur and Tom Heckert.
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To reach this Plain Dealer videographer: dandersen@plaind.com
On Twitter: @CLEvideos
The recent hot streak by the Cavs forward has been cheered by a family that Miles helped out when a relative died in a car accident in September.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When the basket seemed as enormous as an ocean, when C.J. Miles sank a season-high 33 points Saturday in Brooklyn, the family of a young woman who died in Dallas cheered.
They were happy for each of the eight 3-pointers Miles sank, a mark that tied a franchise record. They were excited to see Miles on the mountaintop of what has been an up-and-down existence, thus far, in Cleveland.
And they nodded in understanding when Miles credited, above all, his Cavaliers teammates for the screens that freed him up for open looks at the basket against the Nets. Deflecting the praise is typical Miles behavior.
"With C.J.'s 33 points, we were thrilled, but want you to know that he is so much more than a VIP to us," Babette Antoniak wrote in an email Sunday. "He is a soft-spoken, modest man with a big heart and unfailing good sense. As he seems to be powering forward with the Cavaliers, we had to give you a different look at our personal hero -- both in and out of sports."
Antoniak is the grandmother of Maggie Wilson. Wilson, 22, was the girlfriend of Miles' close friend, who died Sept. 2 in Dallas when a car struck her as she was attempting to fill her gas tank after her car ran out of gas on a busy expressway. Wilson's roommate, Candice Anderson, was critically injured in the accident, but survived.
Miles heard about the accident from another mutual friend, and ran down the busy freeway to get to his friend, Chris, who was lying on the ground in the fetal position, sobbing, he said.
"It was a rough time, man," said Miles, who is from Dallas. "Because I was with him every step of the way. He's like my brother, so she was like my sister."
Antoniak didn't meet Miles until Wilson's funeral. By then, she'd already heard that Miles had covered hotel costs for Wilson's family as they traveled in from San Antonio. She'd heard that Miles refused to leave his good friend's side -- staying up all night with him for about two weeks -- while he worked through the grief. And when she met him, she found a thoughtful, sensitive man who offered comfort and a listening ear to family and friends.
"He was so comfortable, gentle and kind that we couldn't forget that," Antoniak said by phone from her home in Tennessee on Monday. "He was such a good listener."
The accident, naturally, affected Miles as he arrived in Cleveland for his first training camp in October. His transition to the Cavaliers was rocky, and he not only fell out of the starting lineup, but lost a place in the rotation.
The only free agent to sign with the Cavaliers in the off-season didn't question his decision to come to Cleveland, however.
"I never doubted that I was in the right place, because I was getting opportunities," Miles said. "Which is what you want as a player -- the opportunity to do the things you do well. I just didn't capitalize on it. I knew it was about me working and working to get back into a rhythm, so when I got a chance, again just to be ready to grab that thing by the horns."
Miles said he worked out twice a day in an attempt to regain his shooting touch, coming back to the gym for extra shooting sessions with coaches. When he earned a start Dec. 11 against the L.A. Lakers after rookie Dion Waiters was injured, he capitalized by scoring 28 points.
He scored 28 points again the next night against Indiana, and then had the 33-point outburst against Brooklyn, when his silky shot was off the mark only four of the 15 times he aimed it at the basket. Cavaliers coach Byron Scott sees a veteran guard who finally is becoming comfortable with the offense, regaining confidence and overcoming
"He gets a chance to be in an offense where he's moving and not standing," Scott said. "He gets a chance to handle the ball more, to be a little bit more creative in a motion-type offense. And I think that serves him well. He is one of our best guys in terms of set-ups and coming off screens. Besides Kyrie (Irving), nobody cuts as hard as he does. I think that's helped him, once he really started getting the understanding of what he needed to do offensively. And it's started to come, he's not thinking. He just reacts right now to the defense, and had some big games for us."
The family of a young woman who died in Dallas has been keeping track of Miles since meeting him a few months ago, and they're happy to see it.
And ones ...: Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao participated in about 50 percent of Monday's practice, Scott said, and reported his bruised right knee felt better but was still not pain-free. Varejao has missed six games with the injury. . . . Forward Tristan Thompson practiced Monday without his protective mask, which he has sported since suffering a broken nose Nov. 18. . . . Guard Daniel Gibson did not practice Monday as he continues to work through the NBA's concussion protocol. . . . The Cavaliers recalled Samardo Samuels from the Canton Charge on Monday. . . . Irving is on the cover of ESPN The Magazine's newest issue.
