One of the more interesting aspects of the Rob Chudzinski contract extension--especially if head coach Romeo Crennel does not receive one before the start of the season--is the fact that the offensive coordinator is now signed for two years longer than his "boss", the head coach.
Based on an initial Googling, the Browns are the only team in the league with a coordinator whose contract runs further than the head coach. It should be noted that this endeavor was a very preliminary and limited search, but it is worth noting.
It should be also be noted that, before Joe Gibbs' resignation earlier this morning, Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was signed through 2009, while Gibbs' deal ran through the 2008 season.
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The deluge of running backs entering the draft early continued today as Rutgers' Ray Rice officially announced that he was foregoing his senior season.
Rice released a statement which read, in part: "I have always dreamed of playing in the NFL, and I felt the time is right to pursue the opportunity to play at the next level."
The 5-9, 205-pound back was widely touted as a potential first-round draft pick before his decision to leave Rutgers early was announced.
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Wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who could be an off-season target of the Browns, could draw interest from the Broncos as well, the Colorado Post-Gazette is reporting.
Berrian turned down a contract offer from the Bears this past summer that included $7.5 million in guaranteed money.
There have been rumors coming out of Chicago in the past two weeks that the Bears will slap the franchise tag on the 27-year-old receiver, although most around the league feel that is highly unlikely.
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I'd comment on the Buckeyes' second consecutive national championship game loss last night, but, seeing as how I hail from Big Ten country, I'm not nearly fast enough to think of anything clever or insightful to say regarding the SEC.
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If I don't get a healthy dose of new episodes of "House" in short order, somebody's gonna pay hell. A man can only download so much free porn before needing some original programming.
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An article on the Pro Football Weekly website--hands-down the best NFL site on the 'Net, IMHO--hands out grades to all 32 NFL head coaches, and Romeo Crennel comes away from the 2007 season with a B-plus.
PFW praised Crennel for his "even-keeled demeanor" and not wavering in his approach, despite the fact that he was on the hottest of hot coaching seats entering the season.
Pittsburgh's rookie HC Mike Tomlin also received a B-plus, while fellow AFC North coaches Marvin Lewis of the Bengals and recently-canned Ravens head man Brian Billick received a D and a D-plus, respectively.
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From the "Did You Know..." file: Tony Sparano, who is widely regarded as the frontrunner to land the Miami Dolphins head-coaching job, was an offensive assistant (1999) and offensive line coach (2000) on Chris Palmer's coaching staff when the Browns returned to the league.
Yes, Sparano was the man who failed to turn "quality" "offensive linemen" Steve Zahursky, Brad Bedell, Roger Chanoine, Noel LaMontagne (yeah, I had to look that one up) and Jim Bundren into Pro Bowlers.
(insert eye roll here)
And, speaking of Palmer, the talk around the league is that, if Sparano lands the Dolphins' gig, Palmer will rejoin him in Miami as the club's offensive coordinator. Currently, Palmer is the Giants' quarterback coach.