Love, Clippers and Jamaica…While We’re Waiting
August 27, 2014Indians 8, White Sox 6: Bunt, Force, Trauma
August 27, 2014
It’s tough to compare to the signing of Kevin Love and the anticipation surrounding Josh Gordon, but former Browns CEO Joe Banner signing up for Twitter may very well be one of the biggest stories of the week. Drawing skepticism in the wake of countless fake Twitter accounts, Banner, typically not known for his interaction and personal skills, confirmed his presence on the microblogging platform by using it to set up an interview on on Wednesday morning in with Sirius XM’s NFL Radio.
In discussing the upcoming season, Banner stated that he was surprised at his firing this past offseason, one which occurred just days after an extensive head coaching search and after months of cap-clearing work.
To be honest, we had a nice conversation. The owner was standing right there with us, my family was there. We had finally just resolved and felt very good about the hiring of a coach and staff we had put together. We were just filled—at least I was filled—with anticipation that now we can just focus on free agency and the draft. We had about $55 million in cap room and 10 draft picks, so we felt we were exceptionally well positioned to reach a big part of our goal from the previous year. So, it was quite a surprise. I thought we were setting things up well, and I think we did. The franchise now has the opportunity, at least, to move forward and be a lot more successful than it had because of that.
Banner stated that he’s disappointed to not be a part of the Browns’ future, but feels that his work played an integral role in any of its successes.
Look at their defensive line. All of the teams that have been very successful have strong defensive lines. I think that most of the third downs are going to be made up [Barkevious] Mingo, [Paul] Kruger, Desmond Bryant, Armonty Bryant—all four of those were players who were picked up last year while we only used five draft picks. It’s an opportunity there for some real success. I do feel good about that, but it still hurts to not be a part of seeing it through and complete the project.
Since joining Twitter, Banner has interacted with fans and provided insight on several other teams, including thoughts on the recent trade consummated by the New England Patriots and his thoughts on New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram. He also gave a nice shout out to Pro Football Focus and took the opportunity to give a nice “told you so” on cutting the much-maligned Dimitri Patterson.
This could be a fun ride.
32 Comments
As much as banner is disliked rightfully it’s for how he managed personalities and the impact that created. The moves he made at least so far seemed decent.
Did Banner just say that Jimmy fired him in front of his whole family?
One way to look at it. Another way is that:
(1) unless Mingo or Armonty get a starting role (neither guaranteed and seem to be best as situational guys), then he went through a draft without obtaining a single starter.
(2) Desmond Bryant has been great, when healthy, and health was a major concern when we signed him to a full market value contract.
(3) Kruger disappointed greatly and it was largely expected he would do so despite his full market value contract after leaving the Baltimore system.
(4) He completely ignored urgent team needs to punt for future assets and sit on cap space. Then, he fired an entire coaching staff for not obtaining winning results despite them keeping together the patchwork roster in the playoff race through mid-November and Weeden & Campbell starting at QB. Oh, and that was the coaching staff that HE hired the year prior.
So, while he did help us obtain some good assets (Trent Richardson trade is his crown jewel) and he also did some good things, he definitely had some major issues that went beyond managing personalities.
that’s what I thought, but now I cannot parse his words well enough to figure out if that’s what he meant or if it was a good conversation they had after hiring the coach that led him to think he was safe.
The Great Communicator Banner strikes again.
“I think that most of the third downs are going to be made up [Barkevious] Mingo, [Paul] Kruger, Desmond Bryant, Armonty Bryant—all four of those were players who were picked up last year while we only used five draft picks”
Is he referring to the third down where we cant get off the field, like ever? That third down? Geez Jow, how we misjudged you. Mea culpa mea culpa
I heard it as he was surprised because of the situation you mentioned having been not long before.
I guess nobody’s as bad or as good as others might pigeon-hole them as. Banner did some bad and he did some good, just like the rest of us. But I’m glad he’s gone.
“The moves he made at least so far seemed decent.”
So, you’re cool with firing coaches one year into their contract before you had your “big name” replacement coach locked down? Me, not so much.
