Head Coach Search - Interviews

[Flugel]

@bob806 said:

True.

Here's the thing, did the NYGiants actually satisfy this silly Rooney Rule? Sure doesn't look like it.

Thanks Bob!  You nailed it!  Another episode of "It's only the Browns" justifying criteria that favors a team like the Rats. Sticking with the theme as 1 Distorted Poet Used to say: "Treat me like the Dirtbag that I am."  In his honor, I'll share some of his dirty revised poetry - so if anyone doesn't like Pottymouth you can boycott the short video below...

[Flugel]

@ap1 said:

@flugel I would love Joe Thomas to be the OL Coach. Look at what Jason Taylor has done with (Univ of) Miami's DL. The Browns need Joe Thomas more than Joe Thomas needs to Browns. 

Loyal as he is to Cleveland and the Browns, I believe the Browns frustrate him. His social media posts aren't critical but they are truthful.

He enjoys time on his farm. He is heavily involved in raising NIL money for Wisconsin and recruiting players in the portal.

He can make just as much behind a microphone as he can coaching, plus he gets to fly in/fly out faster and spend Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas with his kids rather than work 16-17 hour days August through January. 

Just my take. I wish I was wrong.

Great take!  I wish you were wrong too AP1... 

If anyone can nullify the desperate situation with our OLine & OTackles in particular - Here's to hoping we're both wrong:

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/browns/2025/06/19/cleveland-browns-training-camp-joe-thomas-left-tackle-dawand-jones/84260345007/

Here's another thing I found on Google I cut and pasted below:

[syd]

@bob806 said:

True.

Here's the thing, did the NYGiants actually satisfy this silly Rooney Rule? Sure doesn't look like it.

if not, what happens ? a fine of some kind ? i mean it is the NY football giants we are talking about here, not The Browns

[Orion]

[Bob806]

@orion said:

Yeah rumors have him going to the Ratbirds. 

I'm not sure what to think about this Browns HC process. Their track record is in all of our minds....will the patience pay off? 

Maybe the Scheelhaase guy is their guy?

[calfoxwc]

after the watson debacle, what in demand coach would want to come to the Browns when they can go elsewhere??? 

  We'll see - but like Ward was saying - they need a strong leader as HC. I just think haslam is too arrogant to hire one.

[Flugel]

@bob806 said:

Yeah rumors have him going to the Ratbirds. 

I'm not sure what to think about this Browns HC process. Their track record is in all of our minds....will the patience pay off? 

Maybe the Scheelhaase guy is their guy?

It's basically a testimony of where the Browns Owner & FO ranks among all competitors that were bad enough to need a new HC.  Todd Monken who had a recent 2nd interview was an OC here that was so well trusted the 1st time he was here - that he wasn't even allowed to call the plays for HC Freddie Childress.  Now, the Owner and Andrew Berry have him as one of the select few competing with DC Jim Schwartz (that Haslam and Berry are reluctant to promote).  

They'll get their version of the best of what's left.  Let's say it becomes Steeple-Chase.  The 1st culture shock is 1 team has legit NFL starting Tackles while the Browns need to find 2 upgrades an OC would be comfortable with.  The Rams have had QB Matthew Stafford - while the Browns have a Rosary & 2 unproven QBs from the 3rd & 5th rounds.  On the perimeter at QB the Rams have 2 WRs that excel at getting open, catching passes, making 1st downs and scoring TDs. The Browns have 1 veteran WR Jerry Jeudy that was a bad fit in Denver for Sean Payton and only 1 other WR that was undrafted (Isaiah Bond from Texas) but that doesn't hold a candle to the Rams.  The Rams also have 2 very good RBs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum; BUT this is 1 area the Browns can match their talent imo (if Judkins heals well). This feels like it's going to be a culture shock for a young coach like Steeple-Chase.

We spend a lot of time talking about our team here.  Here we are with all the best HC candidates undoubtedly being advised by their agents - you don't want to work for Haslam & Berry.  Monken or Steeple-Chase will be left standing if the Brain Trust succeeds at pissing off Schwartz.  Then we'd have to find a DC.  That would SUCK. The 1 area of this team that looked like it had a lot of fun playing together last year; and Berry & Haslam could have them all wishing they were out of here. For the love of God just hire Schwartz already and get yourself a Coordinator while there's still 1 worth taking.  

[Orion]

@flugel said:

Here we are with all the best HC candidates undoubtedly being advised by their agents - you don't want to work for Haslam & Berry.

