HEY, TONY!

Tony Grossi tackles your Cleveland Browns questions

Get instant reaction and analysis following Eric Mangini's press conference as The Plain Dealer's Browns beat writer Tony Grossi joined us for a special live chat from Berea.

Among the topics Tony addressed:

Do you like the choice of Mangini?

What's the latest on the search for a GM?

Has the door been closed on Scott Pioli? What about Rich McKay?

What do you think of the way Randy Lerner has handled this process?

What kind of offense and defense can we expect from a Mangini-led team?

... plus much, much more!

Press the play button to listen or click here to download the MP3 file.

Hey, Tony: With Albert Haynesworth becoming a free agent next year, what are the chances of signing him and playing a 4-3 defense with he and Shaun Rogers in the middle together? -- Deanna Meyer, Auburn, Ohio

Hey, Deanna: Don't hold your breath. Besides the fact we don't know who the GM and coach are, the Browns have dumped so much money into their defensive line already they couldn't afford another $60 million free agent there.

Hey, Tony: Two questions. First, why in the world did Savage waste a draft pick on Travis Daniels only to have Crennel make him inactive game after game? Second, to me, you build a contender through the draft, and supplement with a few key free agents. And yet for all of Savage's alleged brilliance at scouting college players, this team is "upside down" --consisting largely of costly free agents (see offensive and defensive lines). Moreover, many of Savage's high picks won't remind anybody of a Pro Bowler (see Wimbley, Jackson, Pool, Wright), while others remain huge question marks (see Edwards, Quinn). So tell me again why Savage should stick around? -- Matt A., Towson, Md.

Hey, Matt: Savage had some hits but far too many misses to overcome his other inadequacies in the job.

Hey, Tony: As a longtime Browns fan living in New York, I really enjoy your work. You mentioned last week that Marty Schottenheimer left the team on his own after the 1988 season. I always thought [Art] Modell forced him out when he refused to hire an offensive coordinator, as Marty wanted to continue to call the plays himself. In that case I agreed with Modell, as those teams were never the same offensively after Lindy Infante left, and the team needed an offensive coordinator. -- Dan Mullins, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Hey, Dan: Modell wanted Schottenheimer to make some changes on his staff, such as the one you mention. Ernie Accorsi, the director of football operations at the time, tried to get Schottenheimer out of town to avoid a confrontation with Modell, but Schottenheimer wanted a meeting first. Schottenheimer was so incensed after reading Modell's comments in The Plain Dealer that morning that he did not even hear out Modell. He went in and said he was gone. This story is included in my book, "Tales From the Browns Sideline."

Hey, Tony: Any thoughts on Steve Spagnuolo or if Andy Reid becomes available for the next head coach? -- Mark Dominic, Sugarland, Texas

Hey, Mark: Reid, yes. Spagnuolo, no. Spagnuolo may be the next great NFL coach. If that is the case, I'd wait for him to be fired from his first job and then hire him.

Continue reading "Hey, Tony: Tony Grossi answers your Browns questions" »

Where do the Browns go from here after firing GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel?

Tony Grossi tackled your questions about all the changes coming to the Browns in a live chat from team headquarters in Berea earlier today.

Note: The chat was recorded at the same time that Crennel was being fired and before it was known Bill Cowher turned down the Browns' overtures

Among the topics discussed:

What's the latest from Berea?

What do you make of reports that Bill Cowher will not coach in 2009?

Why would Scott Pioli want to come to Cleveland?

What are the chances Bill Parcells ends up here?

How long will this re-building project take?

Plus a whole lot more!

Click on the play button below to listen to download the MP3 here.

Hey, Tony: Is it true that the Cleveland Browns died an untimely death in 1995 and fans would have been better off to mourn for eternity than put up with the joke the new organization has become? Ten seasons of 10 or more losses is enough! -- G. Stefanow, Enon, Ohio

Hey, G.: One of the reasons the city and Browns fans fought so hard -- and paid so much -- for another team in 1999 was to be able to grovel when they lose and to celebrate when they win, to second-guess Sunday play-calls that go awry and applaud them when they work to perfection. Yes, there has been much more reason to boo and criticize than to cheer, but if you think you would have more fun without a team, you are in the minority. And for the record, it's been seven seasons of 10 or more losses in 10 years they've been back. Just think how satisfying it will be when they finally scale that mountain.

Hey, Tony: Who is more likely to be traded next year: Kellen Winslow or Derek Anderson? -- Angelo Costanzo, Cleveland

Hey, Angelo: Anderson probably is the more attractive player -- rifle-armed quarterback, still young -- so I would guess he would be more likely to be dealt. That doesn't mean Winslow won't be traded, however.