If he didn’t bring in Lombardi, he’d still be here. Never bring Lombardi anywhere. He’s like Ebola – always ruining a good time.
Yep. But then in Keyser Soze fashion, Banner then fired his entire family just to show those men of will what will really was.
not to mention choosing a HC in part because of his ability to bring a legendary OC into the fold, then intentionally emasculating the RB position when the QB situation was already iffy, and then firing them all for … what?
My fav part of th quote above is “We … felt very good about the hiring of a coach and staff we had put together.” No Joe. Everyone felt awful. Even the owner, with all his other distractions, saw the pompous structure you had created with you as Emperor made the Browns toxic to any coaching candidate with other options. After less than two years in charge you couldn’t even overpay to get an experienced competent staff.
Banner was and apparently still is a capologist with delusions of grandeur.
YOU HAD $55M IN CAP ROOM BECAUSE YOU REFUSED TO SIGN GUYS WHO NEEDED TO BE SIGNED WHICH SCREWED THE FRANCHISE IN 2014!!!!! (See Mack)! As Frowns was fond of saying, it’s easy to blow up rosters and get younger. That doesn’t make you better!
Boo! Man, I want to feel bad for Banner. It has to suck getting canned when you’re in the middle of a long plan you supposedly have time for, but then I remember that Banner Manginied Chud and then Haslam Chudded Banner and that’s just how things work in the NFL (especially with the Cleveland Browns).
Dear Joe,
Yeah, I can imagine that your firing “still hurts.” In fact, I can more than imagine it.
Hugs,
Chud
This is so good. That’s how I’ll forever think of Banner. He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the injury list, you send one of his to the morgue. That’s the Banner way.
YES! I was about to complain about the RB situation.
The whole season seemed like Banner intentionally sabotaging Chud, sitting on his hands while the coach flailed and said all the right things. Then he pulled an Operative on him. So no mercy for Banner.
http://www.empireonline.com/images/features/movie-finishing-moves/dvd-grabs/9b.jpg
(5) Not resigning important, contributing players in exchange for more (and unused and unnecessary) cap room. Because entering the off-season with the most unspent money is what pro football is really all about.
if New England doesn’t make the playoffs this year, then you will have the basis for a doctoral paper in psychology.
When you look up “cognitive dissonance” in the dictionary, there’s Joe’s pic. Just wish it wasn’t that pic above. Man, do I hate that pic. Maybe they can use the one where he tried to soften his cutthroat image with the left bank beard.
Dear Joe:
Like I warned you in ’12, I’ll suckle at the teat of this franchise until I say I’m full. Stop the checks, you’ll be next.
Now you get to try being a “consultant.” Heh heh heh.
– Legend JB
Good stuff in here today.
Lombanner always brings out the “best” in this band of brothers.
http://voxa.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/300-Voxans.gif
…or epidemiology
“Mr Banner, tear down this wall of misattributed inspirational quotes”
Keyser Soze for the win!
I wish Banner would have been fired before he hired the next head coach that’s for sure. The sad thing is Haslam can’t fire himself. I’ve heard way to much how Slim Jim was involved in Manziel being drafted here. If true it’s another piece of evidence for me that he wants to be the Jerry Jones of the midwest!
Ha ha, that’s right. Jim’s got a couple notches on his belt, doesn’t he Mr. Homegrum?
how can you shoot the devil in the back? what if you miss?
I wish Banner would have been fired before he was hired. Not sure the logistics on it, but that is what I would have wanted to happen.
Not much Banner love here, so I will say that I love him on Twitter. Smart guy. Still love him for the T-Rich trade as well. Such a steal.
Try to remember. Jimmy Haslam HAD to hire Banner. It was in the agreement he made with the League when he bought the team. EVERYONE knew Banner was a Short-Timer. His being hurt by the firing is a joke.
Chud didn’t play Bobby Rainey at all. Rainey did well for Tampa. Chud chose not to play Rainey.
he did only give him 13 carries. of course, his YPC was under 3 for those carries.
in TB, he had a YPC under 4, but was decent enough to look like a NFL RB overall. not really better than what Ogbonnaya or Baker did for us though either.