Browns Claim They “Walked Away From” Chip Kelly; Columnist is Happy Cleveland Passed
Want to know why Brent Musburger was mocking the Cleveland Browns coaching opening during Alabama’s slaughter of Notre Dame? Here’s one reason – garbage like this, from the Plain-Dealer:
The Browns walked away from Oregon coach Chip Kelly on Sunday afternoon because they weren’t certain his heart was 100 percent into leaving the Ducks,
If this report is to be believed, it is so very Cleveland Browns.
It is precisely why the Browns have had one trip to the playoffs in the last 14 years. It is precisely why the Browns have had two winning seasons in the last 14 years (2002, 2007).
They don’t know talent when they see it. They’re afraid to make bold moves. They’re the cautious poker player who never goes all-in. Kelly was worth going all-in for.
Chip Kelly has been wildly successful at Oregon. In college, everyone seems to be emulating his exciting offense; it is even trickling into the pros. Yet at the first sign of reluctance from Kelly, the bumbling Browns ran the other way. Meanwhile, Philadelphia doubled-down, spending what appears to be about 10 hours courting Kelly. In the end, they lost him. So what?
You know who the Browns are looking at now? Guys like Ken Whisenhunt (eh), Lovie Smith (like), Jay Gruden (LMAO), and Bruce Arians (can we pump the brakes just a little?). I’ll let Plain-Dealer columnist Terry Pluto take it from here:
But rather than feeling rejected because Kelly wasn’t sold on the Browns and the talks fell apart for whatever reason, I’m relieved … I don’t want a coach who will re-invent the game, a coach such as Kelly with no pro experience.
Nor do I want a coach who has power over the college draft — and that’s why the Browns maybe should reverse their field and hire a general manager first.
As for a coach … when I mentioned names such as Ken Whisenhunt, Bruce Arians and Lovie Smith — many fans moan … If they want to try something different, how about Brad Seely? The veteran special teams coach (now with San Francisco) has a knack of organization and success. John Harbaugh was a veteran special teams coach when hired by Baltimore in 2008.
Ahhhh, mediocrity. A good look for Cleveland.

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112 Responses to “Browns Claim They “Walked Away From” Chip Kelly; Columnist is Happy Cleveland Passed”
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January 8th, 2013 at 2:39 PM
Factory of Sadness….
January 8th, 2013 at 2:40 PM
The Browns walked away after Kelly turned his back to them? I can accept that.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:40 PM
I think he will make a good NFL coach and agree with that part of the post. But not wanting to get Petrino’d seems like a reasonable thing to take into account for an NFL team.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:42 PM
Time to make Saban the highest paid coach in the league
January 8th, 2013 at 2:43 PM
When a coach who has never been anywhere near the NFL asks for complete authority and power, I’d be hesitant as well. I’m bummed he’s not coming to the NFL because I wanted to see his system at the highest level, but few owners (if any) would give Kelly the keys to do whatever he wanted.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:43 PM
Kelly’s success depends on having superior athletes. He won’t have that in the NFL and he won’t be successful. It’s not just the Browns who have ended up not wanting him. Plenty of teams have passed.
Browns should rehire Schottenheimer!
January 8th, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Also, hiring a coach who isn’t 100% into the gig when you know that to be the case would be the definition of dumb.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:44 PM
maybe he was, maybe he wasnt…you, of all people, shouldnt be making proclamations regarding his ability considering how you abhor both stats and strategy.
in any event, it seems like kelly just watned to stay in college. if he went to the eagles, yea, your criticisms would be valid, but they’re not. where’s the criticism for the eagles, who met with him longer, “who are more talented in a better city” and yet still walked away with nothing?
oh, right…youre a troll.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:45 PM
i want your old dude, mcdaniels.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:45 PM
troof.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:46 PM
They’re afraid to make bold moves.
Hire Holmgren
Hire Butch Davis
Trade up for Brady Quinn
Took Braylon Edwards
Traded for Shaun Rodgers
Lack of bold moves has not been the Browns problem. Lack of franchise QB, inability to draft well consistently and playing against the Steelers and Ravens, moreso.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:46 PM
I’m not sure about this. Kelly is a pretty smart dude. It’s not like he’d run his system with Weeden or some shit like that.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:47 PM
stick with the running-QB offenses, and treat NFL QBs like RBs…get a stable of them, make sure they get plenty of reps in practice, then worry less about inevitable injury. no more precious QBs, let them have shelf lives of RBs
i’ll have to start a league, the BFL
January 8th, 2013 at 2:47 PM
i finally realzied why TBL knows absolutely nothing about the browns…they rarely get into the red zone, so they dont show up on the red zone channel. sorry for yelling at you for not knowing what youre talking about TBL.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:47 PM
Save for one or two GM’s they are all terrible morons who keep hiring each other in this cycle of idiocy that seems endless. What’s NFL experience worth when you keep hiring people who have already failed? If I’m coach I don’t want some retard getting me Tebow or Manti Te’o in the first round because the player’s narrative gave them a boner. Would you even want to play a full season of Madden with some cretin making your team for you?