Hearing what Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner have in mind for the Browns makes you suspend your "here-we-go again" disbelief, writes Bud Shaw.
BEREA, Ohio - One reason to embrace what Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner have in mind is they've had it in mind for some time.
Don't be fooled by the claim they reached a decision on Pat Shurmur and Tom Heckert in the last two weeks. The "succession planning" they admitted to was not merely a just-in-case insurance policy.
Their hire-the-coach-first thinking is a plan, not an impulse.
Any attempt to connect Randy Lerner's succession "strategy" after firing Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage to what Banner and Haslam see as smart organization building ignores the depth of Lerner's Eric Mangini fixation. It also ignores two other major differences: Banner and Haslam.
Haslam is a dynamic owner looking for a dynamic head coach. Lerner was always looking for a fix, something to get people off his back, anything to loosen the knot in his stomach.
Those searches were built on flimsy ground. The implosion of the coach-as-king approach starring Butch Davis blew Lerner in the direction of shared power.
Lerner plucked from the garden of Bill Belichick here (Crennel and Mangini), borrowed from other successful organizations there (Savage and Kokinis from Baltimore), then hoped for the best.
Banner and Haslam know where they want to go. Their direction is well considered. They're talking about identifying the traits of head-coaching success. They're looking for greatness if possible, not small degrees of separation from it.
These are two professional businessmen trying to find the same complement between coach and GM/personnel department that they already found in each other.
Banner's business is football. That's much different than Mike Holmgren's business being football coaching.
It was refreshing to hear Banner address whether his organizational plan by nature will limit the candidate pool for Heckert's replacement.
"Yes," he said.
So why do it?
Because, Banner said, he feels it's more important not to limit the head coaching search by doing the reverse -- bringing in a GM and giving him powers that might give pause to HC candidates. Is he protecting his own power base? We'll see.
Lerner could've used a strong GM to vet head coaching candidates. Banner and Haslam are already the chief vetters in Berea, with Haslam clearly leaning on Banner's league experience.
If their execution is as sound as their approach, it will certainly be new and different. It might even produce a head coach to rally around instead of the media and fan base groundswells we've seen for Heckert and Phil Savage based primarily on them bringing improved talent evaluation to town.
Banner and Haslam didn't see a dynamic leader in Shurmur. No surprise there. Shurmur wasn't built that way.
They didn't see a guru in Heckert either. They saw, in Banner's words, evidence of a "foundation" with a "long way to go."
Heckert did fine. He also had three drafts to do it in during a transition that guaranteed starting spots for many of his selections.
If the message Banner and Haslam sent in the firing of the Browns head coach and GM is that "progress" and "battling" are not enough, it's refreshing.
If their part in Black Monday was only about their belief they can speed the ascent of a championship organization, that's good enough.
"You are looking at two of the most impatient people in the world up here," Haslam said at one point.
For too long, whatever the rung is above "terrible" has been accepted as a significant step around here.
That's no longer the case.
While it's too early to applaud that change, it's not too early to say there's something more promising about the latest of these regularly scheduled beheadings in Berea.
To reach Bud Shaw: bshaw@plaind.com, 216-999-5639
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Browns owner Jimmy Haslam pledges to hire a new coach and a new general manager who will provide stability. Fans have heard that before, but it really is the right answer, The Plain Dealer editorial board writes.
Shurmur and General Manager Tom Heckert, also given the boot on Monday after a 5-11 season, managed to bring order out of chaos -- an accomplishment not to be diminished in connection with this long-suffering franchise. Unfortunately, mere order isn't sufficient to make a team competitive in the NFL.
Jimmy Haslam, who bought the Browns last year from Randy Lerner, pledges to hire a new coach and a new general manager who will provide stability. Presumably, that means he expects to hire people who know what they're doing, who can evaluate talent well, who can fit talent into a system that will make the most of it and who will win games.
Unlike Shurmur and Heckert, whoever arrives on the scene next will have something on which to build. This season, the Browns were usually recognizable as a pro football team.
Haslam needs to get this first big step right, because stability really does matter.
A wise man once said: "We cannot keep changing around here every two or three years. You can't do that and expect to be successful."
That was former Browns President Mike Holmgren, who was hired in 2009 -- and didn't last three years.
