Former Eagles’ president Joe Banner joined the Cleveland Browns organization with the hope that he’d be able to turn around one of the league’s worst franchises and build up a legacy of his own after losing his power in Philadelphia.
However, that dream of Banner’s is over after just two years. The former Eagles’ president along with his general manager Mike Lombardi have been shown the door by the Browns in favor of new general manager Ray Farmer.
Banner was unable to make any kind of positive impact during his short stay with the Browns. He went through two head coaches in two years, firing Pat Shurmer after the 2012 season and hiring (and firing) Rob Chudzinski within a year.
“It is bittersweet leaving the Browns organization,” Banner said in a statement. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Jimmy Haslam and helping him set the infrastructure for this franchise. I am proud of the talented individuals we brought in to help lead this team and feel that the Cleveland Browns are in good hands moving forward.”
The details of Banner’s departure from Cleveland aren’t clear yet.
I don’t think Banner had done a terrible job while in Cleveland. Rebuilding a dysfunctional franchise can be an uphill battle for even the best league executives, especially if ownership isn’t willing to step aside and let the front office work through their plans. The best move that the organization made under Banner was to sell high on running back Trent Richardson, who they sent to Indianapolis in exchange for a first-round pick. The Browns got rid of a guy who wasn’t even a top-15 running back, and turned him into a very high draft pick this year.
The hiring/firing of Rob Chudzinski was very bizarre, but I don’t know how much (if any) say Banner had in that.
That being said, Banner proved during his time in Philadelphia that he can be a difficult figure to work with. Before the 2012 season, there was reportedly a power struggle in the organization between Banner and Andy Reid, with some reports suggesting that Reid threatened to leave the team if he wasn’t given full control over the roster. Perhaps the Browns got a whiff of the negative sides of Banner, and decided it would be best to move on.
Word is that Banner n Lombardi promised they would deliver a top name as stated below
Banner/Lombardi failed to deliver on promises made about who they would be able get after firing Chud. Sunk themselves.
No surprises here……..
the 2013 Cleveland Free Agent and Draft Pick signings:
CB Kevin Barnes
TE Gary Barnidge
DE Desmond Bryant
QB Jason Campbell
TE Kellen Davis
K Shayne Graham
OLB Quentin Groves
OLB Paul Kruger
P Spencer Lanning
CB Chris Owens
P Jake Schum
RB Willis McGahee
1 6 Barkevious Mingo DE
3 68 Leon McFadden CB
6 175 Jamoris Slaughter S
7 217 Armonty Bryant DE
7 227 Garrett Gilkey OG
I don’t think Joe Banner did anything right in Cleveland – every move stunk
I disagree..
Banner getting a 1st Round PIck from the Colts in return for RB Trent Richardson was “Highway Robbery”
Last Off-Season for CLeveland was focused on this Off-Season where
they now have 2- 1st Rounders, 1- 2nd Roounder, 2-3rd Rounders & 2-
4th Round Selections which is 7 Selections of the Top #120 PLayers of so and the Top 5 Selections out of the 75-80 Players
Maybe Mike Vick will end up in Cleveland with this new Regime and help them compete in the AFC North while they Draft and Groom another QB from this Draft
These are the extra picks for 2014
1st Round Pick (IND):trade Richardson
3rd Round Pick (PIT): trade brown 2013 4th
4th Round Pick (IND): trade brown 2013 5th –
they might also get compensatory picks?
Good Work EOSB
His biggest blunder here was the mind set that they wouldn’t sign players over 30, because of that crazy thinking we lost Dawkins and a bunch of other players that had a couple good years in them along with players we could of picked up in free agency that could of helped.
I can’t understand, how something like that, could happen to such a good human being, who was phenomenal at talent evaluation, & won 14 straight Salary cap Bowls? Mind-boggling! Now, only if the Limp wrist Lurie could follow suit, & fire his Crony, we’d be better for it. Until then, count on 2nd-3rd tier FA’s, & head scratching draft picks!