Right.  All one really has to do is look at Halsam's history of hiring and firing HC's & GM's....and the whole Kyle Shanahan thing (Let me the  _ _ _ _  outa' here).  

[Bob806]

@flugel said:

It's basically a testimony of where the Browns Owner & FO ranks among all competitors that were bad enough to need a new HC.  Todd Monken who had a recent 2nd interview was an OC here that was so well trusted the 1st time he was here - that he wasn't even allowed to call the plays for HC Freddie Childress.  Now, the Owner and Andrew Berry have him as one of the select few competing with DC Jim Schwartz (that Haslam and Berry are reluctant to promote).  

They'll get their version of the best of what's left.  Let's say it becomes Steeple-Chase.  The 1st culture shock is 1 team has legit NFL starting Tackles while the Browns need to find 2 upgrades an OC would be comfortable with.  The Rams have had QB Matthew Stafford - while the Browns have a Rosary & 2 unproven QBs from the 3rd & 5th rounds.  On the perimeter at QB the Rams have 2 WRs that excel at getting open, catching passes, making 1st downs and scoring TDs. The Browns have 1 veteran WR Jerry Jeudy that was a bad fit in Denver for Sean Payton and only 1 other WR that was undrafted (Isaiah Bond from Texas) but that doesn't hold a candle to the Rams.  The Rams also have 2 very good RBs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum; BUT this is 1 area the Browns can match their talent ino (if Judkins heals well). This feels like it's going to be a culture shock for a young coach like Steeple-Chase.

We spend a lot of time talking about our team here.  Here we are with all the best HC candidates undoubtedly being advised by their agents - you don't want to work for Haslam & Berry.  Monken or Steeple-Chase will be left standing if the Brain Trust succeeds at pissing off Schwartz.  Then we'd have to find a DC.  That would SUCK. The 1 area of this team that looked like it had a lot of fun playing together last year; and Berry & Haslam could have them all wishing they were out of here. For the love of God just hire Schwartz already and get yourself a Coordinator while there's still 1 worth taking.  

I like your QB analysis?

"A rosary and two unproven QBs" 

Hemingway-esque lol

[Flugel]

@orion said:

Right.  All one really has to do is look at Halsam's history of hiring and firing HC's & GM's....and the whole Kyle Shanahan thing (Let me the  _ _ _ _  outa' here).  

I remember way back in the day when women would participate in weekly football pools.  Some would pick teams because they liked their uniforms while others would pick a team because they liked the city the teams played for.  Having said that, when you throw point spreads into these things forget the man card nonsense - any one of the ladies that played had a great chance to win by accident.   That's kind of what we have to hope for here from Berry & Haslam.  That or they can take the Jed Clampett route and go hunting together.  Whatever one that doesn't get shot in the fanny still has a chance to get the game; but misfire and strike oil by accident...  

[TexasAg1969]

Oh, somebody will take the oil well from Haslem thinking, "So what's the worst that can happen? Team keeps on losing and I retire with enough money for life for not being able to overcome a screwed up FO? So fuckin' what!!"

[Orion]

@texasag1969 said:

Oh, somebody will take the oil well from Haslem thinking, "So what's the worst that can happen? Team keeps on losing and I retire with enough money for life for not being able to overcome a screwed up FO? So fuckin' what!!"

Right, but that presumably won't be the supposed 'better' candidates.  And if a candidate is thinking of his future as a HC in the NFL, he has to ask himself, Will being a Browns HC be a feather in my cap?  Or an anchor tied to my waste?  

[Flugel]

@texasag1969 said:

Oh, somebody will take the oil well from Haslem thinking, "So what's the worst that can happen? Team keeps on losing and I retire with enough money for life for not being able to overcome a screwed up FO? So fuckin' what!!"

1 good thing maybe by accident - maybe by planning, Steeple-Chase takes care of the Rooney Rule.  We can hire Schwartz and somehow if Schwartz likes the kid and we have an OC too.  Even worse, your buddy Flugel is getting Dumber by the second.

[Jax]

My top pick for HC at this point is Udinski.

Offensive minded and helped both Lawrence and Darnald plus someone young with a new perspective. 

Obviously the problem with Cleveland is our leadership in the front office. I've been reading a lot of reports how the Browns might have waited too long because now the Bills are in the mix with a top QB. But if I were looking for a new HC spot, I would find it more appealing to join the Browns where the only place to go is up. There will be a lot of scrutiny and pressure in Buffalo and anything short of a superbowl run would be considered a failure. My number one priorities would be pay and control over the field.