Hey, Tony: Do the Browns have a first-round draft choice this year? If they do, what type of player would they most likely go after? Do you think that they would possibly trade Braylon Edwards if he is so unhappy being here? -- Jim Kara, Anaheim, Calif.

Hey, Jim: The Browns have a first-round pick and should use that choice on a linebacker. I think the odds of Edwards being traded are very small.

Continue reading "Hey, Tony: Tony Grossi answers your Browns questions" »

The Plain Dealer's Browns beat writer previews Sunday afternoon's Browns-Bengals game in his weekly podcast.

Among the questions he answered:

• How much stock do you put in Dan Rooney saying Bill Cowher won't coach in 2009?

• How big of a black eye is the Shaun Smith-Brady Quinn incident?

• Do you expect Mike Tomlin to play his starters much this week?

• Is this the week the coaching staff finally unleashes the full "Flash" package?

• Any chance this team rallies for Romeo Crennel?

+ Tony's pick and much more!

Click on the play button to listen

Or download as an MP3

Can it get any worse? Browns beat writer Tony Grossi tackled your questions in a chat earlier today on cleveland.com.

Among the topics discussed:

Is Bill Cowher coming to Cleveland?

Is Marty Schottenheimer in the Browns' plans?

Who are the untouchable players heading into offseason?

How serious is Ken Dorsey's injury?

Is Bruce Gradkowski the expected starter for the Steelers game ?

And a whole lot more!

Download MP3

Next live podcast: TBA

HEY, TONY!

Your Browns questions answered

Got a Browns question? Send it in. Submit your question to cleveland.com/heytony, and Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi will choose several to answer each Sunday here in the sports section. All of Tony's answers are archived online.

Q: Hey, Tony: If / when Browns begin search for a new head coach, who do you think will be the NFL-required minority candidate(s) interviewed by the team? -- Tony O'Leary, Charleston, W.Va.

A: Hey, Tony: At the top of the list could be Leslie Frazier, who succeeded Mike Tomlin as Vikings defensive coordinator last season. If Mike Singletary is not retained by the 49ers, he is another candidate. A third would be Ron Meeks, Indianapolis defensive coordinator. After that, the pickings are slim.

Continue reading "Hey Tony" »

The Plain Dealer's Browns beat writer previews Sunday afternoon's Browns-Bengals game in his weekly podcast.

Among the questions he answered:

• Were you surprised by the Pro Bowl picks?

• Do you expect to see Joe Jurevicius back next season?

• Is Marvin Lewis in a similar situation to Romeo Crennel?

• Will the Browns finally score an offensive touchdown this week?

• Is the Bengals' defense still their achilles' heel?

+ Tony's pick and much more!

Click on the play button to listen

Or download as an MP3

Just how ugly was Monday night's game? Browns beat writer Tony Grossi tackled your questions in a chat earlier today on cleveland.com.

Among the topics discussed:

Why does Braylon Edwards play better on Monday night games?

Would the Browns seriously consider hiring a coordinator as their head coach?

What about a college coach?

Will Ken Dorsey finish the year at quarterback?

And a whole lot more!

Download MP3

Next live podcast: Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Hey, Tony: What's up with the lovefest going on with Browns fans for Bill Cowher? The guy has a rich history of choking in big games, only won a Super Bowl as a gift from the officials, was a fixture for a hated rival his entire head-coaching career, and seems iffy on even coming back to coaching at all. -- Drew Repasky, Columbus

Hey, Drew: Cowher is an expert on the AFC North, knows the Steelers inside out, respects and understands the Browns-Steelers tradition, got his coaching start in Cleveland and played here, and knows how to motivate players. What's not to love about that?

Hey, Tony: Anything you can think of that could have made this season worse? -- Chris Bien, North Kingsville, Ohio

Hey, Chris: I guess Art Modell gaining election to the Hall of Fame would just about do it.

Hey, Tony: Do you think the Browns should look at Raiders running back Michael Bush? Oakland is trying to convert him into a FB and he is not happy about it. I think he would be a viable replacement for Jamal Lewis. He actually reminds me of a younger Jamal. -- Jacob Cozzarin, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Hey, Jacob: Do you think a back slower than Lewis is the answer? I don't.

Hey, Tony: While I usually tend to agree with your thoughts, you keep making one point about Savage that I have to disagree with. You state that it was a mistake to pass up Haloti Ngata for Kamerion Wimbley. The problem that you're making is that you're assuming Ngata would have been just as productive in the Browns' severely flawed 3-4 defense with no supporting help as he is in the Ravens' established system with great players supporting him. -- Michael W., Akron

Hey, Michael: Romeo Crennel contributed to this call. Savage asked him: Do you want the pass rusher or the run stopper? Crennel chose the pass rusher. One problem was that Wimbley was a projection as a 3-4 linebacker. He'd never played it before. Crennel worked for two future Hall of Fame coaches -- Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. Parcells would have chosen the pass rusher (Wimbley), Belichick the run stopper (Ngata). After the draft, Belichick called Ozzie Newsome and said, "You got the best player in the draft."