Joe Banner was very consistent with everything he did in Cleveland.
Why they let him fire the coach and conduct the new hiring and THEN fire him makes me really question Haslam also. Maybe he was too busy with the scandal at his truck stops, but Banner quickly traded away their 1st round pick, never got a quality QB, fired the new head coach after one year, hired an umproven HC, and then hired KYLE SHANAHAN as the OC. Great legacy there Master of Disaster Mr Banner. Great job. I actually feel sorry for the people of Cleveland, but at least Banner has left the building.
Master of disaster? LMMFBO! Reading that quote, made me immediately think of Apollo Creed. >X’D
Joey Wooden teeth nickel’s, the gift that keeps on giving!
**** NFL Sources report that Owner Jimmy Haslam has
Hired Jon Hart (from GCObb.com) as the New VP of Football Operations for the Cleveland Browns…. Details to be forthcoming…
How is it “bittersweet”? Does getting to leave Cleveland counts as “sweet”?
Below is a story on one of the reasons why Banner got fired, it amazes me how a man so arrogant and cocky lasted as long as he did with us, I can only imagine the players we probably lost cause of the way he talked to players agents, I’m so glad he’s out of here
The Cleveland Browns interviewed Ken Whisenhunt for their head-coaching job in each of the past two Januaries, first after he was fired as Arizona’s head coach, and last month when he was employed as San Diego’s offensive coordinator. When Whisenhunt entered the room this year for the interview, he was one of the hottest commodities on the head-coaching market, and the Browns were very interested in him.
Whisenhunt said, “Why didn’t you guys hire me last year?’’
The Browns’ CEO who was in both interviews, Joe Banner, told Whisenhunt he didn’t think the staff he was putting together at the time was “a championship coaching staff.”
Whisenhunt, one NFL source said, was peeved that a man who had never coached and who’d been involved in football mainly on the business side would sit in judgment of his potential coaches.
“Who are you to tell me what makes up a championship coaching staff?” Whisenhunt said, with an edge in his voice.
That scene, another source told The MMQB, illustrated a big reason why owner Jimmy Haslam made the bombshell announcement he made Tuesday, firing Banner and general manager Mike Lombardi after their first full seasons on the job. Haslam became dubious about Banner’s football acumen and during the coach-search process following the firing of rookie coach Rob Chudzinski saw what a potential roadblock to success Banner would be. Add in Banner’s brusque and sometimes confrontational style that rubbed many around the NFL the wrong way, and you’ve got a good read on why Haslam stunned the NFL with the late-morning announcement.
That definitely sounds like Joe Banner…
***NFL News***
Saints Release 4 Players for Sakary Cap Relief
CB Jabari Greer (Tore his ACL late in the Season)
DE Will Smith (Coming off Torn Achiles)
LB Jon Vilma (coming off Knee Injury)
Strong Safety Roman Harper (very poor in pass-coverage)
We will see most Teams cutting 3-5 Veteran Players each to add to the Free-Agency pool of Players..
More Bews
Redskin’s Back-Up QB Kirk Cousins has publicly stated that he wishes to be traded to be able to Compete for a Starters Job in the NFL..
I’m calling out tomorrow !
***NFL NEws
Lions Cut/release WR nate Burleson as predicted who was due a $7.5 Cap Hit and has basically been the #3 WR on the Lions and has missed many games over the last 2 Seasons while with the Lions.. Not a bad WR, doesn’t block very well and surely not worth the big Deal that he signed a few Years ago
I expect the Cuts from the Cowboys, Steelers, Patriots to be announced
by the Weekend which will have some big names on the list…
(Miles Austin, Ryan Clark, Brett Kiesel,Takeo Spikes, K Arrington, etc,etc)
***More NFL News
Detroit Lions Release Safety Louis Delmas
For Salary Cap Reasons..
Add another Quality Player to the Free-Agency list
For Safety’s…
If miles Austin was healthy I would say he might be a good pick up for the birds what do you think ?
I didn’t really watch Delmas much last year, so how did he play. First season in a while where he played in every game.