Only seven NFL coaches have been with their team longer than four years. When the Browns start play next season, they will be on their fourth coach in six seasons.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my notebook on the Browns' coaching search:
1. One of the hardest things to figure out is what will be the background of the next good NFL coach. Atlanta offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter reportedly will interview with the Browns. I don't know Koetter, but his background is a nice mix of being a head coach in college -- Boise State (26-10, 1998-2000) and Arizona State (40-34, 2001-06) -- followed by experience as an offensive coordinator in Jacksonville (2007-11) and Atlanta (2012).
2. In Jacksonville, Koetter helped turn Maurice Jones-Drew into a star running back. No doubt, he'd love to coach Trent Richardson. And while it's painful to hear that Richardson played nine games with two broken ribs, it also explains why some weeks he seemed a bit timid. He also had two knee surgeries in 2012. Yet, he gained 950 yards.
3. So if Richardson can stay healthy, he should become the 1,200-yard, impact runner that the Browns hoped for when making him the third pick in the 2012 draft. But durability will be the issue.
4. Now that Andy Reid and Ken Whisenhunt have been fired, there are only seven coaches who have been with their current team for more than four years: Bill Belichick (New England), Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati), Tom Coughlin (New York Giants), Mike McCarthy (Green Bay), Sean Peyton (New Orleans), Gary Kubiak (Houston) and Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh).
5. Tomlin was hired in 2007. Since then, the Browns have had Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini and Pat Shurmur as coach. When 2013 opens and Tomlin is on the sidelines in Pittsburgh, the Browns will be with their fourth head coach in six years.
6. I was interested in Lovie Smith for the Browns, but his lack of offense is a major concern. According to ESPN, only the Browns (287 yards) have averaged fewer yards per game than Smith's Bears (292) during his nine seasons in Chicago. His Bears were 10-6 but ranked 28th in offense. In his defense, I also believe coaching Jay Cutler is no bargain. And the man did have records of 11-5, 8-8 and 10-6 in the past three seasons. Seems like he'd be worth an interview for the Browns job.
7. Yes, it not only felt like the Browns had the worst offense in the NFL in the past nine years, the stats prove it. If you're not miserable enough, the Browns having at least 11 losses in the past five seasons is approaching an NFL record -- Oakland did it for seven seasons, from 2003 to 2009.
8. I kept hearing Jay (brother of Jon) Gruden as a candidate for the Browns job. He is the offensive coordinator at Cincinnati, a job he's had for the past two seasons as he developed quarterback Andy Dalton. Gruden's background includes extensive playing and coaching in the Arena Football League. Before being hired by the Bengals in 2011, his only other NFL experience was an assistant in Tampa Bay (from 2002-08) when his brother was the head coach.
9. I do hope the Browns interview Bruce Arians, the former Browns and Steelers offensive coordinator. Arians started the year as the Colts offensive coordinator, and became acting head coach when head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia. The Colts were 1-2 at the time, then went 9-3 under Arians -- who also helped develop rookie quarterback Andrew Luck.
10. Some fans have emailed me about the possibility of keeping defensive coordinator Dick Jauron and the 4-3 defense. Who knows? The new head coach will hire his own guys, and employ his own systems on offense and defense. I favor keeping the 4-3 because General Manager Tom Heckert has assembled a lot of depth on the line. But it will all be up to the new coach.
Browns expected to have competition for Kelly from Joe Banner's old team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Watch video
BEREA, Ohio -- Oregon coach Chip Kelly is the clear No. 1 choice for the Browns as their next head coach, according to Adam Caplan of Sirius XM radio, who talked to two high-ranking NFL personnel executives.
Kelly, who is 45-7 in his four years at Oregon, will be pursued by other teams, including the Eagles, the former team of Browns CEO Joe Banner.
Caplan, a Philadelphia-based reporter, pointed out that Banner has a strong relationship with Kelly's agent, David Dunn, of Athlete's First.
Banner said in his news conference Monday that he thinks the Browns can convince the best candidate to come to Cleveland and "we think we can make a very good case why this is the best opportunity in the league right now."
They'll also interview other top candidates, including Penn State's Bill O'Brien, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Caplan also reported Monday that two general manager candidates ranked the Browns coaching vacancy either No. 1 or No. 2 among the seven open spots. The high ranking is due to the Browns' roster, which features a lot of young talent.
Kelly, whose Ducks will play Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl Thursday, runs a high-flying zone-read option that would require a running quarterback.
Brandon Weeden, asked if the scheme would be compatible with his skills, said, "I don't think I can the run the zone read."
The Eagles have scrambler Michael Vick, but he's set to make $15.5 million in base salary next season, and a source told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he's unwilling to restructure his contract to remain with the team. If the Eagles release him by Feb. 6, they won't have to pay him a $3 million roster bonus.
