O-coordinator Carthon quits as Browns keep struggling

BEREA, Ohio -- Romeo Crennel had no choice but to make a tough call. He had run out of time and excuses.

Maurice Carthon had to go.

With Cleveland's season spiraling downward, Crennel accepted Carthon's resignation as offensive coordinator Monday night, one day after the Browns scored just seven points in a loss to Denver.

The Browns (1-5) have the NFL's lowest-ranked offense and Carthon made some head-scratching play calls and personnel decisions, infuriating Cleveland's fans and frustrating its players.

Crennel said Carthon, in his second year running the Cleveland offense, came into his office and said he wanted out.

"We talked man-to-man about our situation that we are in," Crennel said. "To do what I thought was best for the Browns, the organization and the fans of Cleveland, I decided to accept his resignation."

Crennel, who is 7-15 in two seasons, insisted that he was not making Carthon a scapegoat and that he did not receive pressure from owner Randy Lerner or general manager Phil Savage to relieve his close friend.

Maurice Carthon takes the fall for Cleveland's punchless offense. (AP)

Crennel refused to divulge any specifics about the meeting or what prompted the surprising resignation by Carthon, 45, a former New York Giants fullback who has paid his coaching dues.

"I'm not going to get into what reasons he gave because I don't want to speak for him," Crennel said. "Maurice and I have been together for a long time. We've seen a lot of things in the business. As far as the team is concerned and the talent is concerned, we felt like it was best for us to do."

Even if the offense improved, Crennel said Carthon would have been a target for critics.

"Maurice has a tough mind," he said. "The situation might get worse before it got better. He was always going to be the guy who had shots taken at him even if we got better for a game or two."

Jeff Davidson, the club's offensive line coach the past two seasons, will replace Carthon. Davidson, 39, was given the additional title of assistant head coach after last season when he nearly took a job with the New York Jets, who will visit Cleveland on Sunday.

Crennel said Davidson, an assistant for eight seasons in New England, got experience running the Patriots offense during training camp and in the 2002 preseason when coordinator Charlie Weis had gastric bypass surgery.