Browns Find a Coach: Mike Pettine Takes Cleveland Job

((ht: cleveland.com/cabot))

So, it appears the Cleveland Browns finally convinced someone to take their head coaching job the last available NFL head coaching job.

That someone would be now former Buffalo Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine

So says well connected Cleveland.com reporter Mary Kay Cabot:

#Browns have reached a deal with Pettine, source tells http://t.co/o11vJT6fp2
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 23, 2014

Pettine, who's been an NFL coordinator for a couple of teams in his 5-year career would be the 3rd Browns head coach in the past 3-years. The team dumped Rob Chudzinski after one season that they claimed would be a "rebuilding" year.

Since then, the team and owner Jimmy Haslam, tried hard to convince New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and  several others to take the job. None have been interested.

The Browns have struggled to find success over the past several years. It will be interesting to see how Pettine, a coach lacking head coaching experience fares....

Browns Owner Jimmy Haslem Grilled By Cleveland News Reporter

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslem faced the media Monday in the aftermath of firing head coach Rob Chudzinski after only one season.

Haslem was visibly uncomfortable when WOIO-TV news reporter Dan DeRoos read a statement from a Browns fan and asking if he [Haslem] can assure that the Three Stooges aren't running the Browns.

Thanks WOIO-TV

19 Action News|Cleveland, OH|News, Weather, Sports

DEVELOPING: Browns Fire Chud

More on this as we go...

But after actually being in the hunt for the division title at one point with a 4-5 record, the Cleveland Browns lost their last 7 games of the regular season and fired head coach Rod Chudzinski after only one season...

Early candidates thought to be in the replacement pile are Josh McDaniels and Ken Whisenhunt...

Here was Chud's introduction only 11 months ago in Berea...
((HT: Calland Post))


The team released this statement tonight:

“We appreciate Chud’s passion for the Browns, and we have great respect for him both personally and professionally. We needed to see progress with this football team. We needed to see development and improvement as the season evolved and, unfortunately, we took a concerning step backward in the second half of the year.

Our fans deserve to see a consistently competitive team. We have high standards, and there’s an urgency for success. When we believed we were not positioned to achieve significant progress in 2014, we knew we had to admit that a change was needed, and move forward.

Browns fans are the most loyal and passionate supporters in the NFL. We’re fully committed to bringing them the winning football team they deserve.”

Former Browns QB asks for job back...on Facebook

Anderson in 2007 (photo courtesy SI)

CHARLOTTE - Carolina Panthers backup QB Derek Anderson is not a fan favorite in Cleveland - where he was released in 2009.

However, social media might be responsible for Anderson getting his job back in the Dawg Pound.

Cleveland's NewsChannel5 is reporting that Anderson posted his plea Friday evening on his Facebook page:

"Looks like it is time to make a return to a familiar place for some unfinished business. I would be honored to return to Cleveland to play football if the fans would have me."

Wow. Ballsy move. Fans in C-Town remember full well how Anderson reacted when the Browns released him. Anderson crafted a very pointed email to a local Cleveland beat reporter, blasting the Cleveland faithful. He said fans of the Browns were "ruthless," and didn't "deserve a winner."

“I will never forget getting cheered when I was injured. I know at times I wasn’t great," Anderson went on to tell the Browns' beat writer. "I hope and pray I’m playing when my team comes to town and [we] roll them.”

Former Carolina offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski has been hired as the new Cleveland head coach, and Anderson was a backup for Cam Newton in Carolina last season. Chudz was also the offensive coordinator for the Browns during Anderson's tenure under center.

WEWS is saying Anderson puts his chances of heading back to Cleveland at 80%, according to an unnamed source.

I know Mark Zuckerberg is influential, but come on...

When the dust settles, I'm not sure Brandon Weeden has anything to worry about.