Would the promise of Vick or another scrambling QB be a draw for Kelly here? Would Kelly dust off Colt McCoy and give him a chance? Banner indicated that any top-notch coach would be up for the challenge of taking the job and then finding a way to win regardless of who's on the roster from day one.
"This is the philosophy I've brought to hiring, whether it's a head coach or whatever positions I've ever been able to hire for, there is nothing that you're going to do in which you're not going to hit some obstacles that could keep you from reaching your goals," said Banner. "There are some people that no matter what those are, find ways to overcome them and find ways to achieve their goals. So whether you've got the right player at this position or that position in place at this moment, to the right person who has a history and a track record of finding ways to overcome obstacles and succeed, those will be temporary challenges."
Kelly on Ward: Kelly will see at least one familiar face on the roster if he ends up here: his former Ducks safety T.J. Ward.
Ward walked on at Oregon and worked his way up to a second-round pick of the Browns in 2010.
"T.J. is tough," Kelly said in an interview with the Plain Dealer last season. "He's one of the toughest young men I've ever been around. He was arguably one of the hardest-hitting players in college football in his career here."
Kelly still remembers the crushing hit Ward put on Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson in the Holiday Bowl in 2008.
"He changed games for us," said Kelly. "That hit really kind of turned the game for us. It was a bone-crunching hit that really set the tone for us in the second half. We were down at halftime and came back and won the game, but you can kind put it to one play -- his hit on Zac Robinson. It's one you remember."
Kelly said Ward's climb from walk-on to the Browns is "a pretty amazing story but the one thing you're going to get from T.J. is that no one's going to outwork him. That's what he's all about and he's really made himself into the football player that he is."
Healthy outlook: Trent Richardson is looking forward to a more productive second season -- and the night he can sleep on his back again.
The Browns rookie revealed Monday he played with two broken ribs for most of the season. The injury not only impacted his performance as he finished with 950 yards in 15 games, but also his quality of life. Richardson said he could only lie on his right side and had to sleep propped up. He required help getting into a shower and dressing for the first three to four weeks after breaking his ribs Oct. 14 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
On the team's injury report, the Browns listed Richardson as having a rib-cartilage injury. He missed the season finale with an ankle injury.
"I don't know how much time it's going to take me," said Richardson when asked about his ribs being fully healed. "I still can't lay flat on my back or on my side, but it's going to come around, and I know I'll be healthy before next season and I'll be back right in training camp and [organized team activities]. Ya'll will see me flying around and see me back [to being a] skinny man again -- I won't have that big vest on next year. I'm going to have a rib protector on, but I won't have a big vest on.
"I'll be back being the same old me and getting back to what I know -- hardnosed football, smashmouth football. Where I come from, that's what we all [strive] for."
Richardson said he wasn't satisfied with a season that saw him break several of Jim Brown's franchise rookie records, including rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns (11). The Alabama product missed virtually all the preseason while recovering from an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.
He finished 18th among NFL rushers and third among rookies behind Alfred Morris and Doug Martin after being selected No. 3 overall in the draft.
Richardson vows a breakout season in 2013.
"It's going to be a big year," Richardson said. "It's going to be one of the biggest years for a running back that you've seen around here. And I know I'm talking big, but that's just my goals and that's my expectations.
"Like I said, to be a player like I am and to have the kids -- you've got to understand I just had my first son and you got to realize I'm a man that came from nothing and always trying to make something out of nothing -- so I think it's going to be big for me next year."
Fellow rookie Brandon Weeden applauded Richardson's toughness for playing through the injury.
"Most guys would completely shut it down and say, 'Oh, I'm getting paid,' " Weeden said. "That's not his thing. He's a competitor. He knew how tough a player he was, how much he meant to this team. I applaud him. It's amazing what he was able to do with such a beat-up body."
Kelly's heroes: Browns safety T.J. Ward certainly would endorse a reunion with his college coach.
"He's a great coach," Ward said of Kelly. "You can see what he's doing at Oregon. I think he has what it takes to be successful in this league. Whoever they pick, Chip is a great option."
Kelly and the Ducks play in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday against Kansas State.
"He's a great motivator," Ward said. "He comes in and he knows what he wants to do, and he gets his players to play for him and play hard. He has a great scheme, great system."
Not budging: Richardson doesn't expect his former college coach, Nick Saban, to make the jump from Alabama to the NFL, but he would be thrilled to have him in Berea.
