From AP:

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.: Former Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage will be Alabama's football color analyst.

Crimson Tide Sports Marketing general manager Jim Carabin announced Monday that Savage will replace Ken Stabler in the fall.

Savage was senior vice president and general manager during four seasons with the Browns after nine years with the Baltimore Ravens.

Savage got a dress rehearsal when he handled analyst duties for Alabama's spring game.

The Mobile native spent three seasons as a graduate assistant for the Tide under coach Bill Curry and worked under offensive coordinator Homer Smith in 1988-89.

Stabler did not return to the booth after his arrest on a drunken-driving charge a year ago. He was found not guilty by a Robertsdale judge.

Find more on this from the Tuscaloosa News.

If you're a former failed NFL general manager who started as a renowned talent evaluator, odds are you'll find a scouting job fairly quickly after losing your job.

That's true, unless your former Browns GM Phil Savage.

The f-bomb dropping Savage will be the radio color analyst for the University of Alabama's spring game.

See, this isn't so bad.

It's possible, if Savage impresses, he could be in line for the job next season.

Don't judge. We're in a recession!

Savage is also still being paid by the Browns, so it's unlikely he could take a pro scouting position and still receive the money owed to him by the Browns.

Note: Sometimes I hate the site we use to run our blogs here at Ohio.com. I had this scheduled to go up first thing this morning. I thought I was pretty slick finding it. Instead, it didn't go up. A couple other people are talking about it, including John Taylor from The OBR.

The Browns just released the following statements.

First, from former general manager Phil Savage:

“I would like to thank Randy Lerner for giving me the opportunity to work for the Cleveland Browns over these past four seasons. Things did not go as well as we had expected, particularly in 2008, however, I do anticipate this team bouncing back and having success in the future.”

And from Romeo Crennel:

“I would like to thank Randy Lerner for giving me the opportunity to coach the Cleveland Browns. Some progress was made in my four years here, but not enough to go forward in this position. The support from the community and the fans has been greatly appreciated. Though this past year has been tough, my experience in Cleveland has been a good one. I did not win enough games so I must move on. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Take this however you choose from Mike Florio and Pro Football Talk.

A league source tells us that the Browns already have parted ways with G.M. Phil Savage.

The move was widely expected. It has come faster than anyone anticipated.

Some reports suggested that Savage would be given a chance to stick around in a reduced role; it currently appears that there will be a clean break.

While this season has circled the drain, I've said Savage should come back next year. Unless the Browns already have a quiet deal done with Bill Parcells, Scott Pioli or even Bill Cowher, who exactly could they get that would be better than Savage?

Has Phil Savage made some bad moves? Yes. Has he poorly handled his role as a manager? Yes. But do the Browns have more talent now than any other time since they've been back? Absolutely, and that's how Savage should be judged.

I'd be interested to hear from people who don't want Savage in Cleveland, and what exactly that reason might be.

At least one Yahoo! Sports blogger seems to think that way in his latest column. Michael Silver, take it away:

Unless you are young, self-employed or incredibly blessed, you’ve probably had a boss like Browns general manager Phil Savage.

You know, a guy who cares only about his own hide, perpetually blames organizational underperformance on his employees and acts like everything he does is above reproach.

Oh, and in this case, a GM who goes on the radio the day before Thanksgiving to undercut the head coach he hired in 2005 and signed to a two-year extension last January.

In other words: A real horse’s ass.

Between Savage's F-Bomb detonation, Derek Anderson calling reporters crackheads and Silver dropping this booty blast, what in the wide, wide world of sports is going on around here?

I mostly agree with Silver that Savage should be doing a better job of taking accountability for the team's poor play. It can't all be the coaches and players. For instance:

- Savage is the sole reason Baltimore has Haloti Ngata and we have an outside linebacker who can't pressure quarterbacks.

- Domenik Hixon isn't a Brown. Savage personally came to the University of Akron's Pro Day a few years ago to check out Charlie Frye. He could have just as easily come down I-77 the next year to see Hixon impress.

- No veteran cornerbacks were added before this season. The one added during the year, Travis Daniels, hasn't even played.

- The overpaying for Corey Williams. No one is really mentioning this one yet, but he's been bad. Savage gave up a second round pick for him.

But still, the team overall is more talented now than anytime since it came back in 1999. It seems some forget how bad those teams were, how many offensive linemen the Browns went through, how many awful picks they had.

So, Savage should (and probably will) have his job with the Browns in 2009, but maybe it's about time he performs it with a little more humility.

Horse's ass? No, but partly thanks to Savage, this season sure has been a stinker.

I usually try and stay from it, but I saw this yesterday on Deadspin and couldn't resist mentioning it.

Basically, a fan e-mails Savage complaining how the team doesn't play the right players, the coaches are no good, etc. You know, the usual fan complaints that tell Savage he's doing a terrible job.

Savage's (alleged) response?

Go root for Buffalo-f#@* you-

Well then. While Savage has a right to be upset about always getting crushed by people, this seems like a poor way to convey his displeasure. Yes, the team is much better than it was in previous years thanks to Savage, but he needs to let this stuff roll of his back.