January 8th, 2013 at 2:47 PM
I’d rather watch the Browns than the Jets
January 8th, 2013 at 2:48 PM
f’real. the ignorance coming out about kelly’s system is fairly startling. do people really think he’d be running a zone option with weeden or mccoy? REALLY?
January 8th, 2013 at 2:48 PM
Another Belichick re-tread? Have you learned nothing from Crennel and Mangini?
January 8th, 2013 at 2:48 PM
You already have. It was known as the Run and Shoot when June Jones ran it in Houston and Atlanta.
/ Mouse Davis’d
January 8th, 2013 at 2:48 PM
I liked going after Chip Kelly but if a guy doesn’t want your truckloads of cash, I’m not sure you persist. Otherwise you’re like Piven in Grosse Point Blank, hunting down Jenny Slater at the 20 year reunion.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:48 PM
Haslam offering Saban 10-12 million a year and an ownership stake was worth going all-in for.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Of course not. But it’s not like he’ll be going up against a CU or WSU defense either.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Kelly was just practicing his interviewing skills, getting ready for whenever Belichick retires.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Have people not been watching the NFL this year? Have you seen how freaking clueless teams are in dealing with the zone read stuff when it’s mixed with a power running game a la WASH and SEA? To think Kelly couldn’t have success in the league seems naive to me. If he went to Carolina tomorrow I’d be shitting my pants as a Falcons fan. I wouldn’t want any part of that.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Yet at the first sign of reluctance from Kelly, the bumbling Browns ran the other way
They offered him the job repeatedly over a 5-hour negotiation Friday night. In business, that’s like 50 years.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:50 PM
i mean, they’re nothing alike as coaches, but apparently i havent.
mangini got a raw deal too. fuck mike holmgren.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:51 PM
kelly is the catbird seat: he’s happy where he is and won;t move unless the job is exactly right. mystery here?
January 8th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Thanks to this website, I now know more about the Browns and Jets than I do about my beloved Lions.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
So are the Eagles and Browns just going to interview everyone who’s ever played football at any level? Shit or get off the pot already.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Agreed. Saban >>>>>>>>>>> Kelly
January 8th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Imagine you’re interviewing a writer and you offer him the job several times during an interview that lasts several hours and he never says yes. Now imagine that writer being solely responsible for your company succeeding. Wouldn’t you be nervous about him?
January 8th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Agreed and despite Joe Webb setting back the mobile quarterback 10 years there are many adequate dual threat quarterbacks coming out every year. Cam has the size to avoid injuries to.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Haslam offering Saban 10-12 million a year and an ownership stake was worth going all-in for.
Cmon now. The Hoodie, MAYBE. No other football executive alive that would serve in an operational aspect is woth giving away percentages of a billion dollar football franchise. You pay Saban top market rate but cmon now, no ownership stake. These aint dumbshit NBA owners.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:53 PM
It’s nothing like the run n shoot, which was 80-20 pass to run. Kelly’s offense is about 25% passing to 75% running.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Trust me, you don’t want to know any more about the Lions.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
You’re right, they’re not. McDaniels is more of a cancer to the team than those other guys.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Plus one for eye tests.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
You’re not helping your argument there.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:55 PM
And with an entire 7 months to go over game films of those teams, competent def coordinators will align players and shut it down, like the wildcat.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Awesome.
I didn’t think Kelly would leave Oregon at all, let alone for the Browns. New ownership made a splash by looking at him, but I’m more than happy a deal wasn’t made. If he wanted complete control, that’s asinine. At a minimum, he needs several assistants with NFL experience, and I would have to assume this played in to the Browns decision (if it was really their decision).
