I wonder if this decision has anything to do with the fact that he said he was going to be calling the plays.

Geek, what offensive coordinator wouldn’t want to be the rookie head coach’s meat puppet?

I’m beginning to think that the Browns head coach is actually Mike Holmgren.

As a HC, with OC experience, Shurmur should appreciate the value of an OC more than the normal coach. As his own OC, who’s butt does he kick when it’s needed? Where’s the objectivity?

This does not bode well for either the OC or the HC.

Ugh. As a Browns fan, I am *not* looking forward to this. I’m not sure I really understand Holmgren. It’s as if he came along, learned about what’s been going on in Cleveland for 10 years and how effed up it all is, and then made a bunch of moves that fill the fans with dread instead of confidence. Now he’s gonna let a guy who’s never been a HC be the HC *and* the OC. The OC who headed up the Rams debacle. The Rams. Yay.
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I’ll give you some hope….

This is almost the same thought some folks had about McCarthy when he was hired by GB @ HC in 06.
He came from the 05 season as OC in SF as playcaller of a bottom 3 in PPG offense…to a first time HC in GB and has always called plays. The man has had his team in the playoffs 3 times in 5 years as a HC and of course just won a SB and had a pretty darned good offense several of those years and coaxed a decent year out of the ole gunslinger along the way (07). And he has worked under Holmgren.
Granted I have always thought McCarthy was a good coach whether @ OC or HC…and I am not sure about Shurmur….but still…there IS hope.

The Sean Payton hire was also questioned. Dallas sure didn’t do much in 05 on offense when he was the OC…pedestrian 20 ppg. He has always been the playcaller and has had a pretty productive offense many times. He had his team in the playoffs 3 times in 5 years as well and also like McCarthy one SB. I always liked SP as well…but again…you just never know.

Both those guys were smart enough to get good DCs…that’s a big deal. Not all offensive minded HCs are smart enough either ego wise or coaching evaluation wise to choose a good to great DC. So the Jauron hire will be a huge factor as well.

The fact that Sam Bradford is upset about losing Shurmur means that at the very least he feels Shurmur helped him a lot. Since he had a pretty good year for any QB in that situation and GREAT for a rookie QB with not much skill talent around him and a questionable OL, I think his opinion should be considered a positive for Shurmur.

And I have absolutely no rooting interest here, I’m a Pats fan.

As for Holmgren – I think he’s doing what he believes – the best thing is that he wisely kept Mangini last year – so he could be used as the scapegoat for this year while obtaining/retaining the services of Tom Heckert – a critical role for conituity. Now, Shurmur is one of his puppets – and we picked up some promising players in my eyes – Hillis, Haden, Ward, McCoy. Now, Shurmur/Heckert will be on the same page as far as FA and the draft – all under Holmgren’s watchful eye. – There was no chance that big egoes like Gruden or Cowher coudl exist under Holmgren – I like what’s going on

Please AJ Green be there at #6

Good luck!!!

I can only hope that this is some kind of reverse psychology mindf*ck. After all, the last few coaches- Butch Davis (Hurricanes), Romeo Crennel (NE), and Eric Mangini (NE/NYJ) all came to Cleveland from successful, winning programs. Now we have a guy who’s coming from doing a horrible job at a pathetic franchise. I guess this means the Browns will somehow be good now, uh, right?

I would love nothing more to be proven wrong and way off base here. Come on, Pat- make me embarrassed for posting this. I’m begging you.