Browns a Mess

[Vinny]

Cleveland's a mess since Butch took charge

BEREA -- Lal Heneghan, the Browns' chief contract negotiator since they reentered the National Football League in 1999, was fired abruptly yesterday, according to a team source.

No explanation was given and the club did not issue a statement. A source said ''no one thing'' led to Heneghan's dismissal.

Heneghan being shown the door is a continuation of a massive front-office shakeup. His name is not recognizable to most fans, but he nevertheless was a key component of the front office, and well respected around the league.

Since the end of the 2003 season:

- Ron Wolf, former general manager of the Green Bay Packers, was hired in late January as a consultant to coach Butch Davis. He was to be an extra set of eyes and another voice as the Browns prepared for free agency and the draft. Wolf ended up resigning last month, primarily because Davis basically acted as though Wolf was a non-factor.

- Carmen Policy, the Browns president and CEO since 1999, announced last month he would resign, effective May 1. He became invisible after his announcement.

Rumors of a rift between Policy and Davis were impossible to ignore, though neither party addressed them. Policy might have been embarrassed about the way Davis did not seek Wolf's advice after Policy coaxed Wolf out of retirement.

Wolf announced he was resigning within two weeks of Policy's announced resignation. In the same time frame, Kofi Bonner, the club's Chief Administrative Officer, announced his resignation. Bonner was handpicked by Policy in 1999.

In the biggest on the field move, Davis decided Tim Couch would no longer play quarterback for the Browns and instead signed Jeff Garcia in free agency. The Couch decision is regarded as another reason Policy left with five years remaining on a contract he signed last March. In February, Policy made a special trip to visit Couch in Florida to begin diplomatic talks that would lead to Couch taking a contract reduction to remain the Browns quarterback. Policy left Florida convinced Couch's contract issue would be resolved.

Davis' decision to can Heneghan came as a surprise to those outside the Berea training complex. The move was made with training camp only a little more than two months away. Normally, Heneghan would begin negotiations with the Browns' draft picks in the next five or six weeks.

Heneghan left his office soon after being fired and could not be reached for comment. Davis was unavailable and out of town by 10:30 a.m., according to a Browns' media relations spokesman.

''I always thought Lal Heneghan was a professional,'' said one agent. ''I know I'm talking from the outside, but I think their organization is going to miss him.''

Heneghan will not be replaced. Instead, Trip McCracken, the club's salary cap coordinator, and Pete Garcia, the vice president of player personnel and football development, will absorb his duties. John Collins, Policy's replacement as team president, will handle the big contracts.

Morning Journal.com

[rittenhouserobz]

The Browns seem to be in shambles. Is that why Wenslow Jr. was so upset?

[cap1]

Sounds to me like Winslow jr and the Browns will be a good match.

[STEEL BLUE TEXANS]

the funny thing is some Browns fans think they will win around 10 games this season. sorry guys, not with Butch leading the way.

[wags]

After this season they may even have a new coach.

[Ravens_52]

As a Ravens fan i can not help but laugh :hehe:

[HoustonTexansAreTheBest]

I liked Butch Davis, I think he has done a good job with the Browns. BUT that was before the Ron Wolf fiasco, and Tim Couch and Dennis Northcutt both needed to be traded. Holcomb and Garcia is pretty much set at QB, and D Northcutt is TO Jr. I can only blame Butch for Wolf resigning. BUT sometimes people have different opinions or just can't get along. So Butch and Carmen weren't the first people to get along on an organization, and they won't be the last. Anyways, not to rag on anyone in particular, but Butch didn't take over the best of team when he became head coach. Cause the coach before him didn't know how to coach. I'm sure Chris Palmer wasn't the only one to blame for the bad records.

[Tedc]

The team seems to be a bust from top to bottom.

[STEEL BLUE TEXANS]

they resigned Northcutt to a 3 year extension at least


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=1807028

[Ravens_52]

Originally Posted by STEEL BLUE TEXANS

they resigned Northcutt to a 3 year extension at least


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=1807028

That is the most decent thing they have done in long time.

[DominatorDavis]

As a Texans fan it makes one appreciate the competency of Bob McNair all the more after seeing what is going on in Miami and Cleveland.

[keyfro]

well the main reason cleveland is a mess right now is because most if not all of their 1st round selections haven't paid dividends yet...they are either constantly hurt or in couch's case doesn't have any consistancy around them...the o-line i don't think has every been the same two years in a row...heck just two offseasons ago they cut all of their linebackers and signed all rookies...stuff like that isn't going to make a team...but the chargers and the 49ers are still in a worse situation

[DominatorDavis]

My sentiments exactly.

[Hervoyel]

Originally Posted by keyfro

well the main reason cleveland is a mess right now is because most if not all of their 1st round selections haven't paid dividends yet...they are either constantly hurt or in couch's case doesn't have any consistancy around them...the o-line i don't think has every been the same two years in a row...heck just two offseasons ago they cut all of their linebackers and signed all rookies...stuff like that isn't going to make a team...but the chargers and the 49ers are still in a worse situation

True words there. In Couch's case I absolutely believe that he's going to land somewhere else eventually and (assuming he lands somewhere stable) get his head back together. He's not going to be a total bust. In the right situation he could come back and be a solid QB for someone for many years.

[Doom Capers]

I hope they do horrible. I live in Ohio and all of my friends are Browns fans. I have to constantly hear "blah blah blah Winslow is a beast, blah blah blah, we will win the division, blah blah blah you are going to kill you January 2nd."

[TexanExile]

Originally Posted by __V__

Credibility still an issue with Davis
Friday, June 04, 2004
cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer

Heh...but I'm sure J. Payton will be glad he made that decision someday.


That team should've known what they were getting when they hired a coach who, only days before, swore to U of Miami fans that he wasn't leaving them for the NFL. Hours later he was being interviewed in Cleveland, and he's just done so much wrong since then, it's amazing to think just how highly regarded Davis once was.

[beerlover]

Yet the Browns could not get a thing for Couch, a healthy quarterback in his prime at age 26.




Not so sure about not a thing......surely a compensatory pick is on the way :hehe:

[Fiddy]

Originally Posted by beerlover

Not so sure about not a thing......surely a compensatory pick is on the way :hehe:

And thats if Favre misses time

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by beerlover

Not so sure about not a thing......surely a compensatory pick is on the way

A team only receives credit towards compensatory draft picks if the player leaves as a free agent. Couch was cut, therefore no credit for the Browns towards compensatory picks.