Browns director of college scouting John Spytek, a Tom Heckert hire, was fired Wednesday after declining a reduced role with the club.
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View full sizeFormer Browns director of college scouting John Spytek. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The shakeup of the Browns' personnel staff continued Wednesday as Director of College Scouting John Spytek was fired along with two pro scouts.
Spytek, who had a year remaining on his contract, was let go after declining a reduced with the club, a source said. Spytek, who had been with the team since 2010, was one of former General Manager Tom Heckert's two right-hand men. The other, Director of Player Personnel Jon Sandusky, has not been let go and has a year remaining on his contract.
Two other pro scouts, A.J. Durso and Tom Headlee, were fired. Both had a year left on their contracts and both came here from the Seahawks, where they worked with former Browns President Mike Holmgren.
Spytek and other key members of Heckert's staff had no direct say in the team's draft decisions last week and many weren't in the "war room."
Spytek and Sandusky both previous worked with the Philadelphia Eagles, where they worked under Heckert and Browns CEO Joe Banner, the former Eagles president.
If Spytek or the others are hired by a team this season, the Browns will only have to pay the difference in the salaries.
Earlier in the week, Senior National Scout Pat Roberts, hired by former GM Phil Savage and had been with the team for eight years, left after the Browns did not renew his contract. Two weeks ago, college area scout Bob Welton left to take over as the University of Tennessee's director of player personnel.
It's common for members of the holdover staff to be let go after the draft.
Justice not visiting: Former Colts and Eagles offensive tackle Winston Justice was never scheduled to visit the Browns, a source said. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the unrestricted free agent would be visiting on Wednesday. ... The Browns are not interested in acquiring Cardinals backup quarterback and Cleveland native Brian Hoyer, contrary to an NFL Network report during the draft.
