Browns coach, GM merry-go-round: Where it stops, nobody knows
Three teams in the AFC North have enjoyed continuity in the coaching and general manager ranks. The other has experienced a revolving door.
It's no surprise that the exception has spent nearly all its time in last place.
Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati have remained stable at both positions since the Ravens hired John Harbaugh as their coach in 2008. The Browns will have employed four coaches and four GMs since that time when their new duo is hired.
It's no recipe for success. The Browns are one of three teams in NFL history to lose at least 11 games in five consecutive seasons -- the Oakland Raiders did the same for seven straight years (2003-2009).
Owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner know the value of continuity despite the firing Monday of coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert.
"We're well aware that this has been a carousel and it's our job to find the right coach and right GM and bring stability long term to the organization," Haslam said. "That's our role and we take it very responsibly, very seriously."
The new Browns coach will be the seventh since 1999, when they returned to Cleveland as an expansion team.
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Only Butch Davis and Romeo Crennel lasted more than two seasons. The GM will be the fourth since 2008 (Phil Savage, George Kokinis, Heckert).
"Here we go again," said tight end Benjamin Watson, whose free agent status might prevent him from playing for the new coach. "Unfortunately, we haven't won enough games and, unfortunately for the city and fans, we have to start over."
Haslam stressed that there will be no overhaul. Current assistant coaches under contract such as popular defensive coordinator Dick Jauron will be given their freedom to seek jobs elsewhere, but are open to remain at the same post in Cleveland if welcomed by the new coach.
Browns defensive players have been unanimous in their praise for Jauron, whose unit was improved, but inconsistent.
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Among them was defensive end Jabaal Sheard, who recorded six sacks in his last eight games.
"He's definitely a great coach and somebody I really believe in," Sheard said. "He's passionate about the game. I like the defense and I like the players we have now. If he sticks around, it would be great."
Banner and Haslam have made it clear there will be no more five-year plans. They expressed optimism about the roster that Heckert left for them. But they're not seeking a quick fix either.
"Our goal is to build a consistent championship level team," he said. "We have two role models in our division (Pittsburgh and Baltimore) who have been good consistently for a long period of time. Our goal is to be good for a long time, not to knee jerk and get to where we're 9-7 next year and we feel good, but we all know it's built on a house of sand.
"There's nobody that wants to have a winning team more than the two of us, OK? But we're going to do it the right way and we've got the core foundation. There were some good young players and we need to add to it."
Funny, his words sounded familiar. Similar ones were uttered three years ago when Mike Holmgren was hired as team president.
The carousel continues to spin. Haslam and Banner are promising to make it stop, but one must excuse Browns fans for being skeptical.
Stay dialed in on the Cleveland Browns on Twitter at @CBSBrowns throughout the season with on-site updates from CBSSports.com RapidReports correspondent Marty Gitlin.