Now, I'm actually taking this somewhat lightly, hence the "supposed" and "alleged" lines. Anyone can make a fake e-mail these days and pass it off as reality. If nothing else, this makes for cheap blogger fodder.

Nor, it wasn't signing Donte Stallworth or shipping Jeff Faine to New Orleans. Nor was it hiring Romeo Crennel (that was mostly done by Randy Lerner and John Collins). Or trading three draft picks from the latest draft.

Watching the Ravens game yesterday, it was clear. Phil Savage's biggest mistake was one of his first. It was when he swapped draft positions with Baltimore so the Ravens could pick up defensive lineman Haloti Ngata.

He can do it all — rush the passer, stop the run, clog lanes, everything. Instead, the Browns got Kamerion Wimbley, who can't really do anything.

Revisionist history is a beautiful thing in sports. Just think about this one. If the Browns had Ngata, who plays end in Baltimore, they would have had to trade a second-round pick for Corey Williams. Then, the Browns could have used that second rounder this year on a cornerback so Brandon McDonald wouldn't be starting. There could be a ton of these sort of scenarios, obviously.

Think Savage has made a worse decision? Try to beat this one.

What exactly is it with Browns general manager Phil Savage?

From AP:

After Sunday's 23-17 win in Jacksonville, Savage downplayed the importance of the text messages and said he and Winslow's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had been working toward a settlement since Thursday.

Savage also suggested Winslow had been hospitalized for something other than staph and the club was trying to protect the player's privacy.

"If there's going to be disclosure, there's got to be full disclosure," Savage said outside Cleveland's locker room in Jacksonville. "We were trying to do the right thing by him and his family."

Savage was asked why Winslow had been hospitalized.

"I don't know," said Savage. "I think it's all in a gray area right now. You can ask him (Winslow)."

Before coach Romeo Crennel's news conference Monday, an agitated Savage came into the team's media room to discuss his postgame comments.

"Once and for all, Kellen's illness was determined to be a staph infection," Savage said tersely. "He had been in the hospital for two or three days; it takes a couple days to figure out what something is. Secondly, there was no secondary illness. Thirdly, he is in the building, he has worked out and the team meets at 1 o'clock.

"That's the end of the story. It is over with, OK? There is no secondary illness. Staph infection. Everybody's got it, right?"

If that's the end of the story, maybe Savage shouldn't have caroused reporters who are inherently curious. Who else was exactly talking or writing about this issue? As far as I can tell, all the reporters were writing the "Winslow is back with the team" story. Outside of Jerry Jones of the Cowboys, what other general manager in the NFL goes out of his way like this to discuss things with the media?

Can it be a good thing? Sure, Savage's Thursday appearances on WTAM are wildly informative. But there is a proper time and place for Savage to be addressing the media. This is not one of them.

Savage is proven to be an incredibly adept talent evaluator, but if he continues to talk to the media like this, it could change the perception people have of him.

Notes…
Think on this one optimists: The Browns have won three of the last four games and have four of the next five games at home.

Safety Nick Sorenson, who helped break up the final play of the game in the end zone, did so with a mild concussion.

Stats, stats, stats
• Did you know Jamal Lewis is on pace for about 1,100 yards rushing this year?
• D'Qwell Jackson is fifth in the league in tackles with 66. Fellow middle linebacker Andra Davis only has 32. Shaun Rogers is second with 36.
• The Browns are plus-six in turnover margin. That's usually not a good predictor of future success.
• Joshua Cribbs is averaging five less yards per punt return this year compared to 2007
• The 51-yard touchdown catch by Steven Heiden is two yards longer than any play Winslow has made as a Browns player

The Browns played with heart and toughness on Sunday in Jacksonville, gutting out a difficult win against the Jaguars.  The game was physical and hard-fought, with a heart-stopping last second pass by Jaguars quarterback David Garrard broken up by Nick Sorensen for the win.  In a difficult season for the Browns, this was the toughest win they have come by.

The leader of the victory was nose tackle Shaun Rogers, who dominated from curtain to curtain.  Rogers finished with nine solo tackles, a sack, a blocked punt, and was applying consistent pressure all game long.  Rogers was thought to be lazy in Detroit, but he has played his heart out in Cleveland so far.  He was visibly tired near the end of the third quarter, but he hardly rested throughout the game. 

Where the passing game struggled, Jamal Lewis did a solid job on the ground against a physical Jaguars run defense.  Lewis ran for 81 yards on 20 carries, including a touchdown.  This brings the Browns total record to 11-1 when Lewis carries the ball for over twenty times in a game. 

Quarterback Derek Anderson finished the game with 95.6 QB Rating, but the Browns again struggled to score touchdowns.  The Browns were without Kellen Winslow, but again enjoyed another productive day with Steve Heiden starting at tight end.  The offense settled for three Phil Dawson field goals, including the in the fourth quarter where they had a first and goal from the one yard line. 

Finally, the special teams did a good job of containing Jacksonville's ace return specialist, Brian Witherspoon.  The undrafted free agent rookie had been an exciting part of a difficult season for the Jaguars.  He fumbled on a fourth quarter kick return, forced by Browns rookie Beau Bell in his debut, that set up a Phil Dawson field goal.  Cleveland's coverage units were able to hold the speedster in check. 