Getting a superbowl ring is pretty enticing but if it was that easy the previous HC would have got it done already. 

[AP1]

@jax said:

But if I were looking for a new HC spot, I would find it more appealing to join the Browns where the only place to go is up. There will be a lot of scrutiny and pressure in Buffalo and anything short of a superbowl run would be considered a failure.

Solid points Jax!

Ownership in Buffalo expects multiple Super Bowls. 

We don't really know what ownership in Cleveland expects, but we expect that he expects something...maybe...hopefully...prob...well, hopefully. 

[MDDawg]

@flugel said:

It's basically a testimony of where the Browns Owner & FO ranks among all competitors that were bad enough to need a new HC.  Todd Monken who had a recent 2nd interview was an OC here that was so well trusted the 1st time he was here - that he wasn't even allowed to call the plays for HC Freddie Childress.  Now, the Owner and Andrew Berry have him as one of the select few competing with DC Jim Schwartz (that Haslam and Berry are reluctant to promote).  

They'll get their version of the best of what's left.  Let's say it becomes Steeple-Chase.  The 1st culture shock is 1 team has legit NFL starting Tackles while the Browns need to find 2 upgrades an OC would be comfortable with.  The Rams have had QB Matthew Stafford - while the Browns have a Rosary & 2 unproven QBs from the 3rd & 5th rounds.  On the perimeter at QB the Rams have 2 WRs that excel at getting open, catching passes, making 1st downs and scoring TDs. The Browns have 1 veteran WR Jerry Jeudy that was a bad fit in Denver for Sean Payton and only 1 other WR that was undrafted (Isaiah Bond from Texas) but that doesn't hold a candle to the Rams.  The Rams also have 2 very good RBs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum; BUT this is 1 area the Browns can match their talent ino (if Judkins heals well). This feels like it's going to be a culture shock for a young coach like Steeple-Chase.

We spend a lot of time talking about our team here.  Here we are with all the best HC candidates undoubtedly being advised by their agents - you don't want to work for Haslam & Berry.  Monken or Steeple-Chase will be left standing if the Brain Trust succeeds at pissing off Schwartz.  Then we'd have to find a DC.  That would SUCK. The 1 area of this team that looked like it had a lot of fun playing together last year; and Berry & Haslam could have them all wishing they were out of here. For the love of God just hire Schwartz already and get yourself a Coordinator while there's still 1 worth taking.  

Schwartz and Monken are the backup plan. Udinski and Scheelhaase (steeple chase lol) are the front runners. The Bills will interview Udinski on Sunday if we haven't hired him already.

[MDDawg]

@flugel said:

1 good thing maybe by accident - maybe by planning, Steeple-Chase takes care of the Rooney Rule.  We can hire Schwartz and somehow if Schwartz likes the kid and we have an OC too.  Even worse, your buddy Flugel is getting Dumber by the second.

We still would not fulfill the Rooney rule even if we hired Scheelhaase. However, they could've interviewed other minority candidates without announcing it yet or if they hire Scheelhaase or Udinski by Monday then Jimmah will pay the fine.

[Flugel]

@mddawg said:

We still would not fulfill the Rooney rule even if we hired Scheelhaase. However, they could've interviewed other minority candidates without announcing it yet or if they hire Scheelhaase or Udinski by Monday then Jimmah will pay the fine.

Thanks MDD!   He should pay a fine for getting the same revenue that 31 better owners get from the Sunday Ticket monopoly.  Looking at some of the guys they wasted time on - would just an interview with a defensive mind like Brian Flores have hurt anything before all the inevitable "No thank you" 2nd visit snubs?  

There's going to be some young defensive players here that had a lot of fun playing for Schwartz that will be really bummed and/or pissed if Schwartz isn't back here.  In Cleveland only - who needs continuity chapter 40 right?

Last but not least, we have a GM that fits Rooney Rule criteria (where it doesn't count) - but we should get to waive it for all the Poseiden Adventures this GM has caused near the shore of Lake Erie.

[Orion]

@jax said:

if I were looking for a new HC spot, I would find it more appealing to join the Browns where the only place to go is up

...but you can't go up.  Not consistently.  Nobody's been able to do it with meddling Haslam.  I wouldn't take that chance with my future NFL career at steak.  

[Orion]