Continue reading "Hey, Tony: Tony Grossi answers your Browns questions" »

The Plain Dealer's Browns beat writer previews Monday night's Browns-Eagles game in a live podcast Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Among the questions he'll answer:

• Why should Browns fans watch Monday night?

• Is there anything the Browns can do to win this game?

• Will we finally see a commitment to getting the ball in Josh Cribbs' hands?

• Is Donovan McNabb's time in Philadelphia coming to an end?

• How do you think the offensive line and Ken Dorsey will handle Jim Johnson's attacking defense?

+ Tony's pick and much more!

Click on the play button to listen

Or download as an MP3

What's the deal with those Mary Schottenheimer rumors and what was up with that loss to the Titans on Sunday? Browns beat writer Tony Grossi tackled your questions in a chat earlier today on cleveland.com.

Among the topics discussed:

Did Chris Mortensen break any real news in his story on ESPN?

What are the chances Bill Cowher is the next coach of the Browns?

How come we didn't see more of the 'Flash' package on Sunday?

Are there any reasons to watch the remaining three games?

And a whole lot more!

Download MP3

Next live podcast: Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Got a Browns question? Send it in. Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi will choose several to answer each Sunday. Submit your question to cleveland.com/heytony and read Tony's answers each Sunday here in the sports section. All of Tony's answers are archived online.

Hey, Tony: Why don't you admit that former Browns owner Art Modell belongs in Canton? He watched every other sport get a new venue in your lovely town. He made it clear he could not survive financially without one. He left the colors and the name behind. He helped make the league what it is today -- TV contract, merger, etc. Grow up and let the man in. -- Jeff Welling, Upperco, Md.

Hey, Jeff: Ah, yes, another Ravens fan in Maryland schooling us on what happened here. Two words: Bob Irsay.

Hey, Tony: Who was Romeo Crennel up against for the head-coaching job back in 2005? And knowing what we know about Crennel now, do you think those candidates would have done better than him? -- Johnny De Michele, Montreal

Hey, Johnny: Other coaches interviewed were Terry Robiskie, Brad Childress, Russ Grimm, Mike Nolan and Jim Bates. The records of Nolan and Bates as head coaches are no more spectacular than Crennel's. Childress is 21-23 in three seasons as Vikings coach.

Hey, Tony: If Bill Cowher remains a reluctant bride (which would be fine with me), my first choice is Dan Reeves (201 NFL wins, seventh all time) to rewrite the soap opera. At 64 he is younger than my second choice, Marty Schottenheimer. What sayest thou? -- Tom Thomas, Palm Coast, Fla.

Hey, Tom: I'm not thrilled about either choice, to be honest. I'm afraid that Schottenheimer may look rather appealing to Browns owner Randy Lerner if Cowher plays too hard to get. I think there's a big drop-off after Cowher.

Hey, Tony: Say at the end of the season Romeo Crennel is fired and Phil Savage stays. Other than Bill Cowher, who are the other head-coaching candidates? -- Angelo Costanzo, Cleveland

Hey, Angelo: Any offensive or defensive coordinator from a winning team, especially those with connections to Savage (Rex Ryan, Jim Schwartz, etc.), and Schottenheimer.

Continue reading "Hey, Tony: Tony Grossi answers your Browns questions" »

The Plain Dealer's Browns beat writer previews the Browns-Titans game on Sunday and talks about Phil Savage's press conference in a podcast taped earlier this morning.

Among the questions he tackles:

• Did you find Phil Savage's press conference on Wednesday a bit curious?

• Do you think Savage will accept a reduced role with the Browns?

• How will Ken Dorsey do at QB for the Browns on Sunday?

• How much of Joshua Cribbs do you think we'll see at quarterback?

• How can the Browns slow the Titans' potent rushing attack?

+ Tony's pick and much more!

Click play to listen or download the MP3 file here

What does the future hold for the Browns following their latest loss? Browns beat writer Tony Grossi tackled your questions in a chat earlier today on cleveland.com.
Among the topics discussed:

Lots of empty seats at the stadium on Sunday. Are the Browns in danger of turning disgusted fans into apathetic ones?

What are the chances both Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage are fired after the season?

What is your take on Randy Lerner, who held another non-recordable press conference last week?

What will the Browns do at QB with Derek Anderson hurt?

How did the defense play so well against the Colts when it's been terrible most of the season?

And a whole lot more!

Download MP3

Next live podcast: Friday at 10:30 a.m.