"If he was to leave Alabama, most definitely, I would love it," Richardson said. "I would love for him to be here, but I doubt if he would come to the NFL and to leave Alabama. I can't see him leaving."
Quotable: Browns receiver Greg Little said ousted coach Pat Shurmur was emotional as he addressed the team for a final time Monday morning.
"I'm sure it's like being told you have been cut from a team," Little said. "I've never had that feeling, but I'm pretty sure it's the exact same feeling: You didn't have what it took."
Dubious mark: The Browns have lost 11 or more games for five straight seasons, tying them for the second-longest streak in NFL history, according to Stats LLC. Only the Oakland Raiders had a more futile run, losing 11-plus games from 2003 to '09.
-- Plain Dealer Reporter Tom Reed contributed to this report
The rookie from Oklahoma State, like most players on the roster, will have to wait until a coach is hired to find out where he stands. Watch video
BEREA, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden has lost his most reliable protectors this side of tackles Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz.
While Thomas guarded Weeden's blindside, it was coach Pat Shurmur and General Manager Tom Heckert who so often had his back during an uneven rookie season. Their staunch support of his talent and potential no longer ensures his role as starter.
As expected, both Shurmur and Heckert were fired Monday, ending weeks of speculation regarding their futures with the franchise. That air of uncertainty wafted to Weeden -- the 29-year-old quarterback handed the starting spot in training camp -- and others in a locker room culpable for a 5-11 season.
"It's part of this business, it's an unfortunate part of this business when you don't win games," Weeden said. "It's not on Pat, it's not on Mr. Heckert. It's all on us and we all feel a sense of responsibility. It's just very unfortunate news."
As players gathered at the team's training facility to say their goodbyes, many expressed their appreciation for the work of the two men who followed former team President Mike Holmgren out the door. They mentioned how emotional Shurmur was in delivering his final address to the team and how much the coach had to overcome, including an inexperienced roster.
"I've never seen a coach with that much on his plate in two years," linebacker Scott Fujita said. "To handle it the way he did and to manage it day-to-day the way he did and to not let the distractions from outside come in and infiltrate the locker room, you couldn't have asked for more out of him. You talk about a lockout, young roster, sale of the team, players facing suspensions, there was a lot of stuff on his plate."
Now, players must wait to see whom owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner hire as Shurmur's successor and whether they fit with the new regime's plan.
"It's kind of hard knowing that everyone who brought you in [is] gone," third-year safety T.J. Ward said. "No one's job is secure. That's how everyone feels in the locker room."
That includes Weeden, who finished his first season with the league's 29th-best passer rating and watched fellow rookies Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson lead their teams to the playoffs.
Banner has yet to publicly commit to Weeden and declined to evaluate him during a news conference announcing the firings of Shurmur and Heckert. Because the success of a head coach is so often linked to the production of his quarterback, the one hand picked by Haslam and Banner will have major input on Weeden's future.
Although it's hard to imagine the club releasing a first-round pick a year after drafting him, Weeden probably will have to compete for his job next summer.
"Concerned isn't the right word," Weeden said. "I'm confident, but I'm also anxious . . . as a quarterback you want to know what's going to happen and what you are going to be working with as far as offense-wise and scheme-wise and stuff like that. But that's the only unknown I have."
Weeden, who missed the finale with a shoulder injury, said he hasn't spoken to Banner regarding his future.
"I think about it, but I have the confidence in myself that I'm gonna do whatever it takes to be the guy again," he said. "Obviously, this year didn't go as well as planned for me and there's a lot of areas I definitely feel I can get better.
"But me and Pat had a little talk and he's exactly right -- your biggest jump comes from your rookie year to your second year just because you're growing up and learning the game at this level and also learning from your mistakes."
Part of any transition is adapting to the systems and schemes of a new staff. Weeden said he probably couldn't run the zone-option read favored by Oregon coach Chip Kelly, who figures to draw interest from the Browns and other franchises.
Weeden will take a short vacation with his wife before starting to train for next season. He plans to split his time between Cleveland and his native Oklahoma. Weeden wants to get together with his receivers and work on routes at the team's indoor facility.
A throwing arm responsible for 3,385 yards along with 14 touchdowns and 17 interceptions will remain idle for a few weeks as the right shoulder he injured in Denver fully heals.
Fellow rookie Trent Richardson, the halfback who ran for 950 yards despite playing with broken ribs, endorsed his quarterback's return.
