Daily Dawg Tags: Hue Jackson keeps working his magic
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns have been the NFL’s worst team the past two years, but somehow head coach Hue Jackson will retain his job for a third season.
The Cleveland Browns closed out a historic 2017 season on Sunday by becoming just the second NFL team to finish 0-16.
Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers capped off a two-year run that has seen the Browns go 1-31 under head coach Hue Jackson, only the most losses in a two-year period in NFL history.
Jackson’s offense was once again one of the worst in the league as the Browns were 32nd in scoring at 14.6 points per game and only scored more than 21 points three times all season.
That would seem to be enough to give Jackson his walking papers, but the Browns are no normal franchise.
Jackson may not be able to pull off any magic on the field, but he hasn’t lost his touch when it comes to persuading owner Jimmy Haslam that he deserves a third season despite all evidence to the contrary.
Haslam confirmed as much after Sunday’s loss, according to clevelandbrowns.com:
"“If you go back two years ago, I think Hue was one of the hottest assistant coaches out there. And I don’t think Hue has lost his magic on how to call plays or how to run an offense or how to coach a team. I think it’s our job and John and his group to get him the players to do so.”"
With that bit of unpleasantness out of the way, the focus will now turn to what the Browns will look like in 2018. The roster will turn over, but so will the coaching staff and that could point to more dysfunction within the organization.
According to Arizona radio host Mike Jurecki, while Jackson is staying in place several members of the coaching staff may not, and it will be general manager John Dorsey – not Jackson – who will be making that call:
#Browns GM John Dorsey will be making coaching decisions in Cleveland and they could let go of eight assistant coaches tomorrow. per source
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) January 1, 2018
Those changes could also include hiring an offensive coordinator, although Jackson has already stated that will be his call (if it happens) and not Dorsey’s, which should lead to all kinds of fun in the coming weeks.
#Browns Jackson on NFL Network report that Dorsey will make hiring an OC his staff priority: I respect John but I don't think he's going to be hiring the OC. Says that's his call
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 1, 2018
Right now, amid the ashes of a 0-16 season it is hard to see how Haslam, Dorsey and Jackson are going to be able to lead this franchise out of its current mess.
In other words, it is just another typical New Year’s Day in Browns Town.
Cleveland Browns news:
Browns: 3 takeaways from another sad day in Pittsburgh
The Cleveland Browns pulled off the seemingly impossible on Sunday in Pittsburgh. By dropping a 28-24 decision to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns join the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams in NFL history to finish a season at 0-16. At this point, there isn’t much to be said about the season, so let’s close out the final takeaways with a few positive notes.
Browns finish nightmare season at 0-16
The Cleveland Browns surprised no one by losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, finishing off the worst season in franchise history.
Why I will attend the Perfect Season Parade
The Cleveland Browns are down to their last chance to avoid the infamy associated with an 0-16 record. But if the Perfect Season Parade happens, here is why I will be I in attendance.
Jimmy Haslam sees Hue Jackson going from goat to hero (ESPN)
"Hue Jackson’s voice cracked briefly as he tried to quantify the unquantifiable. The Cleveland Browns did not win a game in 2016, joining the Detroit Lions as the only teams to go winless in a 16-game season. There were many of the same words following this loss that followed the others, and the same laments and promises. But there was some new emotion as the reality sank in."
Browns players relieved season is over (cleveland.com)
"The funny thing about 0-16 is it came about just the way the other 15 losses did — with the clock ticking down to zero and the Browns on the wrong end of the scoreboard, just like every other week. It didn’t feel any different really. At least not at first."
NFL news:
Chicago Bears fire John Fox (Chicago Tribune)
"The results-based business of the NFL caught up to John Fox when the Bears relieved the head coach of his duties Monday, according to two people with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity because the team did not immediately announce the news."
Indianapolis Colts fire Chuck Pagano (indystar.com)
"It ended for Chuck Pagano on Sunday, an hour or so after he jogged off the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for the last time, tears in his eyes, emotions flowing, fate sealed, his six-year run as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts over after this dreadful season finally came to an end."
Detroit Lions fire Jim Caldwell (freep.com)
"Jim Caldwell led the Detroit Lions to three winning records in his four seasons as coach, but the team’s inability to do anything more ultimately cost him his job. The Lions fired Caldwell and offensive line coach/assistant head coach Ron Prince on Monday morning, one day after they closed the season with a 35-11win over the Green Bay Packers."
Oakland Raiders fire Jack Del Rio (NFL.com)
"At this time a year ago, the Oakland Raiders were cheering the end of their playoff drought. Now, they’re in the market for a new head coach. Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio announced after the Raiders’ 30-10 loss to the Chargers that owner Mark Davis had informed him that he had been fired."