Can Warfield be Browns' strong leader?
By MIKE McLAIN Tribune ChronicleSo Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner is looking for a strong, credible, serious leader to run the show.
If Lerner were to place an advertisement in the classified section, he might get a few hundred thousand requests from fans who are convinced they can do a better job than what's taking place now.
Lerner went on to say after the 30-6 loss to the Chicago Bears that the person he's looking for may or may not be in the building. The last time I checked (security would open fire before letting reporters close to the second-floor executive offices), there's no one capable of handling such a role anywhere in sight.
Jim Brown is occasionally in the building to fulfill his role as an executive advisor, but it's doubtful he'd be willing to take on such heavy work load at age 73. Bernie Kosar was recently added to the front office as another set of eyes and ears, but he doesn't meet the requirement of having considerable experience.
One name that stands out is Warren native Paul Warfield, who's a senior advisor to the general manager (formerly George Kokinis). Warfield and former NFL star Calvin Hill were part of group headed by developer Howard Milstein that tried unsuccessfully to acquire the expansion franchise rights to the Browns in the late 1990s. Warfield and Hill would have played significant roles in football operations.
Warfield will turn 67 later this month, which is a year younger than Bill Parcells, who's in his second year as executive vice-president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins. Warfield never coached, but he certainly has acquired considerable football knowledge from his illustrious playing career and front-office jobs with the Browns, including his role as director of player relations from 1985-87.
Warfield would intrigue me simply because he was credited for discovering receiver Webster Slaughter at San Diego State. Slaughter was the Browns' second-round draft choice in 1986 and went on to tie Ray Renfro for the most 100-yard receiving games in team history with 14 and is second to Braylon Edwards for most receiving yards in a season with 1,236.
But the winning resume will probably require more front-office experience, which is why Warfield won't land the job, assuming he has an interest.
Leafing through the media guide, no other names stand out. Unless there's someone in sales and marketing we don't know about, it would seem that Lerner will have to look outside the organization.
One name that has popped up is Mike Holmgren, who retired as coach of the Seattle Seahawks after last season.
Holmgren was successful as a coach, but he struggled in trying to handle coach and GM responsibilities in Seattle before the latter role was taken from him.
Former Browns executive Ernie Accorsi, who helped build the New York Giants' Super Bowl team of a few seasons ago as general manager, has been mentioned. He says he's happy in retirement, but a sweet contract might tempt him.
You can be sure there will be Bill Cowher sightings from Strongsville to Solon in coming months. Cowher has made it known that his tenure as a CBS analyst will end after this season. He probably would prefer a spot with the Carolina Panthers so he could remain close to his home in that area, but Lerner did have a conversation with Cowher shortly before the end of last season.
Before the speculation runs rampant, consider this: Who would want the job? Coaches and general managers come to Cleveland with decent credentials and leave with their credibility tarnished and no job offers waiting.
Former general manager Phil Savage is living in Alabama and doing color commentary on radio broadcasts for the Crimson Tide. Ex-coach Romeo Crennel is living on the east coast and probably done with coaching.
There's no need to feel sorry for Savage and Crennel, however. Both will be collecting millions of Lerner's dollars for a few more years.
Come to think of it, the best reason to take a job with the Browns is for the benefits. There's no better way to be forced into retirement.
