BEREA, Ohio -- Fired Cleveland Browns coach Chris Palmer was being interviewed Friday by Marty
Schottenheimer for a job as offensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins, a spokeswoman for the team said.
| | Chris Palmer lasted just two seasons as head coach of the expansion Browns. |
Palmer was fired Thursday as coach of the Browns after winning
only five games in two turbulent seasons since he was selected to
lead Cleveland back into the NFL.
"We do have a problem. We are not on the right track," Browns
president Carmen Policy said. "It's my belief our players are not
buying into the program. They didn't point fingers at the coach,
but they are not sold on the project.
"I don't believe he lost the team, but they lost faith in his
ability to take them to the promised land. It's not the way we
wanted things to go."
The Browns went 2-14 and 3-13 under Palmer, who didn't have any
pro head coaching experience when the Browns hired him to lead
their rebirth in the league as an expansion team in '99.
But the club didn't live up to high expectations in its first
year, and finished the season ranked last statistically in total
offense and defense. In 2000, injuries to key players stifled the
Browns from getting any better.
"It's a tough business," said quarterback Tim Couch, who
missed nine games with a broken thumb. "It's probably not fair,
but you're judged by wins and losses in this league."
Policy, who guaranteed Palmer's job was safe for at least
another year in November, said the decision to reverse direction
was made after a series of postseason meetings. Guaranteeing
Palmer's job was "a mistake," Policy said.
The team president said Palmer felt his system would eventually
work, and blamed a lack of talent and a rash of injuries on the
team's poor record.
But Policy saw it differently. He began to have doubts about
Palmer's future midway through this season and came to a decision a
change had to be made when Palmer insisted things were OK.
"He and I got to the point in the last few weeks where we were
on a different page in terms of getting something resolved,"
Policy said. "I didn't feel we could be as a team, as one, and
move forward. And if we couldn't be together I saw no chance for
success. ... We're in a business of winning, and that's the way it
is."
Palmer met with Policy and team owner Al Lerner for three hours
on Dec. 21 and had another lengthy meeting with them Wednesday, but
the results could not save Palmer's job.
He was informed of his dismissal during a 10-minute meeting with
Policy on Thursday morning.
"I would like to thank the Cleveland Browns for the opportunity
to coach here the last two seasons," Palmer said in a statement
released through the team. "I am sorry that it did not work out."
Policy indicated Palmer would be paid for the remaining three
years of his contract, and said Lerner wanted to go beyond the
terms of the deal to compensate the former coach.
Policy said Lerner, who was not present at the news conference,
preferred to have Palmer back for a third season. But Policy saw
bigger problems and knew the decision to fire Palmer would get a
mixed reaction from Browns fans.
"A good guy wasn't able to accomplish a goal we all bought in
to," Policy said. "My opinion is more time would have made
matters worse and would have set this organization back more than
just one year."
Palmer, Jacksonville's offensive coordinator before joining the
Browns, could wind up on Dick Jauron's staff in Chicago. Jauron, an
assistant with Palmer for the Jaguars, is looking for someone to
run the Bears' offense.
"I intend to speak with Chris this evening and if he expresses
interest in our offensive coordinator position, I will add him to
our list," Jauron said.
Policy's misgivings about Palmer grew after the Browns were
beaten 44-7 in Week 13 by Baltimore and 48-0 a week later at
Jacksonville.
Palmer's future became even cloudier when a meeting between
Policy and Miami coach Butch Davis was reported. Speculation grew
when the club was slow in denying the meeting and by the Browns'
unusual silence in recent days.
Policy has denied any meeting with Davis was ever scheduled, and
said the Browns would immediately begin searching for a new coach.
"I want a coach who can come into Cleveland, analyze our talent
and implement a system that gets the most out of the players we
have," Policy said. "We're looking for a smart, aggressive,
knowledgeable coach who is able to display leadership."
Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel would be interviewed for the
job, said Policy, who ideally hopes to have a coach in place by the
Super Bowl.
Among potential candidates for the job are New Orleans offensive
coordinator Mike McCarthy, Tampa Bay assistant head coach Herman
Edwards, Baltimore defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and New York Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton.
From the college ranks, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops may also
interest Policy. Both are Youngstown, Ohio, natives and one of
Policy's sons played for Stoops' father, Ron Sr., in high school.
Stanford's Tyrone Willingham, Pittsburgh's Walt Harris and Washington's Rick Neuheisel are other college coaches considered to be pro prospects.
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AUDIO/VIDEO
Browns president Carmen Policy felt that he couldn't see eye-to-eye with Chris Palmer. wav: 192 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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