January 8th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
this bears repeating.
although in TBL’s perfect world Kelly would have taken the job and then backed out in a couple weeks, the posts bashing Cleveland for taking a chance on a guy even though he wasn’t into the job would fit his anti-Cleveland narrative perfectly.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
dude, there’s no better definition of a tumor than romeo crennel. such a fatty corpuscle.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Well this is just plain untrue.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
The Browns should interview Scott Linehan because he did a GREAT job this season for the Lions offense according to Jim Schwartz.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:57 PM
it’s not really asinine to give a guy who runs a system nobody else in the league runs full personnel control. bill walsh did the exact same thing.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:57 PM
They’ll shut it down if that’s all the team does, but SEA mixes it in a few times a game and keeps teams on their heels.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:58 PM
+50 passes each game with a terrible OL
January 8th, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Qbs like Wilson don’t grow on trees
January 8th, 2013 at 2:58 PM
counterpoint: kelly and his lack of a huddle wouldnt give them the chance to sub or make adjustments since they’d have already run two plays in that span.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:59 PM
A lot of avoiding injuries is scheme and how you run. Cam takes on tacklers and does a lot of goal line running where he is trying to sam cunningham leap over guys to get to the end zone.
I hated how the Redskins used RG3 on goal line option runs where he was getting lit up all the time. I watched Russell Wilson all year and I can’t ever remember him getting hit on a run, slid or went out of bounds every time (watch him get hurt this weekend now)
January 8th, 2013 at 2:59 PM
I was thinking more of the hurry-up-and-snap-it aspects of his offense, which emulates the Run and Shoot tempo.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:59 PM
Agree that it’s not asinine, but I can definitely see why an owner would be very hesitant to turn the keys over.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:00 PM
That OL can pass block. They keep fat boy relatively clean.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Soused, I figured you’d be in the beginning stages of a weeklong celebratory blackout bender after last night.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Which is perhaps one of the reasons why Kelly wasn’t all in.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Bill Walsh? That has been isn’t remotely in the same realm as Chip Kelly.
/Queefer’d
January 8th, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Gotta be somebody on SF, GB, or another playoff staff out there. Young and hungry. Fuck these retreads.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:02 PM
listen, all im saying is that paul brown was just an OK coach, not a great one. i mean, he had so much talent.
/queefer’d
January 8th, 2013 at 3:02 PM
Joe Montana was good, but had great talent around him.
/Queefer’d
January 8th, 2013 at 3:03 PM
I’d look at either the OC or DC in SF and pair him with a GM. To me that’s what works. A two-man team that works together, but knows where each guy stands in the pecking order.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Jim Fassel, waitin’ in the wings.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:04 PM
The Jets are in far worse shape than the Browns are. This is simple diversion people.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:04 PM
Insane to me that Fassel and Billick never got second chances. Especially considering the people who have
January 8th, 2013 at 3:04 PM
The Bears want to talk to the GB offensive coordinator but I’m hopeful the Singletary interview isn’t just to appease the Swerskis in Chicago
January 8th, 2013 at 3:05 PM
Lombardi? He was nothing without Starr and Jim Taylor and that O-line.
/ Q’d
January 8th, 2013 at 3:05 PM
So what defense will the fat fetishist be coordinating in 2014? Ravens again?
January 8th, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Seriously? The Bears interviewed Pants on the Ground?
January 8th, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Yeah……fuck. I’m out 3 weeks with a liver, so….yeah. Be ready to go for the Super Bowl, in the meantime I am keeping my mind off drinking by running a blog dedicated to women shotgunning and brewing my own beer. Also waiting for winnings to be transferred over.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:07 PM
/uncontrollable vomiting
January 8th, 2013 at 3:08 PM
And him returning to Oregon certainly refutes that.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:09 PM
I hope. He’s a great coordinator. Terrible head coach.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:11 PM
Chuck Noll was a #1 gameplanning sunuvabitch in Pittsburgh. Then they went drafing and developing dem hall of famers and he got sloppy. Real sloppy. They had a few years in the late 70′s they couldn’t win it all. Good. Not great coach IMO
/Queefer’d
January 8th, 2013 at 3:11 PM
He got the best of BB back in 2010(?) with his scheme of playing prevent the entire game.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:13 PM
He was great at choosing and developing talent, and scheming and gameplans and leadership, and in-game decision-making, but not really at the coaching thing. Overrated.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:13 PM
Rex has declined b/c of his horrible personnel acumen and offensive incompetence/lack of involvement
January 8th, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Your wife must be gorgeous. Your standards are extremely high.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Real question – what would he run? He’s run thezone read, midline and invereted veer forever. Those aren’t really power spread concepts like Urhan and what SF and Wash run. His passing game isn’t more than two reads on one side of the field then QB go.
Is he going to come in and run the I? I’d assume he’d bring tempo with him, but what’d his offense look like?
January 8th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
This. Bring him back. Mangini is a great coach.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
So what you’re saying is Lombardi was a good program builder, but not a great coach.
/Queefer’d
January 8th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
A different hideous uniform every week.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:17 PM
My wife killed herself, remember?