"Whatever they do, they do," Richardson said. "But I think Brandon is the right guy. Right now, he's not Peyton Manning and we know that. But we do have to put Brandon in better situations."
That no longer will be the responsibility of the general manager who drafted Weeden or the coach who backed him after suspect performances. With a new year comes a new coach and the promise of change. To what extent, Weeden can't be sure.
Names such as Oregon's Chip Kelly and Penn State's Bill O'Brien top the list.
Some of the candidates being mentioned for the Browns head coach position:
Oregon coach Chip Kelly: A league source told The Plain Dealer the Browns will most likely pursue Kelly, one of the most sought-after candidates of this off-season. He will also be pursued by the Eagles, according to reports. Has a 45-7 record with his explosive offense at Oregon.
Penn State coach Bill O'Brien: The Browns and Eagles are also expected to pursue O'Brien, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. O'Brien spent four seasons as a Patriots assistant and coordinator under Bill Belichick before taking the Nittany Lions job this season. He led Penn State to an 8-4 record in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal and earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors.
Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter: Will interview with the Browns this week, according to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports. He will also interview with Chiefs and Eagles. Came to the Falcons this season after five years as OC and QB coach with the Jaguars. Was a head coach at Boise State (1998-2000) and Arizona State (2001-06).
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels: John Carroll and Canton McKinley grad informed teams on Monday that although he would like to be a head coach again someday, he will remain with the Patriots and won't interview for jobs this off-season.
Syracuse coach Doug Marrone: Marrone, 48, has led his alma mater to a 25-25 record in four seasons. He was offensive line coach for the New York Jets (2002-05) and offensive coordinator for the Saints (2006-08). Adam Schefter reported that the Browns have an interview scheduled with Marrone.
49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman: Another John Carroll grad, Roman followed Jim Harbaugh from Stanford to the 49ers. He is also expected to interview with the Eagles.
Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians: Former Browns OC was fired by Butch Davis after the 2003 season. Later surfaced as OC with Pittsburgh before being fired last off-season. Hooked on as OC with the Colts and then led them to a 9-3 record as interim head coach, filling in for Chuck Pagano, who was diagnosed with leukemia. Candidate for Coach of the Year.
Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy: Joined the Broncos in 2009 after several years as an assistant in Carolina. Is being mentioned as a leading candidate for the Bears head coach position.
Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden: Younger brother of Jon Gruden has had two productive years running Bengals offense after several years coaching in the Arena League. He was mentioned as a candidate for some jobs last season, but opted to stay with Bengals.
Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan: The son of Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, he has drawn praise for his work this season with Robert Griffin III and is highly thought of, but hasn't yet been linked to any job.
Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer: Took over Cincinnati defense in 2008. Has talked with teams about openings in the past and is expected to get serious consideration this time.
Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker: Cleveland native has been with Jaguars since 2009 and had the title assistant head coach added this past season. Previously coached Browns defensive backs from 2005 to '07 and was DC in 2008. He coached at Ohio State from 2001 to '04. Was considered a candidate for the Wisconsin job that was filled last month.
Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton: Several teams have already requested permission to talk to Horton, who might also interview for the Cardinals' opening. He was an assistant in Pittsburgh from 2004 to '10 and owns three Super Bowl rings, two as a coach and one as a defensive back with the Cowboys.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban: The Browns would probably love to interview him, but a source recently stated emphatically that Saban is staying put. Question is, would the Browns be able to change his mind? He will coach for his fourth national championship against Notre Dame Monday.
Among the top candidates is former Browns director of player personnel Mike Lombardi, who works for the NFL Network.
Some of the candidates on the Browns' radar, according to league sources:
David Caldwell, Atlanta Falcons director of player personnel: A source told The Plain Dealer that Caldwell is a strong candidate for the job. He was Falcons director of college scouting for four years before moving to his current position before this season. He is being linked with several NFL openings and has interviewed with the Jaguars.
Doug Whaley, Buffalo Bills assistant general manager/director of player personnel: Spent 10 years with the Steelers as pro personnel coordinator, working under Director of Operations Kevin Colbert. Has been mentioned as possible candidate to become GM of the Bills.
Ray Farmer, Kansas City Chiefs director of pro personnel: Former Eagles linebacker (1996-98) worked as a scout in Atlanta before joining Chiefs in 2006. His status could depend on GM Scott Pioli's future.
Steve Keim, Arizona Cardinals vice president of player personnel: A hot commodity. Could become the new GM in Arizona after Rod Graves was fired Monday and is also being mentioned for GM job in Jacksonville. He interviewed for the Rams GM job before this past season.