Game Balls

Offense- TE Steve Heiden  (3 rec, 73 yards): The Browns passing game has hardly faltered in the two games without Kellen Winslow due to Heiden's superb play.  Producing a key 51-yard reception, Heiden's impact in the passing game cannot be overlooked.  His overall impact as a blocker was felt as the Browns ran to his side of the formation effectively.  The Browns typically run to the left when Winslow is in-line as a tight end, a sign that Winslow cannot hold up as a strong-side blocker.  With Heiden in, the Browns showed not only a willingness, but a confidence in running behind Heiden.

Defense – NT Shaun Rogers (9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 blocked FG) &  ILB D'Qwell Jackson (8 tackles, 1 sack):  It would be hard to leave off either player, who both produced their best games all season.  Rogers domination of the Jaguars interior offensive line showed in the one on one matchups the rest of the front seven saw.  Rogers was in on several quarterback pressures, and produced several key stops like the stuff of fullback Greg Jones on a fourth and one rushing attempt. 

Jackson, a player who's been criticized in this space for his lack of production, played a good game against the run.  The Jaguars running backs were held to a total of 53 yards rushing, and Jackson was crucial in that.  Jackson is a player who needs a free path to the ball and reaped the benefits of Rogers occupying the Jaguars line.

Special Teams – ILB Beau Bell (1 tackle, 1 FF):  Making his debut for the Browns, Bell's forced fumble on Witherspoon helped shift the tide again in the Browns favor.  Bell made a nice cut on the ball, and stopped him with a strong hit.  Bell may only play special teams this year due to the time he missed, but his big play ability could be key down the stretch.

Turning Point

Jamal Lewis' second quarter touchdown from two yards out set the tone for a physical day.  The Browns struggles in the end zone this season are well documented, but when coordinator Rob Chudzinski puts the ball in Lewis' hands, it helps make the play action pass a more legit threat.  When the Browns weren't handing the ball off to Lewis and the Browns were using the play action with an Anderson bootleg, teams were able to key on the passing play.  They weren't biting for the fake, but will have to start respecting it with Lewis getting those touches.

Last Straw

Kellen Winslow is talented, but with the ugliness of the past week, the possibility of life after Winslow has become a reality, like it or not.  Steve Heiden is not the vertical threat that Winslow is, but he is a capable receiver and a strong blocker.  The Browns offense has looked smooth without Winslow, but is the team ready to part ways with the star tight end?  The teams also didn't give up a 2009 third round pick to select Martin Rucker without good reason.  Savage's handling of the Winlow situation right now is messy, but he's successfully set up the Browns to live a life after Winslow.  The team is clearly not interested in re-negotiating his contract, and seems confident in the remaining tight ends on the roster.  The last half of the season may well be Winslow's audition for a new team.

For about the last 24 hours or so, when word of Kellen Winslow's suspension leaked out, I've been trying to think about what to write.

Is it Winslow's fault? Is it Romeo Crennel's fault? Is it Phil Savage's fault?

At first, I blamed it on Savage, considering he couldn't spare a few minutes to give one of his stars a call while he was in the hospital. (And apparently doesn't do it with other players)

Then, I blamed Winslow. He needed to more callous with the entire situation and not spout off to the media.

Earlier today, I was blaming Crennel for not telling the team. From AP:

Despite a disturbing number of staph cases in recent years, the Browns did not inform their other players that tight end Kellen Winslow was hospitalized with a staph infection earlier this month.

One day after the Browns suspended the Pro Bowl tight end for one game without pay for comments and behavior disparaging to the organization, coach Romeo Crennel said the team kept Winslow's illness private after reaching an agreement with him not to disclose his medical condition.

"He was in the hospital and it was a personal issue," Crennel said Wednesday in explaining the team's decision to keep Winslow's illness from his teammates.

Patrick McManamon has a very good recap of the whole scenario on his blog. Since he gets paid to do it, he's much better at this conjecture than I am, so check it out.

Now that this thing has basically run its course, I'm back to blaming Savage. Take away the blabbing to the media aspect of the situation, and it's incredibly hard to fault Winslow. Is anything he had to say incorrect? If he was just complaining about the team playing bad, would he be suspended?

Most people are convinced he's only doing this because he's upset about his contract situation. Others think he was suspended because the Browns don't want him.

I don't believe either.

To me, this is just a situation of "Kellen being Kellen" and the Browns holding him on a short leash due to his attitude and the motorcycle incident.

Still, Savage could have remedied the situation just by giving Winslow a call in the hospital and being up front with the media about the situation. Problem solved.

Instead, as McManamon wrote today, Winslow's days in Cleveland are numbered. And that's sad. He's a heck of a lot of fun to watch and plays the game the right way.

Notes…
Indeed, there is more going on with a 2-4 team than a staph infection situation. Such as…

Wait, actually there isn't. Check back in tomorrow because I'll have some thoughts on what I want to see in Sunday's game. Please note, it will include nothing about Kellen Winslow!

On Sunday, I'll be live-blogging the game, so stop in and say hello.