Seriously, he’s a poor head coach. His circus buffoonery only plays when the team is winning. Baltimore knew that, which is why he didn’t get the HC there. The Jets apparently didn’t know or care.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:17 PM
that’s the best question…he’d have a zone blocking scheme for sure, some WCO principles…but i think his big thing would be easy checks at the line and adjusting to the defense on the fly with the no huddle.
sure, the zone-read is his thing in college, but a check with me PA pass or a draw would be just as effective depending on what the D shows.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:18 PM
/third team in four years
January 8th, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Not sure, but it’d involve ignoring all football convention. Chip Kelly re-invented football, after all
/sarcasm font on second sentence
January 8th, 2013 at 3:19 PM
I imagine after a week of you explaining why her meatloaf was good, not great, “death do us part” seemed like the more palatable option.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:20 PM
According to Darrell it’s a gimmick offense and won’t last.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:22 PM
The sex was good, not great. She recruited a great husband, but in terms of sexual X’s and O’s, mediocre
January 8th, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Slowly backs out of thread…
January 8th, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Meatloaf is a particular point of contention in the Queefer household. Put it this way — it’s more Notre Dame than Alabama.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
That fade to Santonio was the best Jets moment of my lifetime and will likely be the best I ever experience and I won’t have you diminishing it in any way.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Good schemes, though. “Hey, we should have a kid!” worked for a while.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:25 PM
This isn’t the Redskins fault, it’s Griffin’s. Wilson got down when near traffic, and Griffin thinks he’s invincible. Hopefully he has learned his lesson.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:25 PM
Better than Holmes handing the ball to the defense for a td?
/obligatory Holmes shot
January 8th, 2013 at 3:28 PM
good job good effort…look at the rosters of the Browns and your beloved Jets and think which you would rather have
/guarantees Sanchez’s 2014 contract
January 8th, 2013 at 3:31 PM
All Lombardi did for himself was yelling a couple of one liners on the field to make him look great because he was the only guy who knew NFL Films was going to be a hit.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:31 PM
As a Ravens fan, Cleveland scares me in 2013 and beyond. They have just enough pieces to cause some trouble in that division.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:33 PM
close, not quite there yet. Need the right coach and the QB situation needs to be figured out. I know other browns fan may be a little more patient but Weeden gots to go
January 8th, 2013 at 3:37 PM
Who do you replace him with, though? Unless you’re bringing in Alex Smith or Matt Flynn, you might as well stick with Weeden for at least another year.
I think the Browns beat the Ravens and the Steelers once next year.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:40 PM
This isn’t the Redskins fault, it’s Griffin’s. Wilson got down when near traffic, and Griffin thinks he’s invincible. Hopefully he has learned his lesson.
i dont think he will. he didnt in college. briles knew this, and quit calling a ton of run plays for him, and made him a fantastic passer. which for some reason shanahan wont do.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:43 PM
uh…what? he gets one more year, even if he was gabbert-esque. there aint any QB’s worth drafting this year.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:44 PM
Hold off one year and get Aaron Murray in the 2nd round in 2014 when he’s coming off of a Heisman and MNC win.
/all in, baby!
January 8th, 2013 at 3:45 PM
He had a pretty damn good year, throwing included. I understand a lot of the knocks on Shanahan, but he’s consistently proven to be one of the NFL’s best offensive minds over the last quarter century
January 8th, 2013 at 3:46 PM
i lolled.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Dad may have input, but Kyle’s the OC. I think he’s been doing a great job play calling. When everyone is healthy, defenses don’t know what the hell to do.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:49 PM
He had a pretty damn good year, throwing included. I understand a lot of the knocks on Shanahan, but he’s consistently proven to be one of the NFL’s best offensive minds over the last quarter century
i still think he ran too much, mainly over the last quarter of the season.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:52 PM
shanny’s offense is my fav in the NFL. it’s been that way since he was making brian fucking griese and jake plummer pro bowlers.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:54 PM
I enjoyed him saving Steve Young’s career
January 8th, 2013 at 3:55 PM
I’m partial to Norv’s offense too
January 8th, 2013 at 3:59 PM
i meant eventually he has to go, I know they wont make a change this year but its inevitable
January 8th, 2013 at 3:59 PM
some people may think he can/will improve in 2013 I just do not see it happening
January 8th, 2013 at 4:01 PM
Didn’t see a ton of Browns this year, but I’ve always been very impressed by Weeden as a pure thrower
January 8th, 2013 at 4:02 PM
I’m pissed Tony Sprano got fired. He was always coaching my favorite offenses.
/kick
rockfield goal