Jason Licht, Arizona Cardinals director of player personnel: Also being mentioned for open GM job in Jacksonville, as well as with Cardinals. Spent several years in the Patriots scouting department, then joined the Eagles personnel department from 2002 to '05 before joining Cardinals.
John Idzik, Seattle Seahawks vice president of football administration: Hired to take over football operations from Mike Holmgren in 2007 after Holmgren had served as executive vice president of football operations/general manager and head coach. Spent 11 years with Tampa Bay and three with Arizona, all in personnel.
Mike Lombardi, NFL Network analyst: Served as Browns pro personnel director in 1987 and became director of player personnel from 1992 to '96 under Bill Belichick. Spent 1998 as director of pro personnel for the Eagles under Joe Banner. Was senior personnel executive with the Raiders under Al Davis from 1999 to 2007.
The Buckeyes' sophomore quarterback still isn't a great scrambler, but when his number was called, he offered more than enough rushing highlights during a 12-0 season.
COLUMBUS, OHIO – I missed one. I'm sure I missed one. I tried to go through Braxton Miller's entire season, the 1,271 rushing yards and the 13 rushing touchdowns, but I'm sure I missed a worthy highlight. Because the Ohio State quarterback had more than five runs worth remembering this season. And that's a good sign for the Buckeyes.
What you'll find in reviewing Miller's season, if you do it yourself, is that many of his best plays were runs. And most of them were on called runs. Urban Meyer noticed that and mentioned it as he wrapped up the Buckeyes' 12-0 season two days after the win over Michigan.
"As good of an athlete as he is, he's not a great scrambler," Meyer said. "I'm going to do a study, because I don't think he had any yards scrambling. That's something we're going to work on. You see an opening take it."
So there are things to look forward to. And though Miller had some big plays in the passing game, not all that many of them were great, stunning throws. At least not on the same level of his runs, although the 63-yard deep sideline touchdown to Devin Smith in the third quarter to retake the lead on Michigan State in that 17-16 road win was pretty good.
So I stuck to runs when I picked Miller's five best plays of 2012. And there were plenty to choose from.
1. A 55-yard first-quarter touchdown run against Cal: This was my favorite of the season as the play that I remembered most when I thought of Miller making the difficult look easy. On third-and-four, he faked a handoff and ran straight up the middle before sliding sideways and around the safety there to spy on him. That 90-degree cut is Miller at his best, and we saw it a few times during the season.
This time he then accelerated and pulled away from the defense for a touchdown that put the Buckeyes on top 7-0 in a game they'd win only 35-28. How did they finally win it? On a 72-yard touchdown pass when that same safety got sucked up by the threat of Miller's running, Smith got behind the defense and Miller made the throw.
When one run gets you two touchdowns, you know it's good.
2. A 1-yard third-quarter touchdown against Penn State: When a guy who ran for 1,271 yards and 13 touchdowns has a 1-yarder among his highlights, it must be good. For some people, this might be Miller's play of the year.
His touchdown at Penn State in the Buckeyes' 35-23 win was just that kind of play. The backward hop is what made it.
After reading the play and faking a handoff inside Carlos Hyde, who was immediately buried by one Nittany Lion defender, Miller kept the ball himself, shuffled five or six steps to his right, skipped back from a tackle attempt, then reset himself, shifted gears, scurried forward and dove from the 2-yardline while turning his body to slip between two more defenders.
Yeah, a lot happened in one yard.
3. A 72-yard run in the second quarter against Nebraska: Miller wound up with Ohio State's seven longest runs of the season, and none was longer than this first-and-10 run against the Cornhuskers. The Buckeyes were trailing 17-7 with just under 12 minutes left before halftime when Miller faked a handoff to Hyde on a call from the 25-yardline. He busted up the middle and encountered two Nebraska linebackers at the 30-yardline.
He subtly faked left and then cut right to avoid the first, then cut even harder to the right, planting his right foot and cutting completely sideways, to avoid the second linebacker.
Miller quickly got back to full speed, picked up a big block from Philly Brown that released him down the right sideline, and he wasn't stopped until he was knocked out of bounds at the 3-yardline.
Ohio State had to finish the touchdown drive without him as Miller went to the sideline with a temporary injury. But no one in the Big Ten could have made the moves that got the Buckeyes that close to the endzone.