Word was that played ok overall, the problem with his various injuries that a
he would have rest up and heal all week that he missed a lot practices, due to various shoulder,neck and leg injuries..
He nay not be a bad stop-gap Safety for 1-2 Years
If Eagles Draft some Safeties which they will have to
This year.. They only have Chung (who will probably get released)
Wolfe and a Practice Squad Player under Contract for 2014 as if today
They will have to Sign 1 Free-Agent and most like Draft 2 Safeties
This Year or Sign 2 Free-Agent Safetues and still Draft a Safety
Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman & Colt Anderson are all Free Agents
And believe it or not, Nate Alken will get some higher offers
Than the Eagles will offer meaning he’s probably a goner
paul, it’s funny how you want to sign Delmas, who is always injured, but Byrd, who is much, much better, you don’t! You are funny.
DCar where did I say I wanted the Eagles to Sign Safety Delmas..
I am just saying there’s another Quality Safety out there on the Free-Agency List..
He would be a 1st,2nd,3rd or 4th Choice to Pursue
(TJ Ward, Mike MItchell, Donte Whinter would be my Top Choices)
but if Eagles aren’t going to spend the $$$, Delmas may be a cheaper option for late in th Game …
Eagles will Draft at least 1 Safety and need to Sign at least 1 Free-Agent Safety and Release P Chung but I really don’t seee the Eagles signing any Big-Name Free-Agents at any Postion.. mostly 2nd TIer Players as they continue to rebuild the Roster with the Draft
I would rather have Delmas than Chung is all I am saying as a Sto-Gap… but prefer the Others I listed aboce plus Want the Eagles to Draft Safety Calvin Pryor with their #22 Pick
paul, isn’t saying you’d rather have Delmas than Chung, & saying he’d be a good stopgap for 1-2 years, intimating that you want them to sign him? WTF are you smoking? My point is, you shoot me down every time I said I wanted Byrd, because you said he was injury prone (which he isn’t), but say just the opposite for Delmas. That’s all I’m saying. You can’t have both ways my man.
BTW, paul, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind Delmas, but just making a point. Also, a card board cutout of you, would be better than Chung. XD
He’ll Cap’n Crunch would be better than Chung
What they saw in him last Years after-Agency for $3.5 Million plus Bonus $$$ is beyond me…
I don’t want Byrd due to his Foot Oroblems and the fact that he will command Top $$$ in Free-Agency and he’s Free-Safety which there some good ones in this a Draft
But Eagles need to sign a veteran Strong Safety
(TJ Ward or Mitchell or Whitner or Ihebego) who will all be much cheaper than Jarius Byrd..
paul, they need to get help in the secondary in both FA, & the draft, i agree, but they HAVE TO sign a stud in FA, & not take the chance of waiting for the draft. It’s too unpredictable. From what happened this year with Seattle, everyone will be trying to follow their footprint, of adding big, fast, physical secondary help. The NFL is a copycat league, you know that. That’s why we cannot pass up the opportunity, of getting at least one of Safeties Byrd, Ward, Whitner, Clemmons, maybe Mitchell, or Ihedigbo. At least one of CB’s Verner, Brown, Thurmond, Davis.
No excuses with $20M+ of cap space right now, & with more to come, with cuts, & renegotiations.
I hate the weekends they are always slow with football news except .. With this Darren sharper crap smh !
How this Sharper Story,
Word is that District Attorney’s in Phoeniz and Las Vegas
Are gathering Information, testimonies about similar charges with cases & victims in their Cities against Darren Sharper.,
A month ago, he was riding high as a NFL
network contributor and here he is now and looking at sone major jail time if found Guilty..
If he is guilty, I hope he spends many years in prison.
He is a serial rapist, & Women hater. It’s going to come out. Doesn’t surprise me, especially after him being the main culprit of the bounty, & money transactions in NO. Dude has all of the characteristics of a violent Sociopath.
The little GEEK’s arrogance finally caught up to him.