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Marty Schottenheimer was greatest Browns coach of our generation

By Elliot Kennel

CLEVELAND, OH - CIRCA 1987: Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer of the Cleveland Browns talks with his quarterback Bernie Kosar #19 during an NFL football game circa 1987 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Schottenheimer was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1984-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - CIRCA 1987: Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer of the Cleveland Browns talks with his quarterback Bernie Kosar #19 during an NFL football game circa 1987 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Schottenheimer was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1984-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Marty Schottenheimer
The Washington Redskins new Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer (L) shakes hands with team owner Dan Snyder during a press conference with at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Virginnia, 04 January 2001. Schottenheimer signed a four-year, 10 million USD deal to join the team. AFP Photo/Leslie E. KOSSOFF (Photo by LESLIE E. KOSSOFF / AFP) (Photo by LESLIE E. KOSSOFF/AFP via Getty Images) /

On to Washington

For those of us following Schottenheimer’s career, the one move that gave us the greatest concern was probably taking the Washington job in 2001 with Dan Snyder. Though unquestionably a very intelligent man, Snyder just does not have a good reputation as the leader of a football organization. He may be too smart for his own good.

Snyder loved to make big plays as his own general manager, signing superstar players to long-term contracts, which would eventually haunt the team by weighing down the salary cap.

Schottenheimer was expecting to have Deion Sanders in the defensive backfield, but he abruptly decided to retire. He still had 38-year-old Bruce Smith and 41-year-old Darrell Green. Both of those guys could still play, even though they were used to leather helmets instead of the plastic variety. Eric Metcalf, at age 33, was a familiar face to Browns fans.

Schottenheimer got off to a terrible start in Washington, getting off to an 0-5 start. Yet, the team turned it around and wound up 8-8 for the season, a remarkable achievement, all things considered. Joe Theismann suggested Schottenheimer deserved Coach of the Year consideration in an ESPN editorial. However, Dan Snyder had the brilliant idea of hiring Steve Spurrier as the head coach, and Schottenheimer was out after only one season.

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