In the days before the Super Bowl, one of the hot rumors on Radio Row was that former Browns G.M. Phil Savage was privately saying unflattering things about the franchise that had fired him earlier that month.
Savage has now gone public with his views.
“You don’t take a lot of solace in watching a place you leave go
downhill further,” Savage said Monday at a meeting of the Gulf Coast Athletic Club, according to the Mobile Press Register. “But they took what we did have going there
and they just dismantled that even further. We left two quarterbacks
behind that both seem ruined right now. They traded a lot of players
out of there. I feel for the guys we brought in because they’re good
players and good people and they’re stuck in a situation and can’t get
out for at least the time being.”
Savage currently is working as an analyst during radio broadcasts of University of Alabama football games. But he’s also most likely still being paid by the Browns, who fired him with time remaining on a contract that had been extended after an unexpectedly good 2007 season.
And we’d love to get a look at his contract right now, since depending on the specific terms of the deal it’s not out of the question that any critical comments regarding the Cleveland Browns could jeopardize his ongoing windfall.
Even if his buyout hasn’t been put at risk, it seems odd that Savage would choose to say anything in a public setting that would run counter to the nice-guy image that he has otherwise carefully crafted.
Besides, what did Savage expect? New regimes make personnel changes. When Savage took over the Browns in 2004, he traded away five players, watched six leave via free agency, and otherwise did not bring back more than ten others who spent all or part of the 2004 season with the Browns, including linebacker Kevin Bentley, quarterback Jeff Garcia, defensive end Courtney Brown, and safety Robert Griffith.
So that’s nearly a 50-percent overhaul of the 53-man roster that had won only four games.
Coincidentally, the 2008 Browns won only four games.
Though we continue to be confused by the fact that Browns coach Eric Mangini continues to acquire players who were just good enough to get him fired by the Jets, bad teams routinely get “dismantled” when a new coach and G.M. arrives.
In such cases, should it even be considered “dismantling”?
I like to call it “remodeling”
It’s best to be a truth-teller and a nice guy.
If you can’t be both, it’s better to be a truth-teller.
There’s “dismantling,” and there’s “reorganizing.”
Exhibit A: Denver Broncos = “Reorganizing.”
Exhibit B: Cleveland Browns = “Dismantling.”
Please stop piling on my crappy team. We know they stink. Phil’s regime was as bad as Mangina’s. For the love of all that is good – we cannot “wait out” a two year window in order to finally give someone a “truly fair shot”. Mangina’s not the answer – he needs to go at the bye week – and bring in Ohio boy Gruden. If we are to continually suck, I’d rather that our head coach at least have some Super Bowls under his belt – instead of a “ball boy” past!
They are not going to win anymore games this year. That is sad!
They are playing so bad right now and there is no glimmer of it getting better.
Like I said in the thread about the Washington Redskins, I would take their problems anyday of the week.
The Browns have no identity, the best player is gone for the season, the rookie running back that could have added spark to the running game, is gone for the season.
The Free Agents acquired are not helping.
It would be funny, if it weren’t so cynical!
If they can’t squeeze out three more wins, you got to get rid of the head coach, because it would be obvious that he doesn’t have the ability to motivate this team in the future.
Have Chicago, Detroit and Cincinnati all on the road in the next 4 weeks, it’s not possible to win. Sorry! Scratch the coach and start over again! Keep doing it, until someone can get it right.
We need the Ohio boy; “Gruden, Gruden!” At least we’ll suck with a coach (and staff) that has won Super Bowls. As with Mangina, the only thing he was “Super” at was being a gopher and ball boy.
“But he’s also most likely still being paid by the Browns…”
Florio- I know you have hit the big time and have a good sized staff right now and get mentioned on national TV, but is a little investigative reporting too hard?
Hey DUMBASS – the Browns are “dismantling” the team because it SUCKS and YOU are the reason why!!
I suppose ManKok should have done nothing to a team that won 4 games last year and went 6 games without a TD?
If you were so brilliant, don’t you think you’d be working in the League ?