4. A 65-yard touchdown run, with a stutter step, against Miami: I'll leave this description from the season opener against the RedHawks to Bill Livingston's postgame column.
On his 65-yard touchdown run Saturday, he made a first RedHawk dive and miss, clutching only air, and fooled the last would-be tackler, safety D.J. Brown, with a high-stepping, change-of-pace move along the sideline. "Some guys, they say, 'Oh, he's down.' But I did a little jerk and scored a touchdown," said Miller.
5. A 12-yard second-quarter touchdown, with a spin, against UAB: Who doesn't like spin moves? The Buckeyes were trailing in this one when Miller, with less than two minutes before halftime, scored to give Ohio State a lead for the first time at 14-12.
That spin on a linebacker at the 7-yardline gave the Buckeyes some momentum, as they then forced a fumble and scored again before halftime on the way to 29-15 win back when the Buckeyes weren't yet playing their best and the OSU offense wasn't much more than Miller and his feet.
Often, that was enough.
Get the latest news on Browns coaching candidates like Doug Marrone, Chip Kelly, Bill O'Brien and Josh McDaniels.
Here's your daily look at the latest news, rumors, updates and reports as the Cleveland Browns try to find their next head coach.
• Syracuse's Doug Marrone has lined up an interview with the Browns, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Marrone will also reportedly interview with the Bills.
Marrone has taken the Orange to two bowl games in four seasons. He was previously offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints.
Brent Axe, writing on syracuse.com, on Marrone:
"I think Bills and Browns fans would come to like Marrone eventually with his 'straight shooter' mentality and love for the game, but it would be tough to get that chance in those two markets."
• Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton will also interview with the Browns, CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports. Horton, having survived the firing of head coach Ken Whisenhunt, is also a candidate with the Cardinals as well as the Bills.
From a story on ArizonaSports.com:
"Horton has certainly succeeded during his two years with the Cardinals. In 2012, Arizona's defense under Horton ranked No. 2 in third down defense (allowed just 32.9 percent of all attempted conversions), No. 4 in takeaways (34) and No. 5 in pass defense (allowed 200.8 yards per game)."• Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter will also be interviewed by the Browns as previously reported by FOX Sports' Alex Marvez. Koetter now has interviews scheduled with the Chiefs and Eagles as well, NFL.com reports.
• Oregon's Chip Kelly is believed to be the Browns' top choice, however, he remains focused on getting the Ducks ready for the Fiesta Bowl. From a story on oregonlive.com:
"Asked about the openings Monday in Arizona, where he is preparing the Ducks for Thursday's Fiesta Bowl against Kansas State, Kelly said the NFL news posed no distraction for him. Pressed further on whether it was his dream to coach in the NFL, Kelly said no, his dream was simply to do the best job he can each day."
• Jon Gruden could be interested in coaching again in 2013. The former Bucs and Raiders coach turned 'Monday Night Football' analyst will interview for open NFL jobs, CBS Sports reports. He's resisted overtures in the past, saying he was content at ESPN. Gruden, of course, is a native of Sandusky. Before the draft last April, he said he loved Brandon Weeden.
• New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels says he's not interviewing for head coaching jobs, despite earlier rumors he would be a top target of the Browns and paired with personnel man Mike Lombardi. McDaniels, however, in a conference call with reporters in Boston said,
“I’m happy here. My family is happy here. We’re excited about what’s ahead of us here in the playoffs, and to talk about any other opportunities at this point is, to me, irrelevant, because I’m totally focused on this season and what this season holds."
• If the Browns are really interested in Bill O'Brien, there's the small matter of a $9.2 million buyout in his contract at Penn State. David Jones of the Patriot-News doesn't necessarily think O'Brien will bolt after just one season in Happy Valley, but writes his flirting with the NFL may be a negotiating ploy.
"I think it's about freedom. O'Brien wants to have his options open, to be able to go to the NFL in the future should he so desire. If he and his agent can get the buyout clause removed, then he can pursue his NFL dream after next season or some subsequent one."
Philadelphia, Arizona and San Diego are interested in O'Brien, according to CBS's Jason La Canfora.
• Former Browns offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is a candidate in San Diego, NFL.com reports.
• Former Browns president Mike Holmgren is willing to listen if anybody wants to interview him, ESPN's Ed Werder reports.
• Former Eagles coach Andy Reid could be reunited with QB Kevin Kolb in Arizona, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports.
• Read Mary Kay Cabot's look at the top Browns' coaching candidates here.
• Stay tuned for more updates throughout the day.