Savage is terrible. He is arrogant and a pompus ass. Take a good look Phil but that is the mess you and RAC left behind. Not saying Mangini is doing a good job but overhaul was needed and we should not make a judgement on this team or how Mangini is doing things until next season. Any reason why teams that replaced GM’s last season were not knocking on your door Phil? Thats what I thought.
Phil Savage + GM = HELL ON EARTH
It’s not dismantling, remodeling, rebuilding…etc. We are talking about Cleveland…sucking is ingrained in the whole in the city’s DNA!
GO STEELERS
The only good move Opie Savage made as GM of the Browns was drafting Joe Thomas. Look at all the picks he gave up for stiffs like Beau Bell and Martin Rucker.
Savage was no better than Dwight Clark or Pete Garcia (and it appears ManKok). One lousy draft after another.
Phil Savage ….. what color is the sky in your world?
Savage and Mangini have something in common. They both think Anderson is or can be a good QB. The big arm has em fooled. He has no football between the ears for starters. They both also believed Ryan Tucker could still play. Great offensive lineman, but the career is over. One more thing they have in common. They both seem to be making a case for themselves that they’re idiots.
The Browns are being “debacled” – no other term fits here.
@Cleveland Sucks aka Philly Sewer Rat
Interbreeding is integrated into the DNA of shitsburghian people. Just look across the dinner table at your mom/aunt/2nd cousin and your wife/sister.
I really like how Savage claims that he was building something in Cleveland. He had one good draft pick in his stay with the Browns and that was Joe Thomas. Other than that it was either under-performers, character issues, or health issues with all his guys. He also makes it seem as though Mangini traded away the entire roster which isn’t true. They traded 2 players. Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards. Braylon was leaving after the ’09 season anyway so they had to either trade him or let him go for nothing. It’s hard to say Mangini has dismantled a 4-12 team…it wasn’t exactly built high when he got there. It was more like kicking an ant hill. And now the Browns are primed to have a turnaround next season if they can draft well. They have 11 picks for the 2010 draft. compared to what Savage left them which was 4 picks for the 2009 draft. There’s a reason Phil is doing radio shows.
Phil,
F you. Go root for the University of Alabama
-Mankok
the nice-guy image that he has otherwise carefully crafted.
what? does that include the F>U go root for buffalo email….savage is the classic christian phony
The thing that really surprises me is that Florio hasn’t been brought to court yet for writing things like this.
Florio, do you really like making mountians out of mole hills? Do you take enjoyment in trying to ruin other peoples careers by walking damn close to the line of slander?
You really are the most pathetic piece of crap sports writer wanna be in the market today. Yes, I said “wanna be” because it is extremely rare when you actually do write about something of interest that is sports related.
I would love to see (and then write about) all the skeletons in your closet….
kramer says:
October 28, 2009 11:44 AM
the nice-guy image that he has otherwise carefully crafted.
what? does that include the F>U go root for buffalo email….savage is the classic christian phony
Hold on a minute. Keep the man’s faith and religion out of the discussion. The F bomb doesn’t make someone a phoney Christian, but it does certainly indicate he’s human.
Phil Savage should talk! Most of the guys Mangini got rid of are now out of football. These were guys Savage had brought in. I think it was like 23 of the 25 guys let go that Savage had brought in are sitting at home collecting paychecks from the Browns that Savage had given to them.
Are you trying to say Savage isn’t right on this one Mike, you more than anyone has pondered the current Clevland situation.
Remember the good old days?
The Browns were in the AFC championship game regularly tearing our hearts out.
All the local call-in shows had people saying
“I’d rather they were a losing team. It’s better than ripping our hearts out every year!”
How ’bout those Cavs! Oh, wait…
Hold on a minute. Keep the man’s faith and religion out of the discussion. The F bomb doesn’t make someone a phoney Christian, but it does certainly indicate he’s human.
urbusted….stfu….shove your bs christian preaching up your kaboose
After the Bills game, I wonder if he emailed that guy again to “go root for Buffalo.”
Oh come on ! Phil was also keen enough to draft Eric Wright who Steve Beurelein thinks is “one of the top five cornersbacks in the league” lmao Give Phil his due ! Mcdonald and Wright will have busts next to one another in Canton someday!