Phil’s roster: how much better is it?

So Randy swung his big axe, and the first cut was the Player-Picker-in-Chief himself, Phil Savage. The strained forced marriage of Savage and Crennel in the end devolved into dysfunction all around.

Few doubt that the departing duo are both knowledgeable guys, but each lacked certain management skills. Savage’s focus on hands-on scouting became an organizational deficit in Berea that John Collins noticed early, along with his thin skin. Eventually players and many others, including a certain insulting fan, caught on.


As for RAC, I respect his long knowledge of the game and even his steadfast stoicism, but he didn’t get the most out of his rosters, didn’t rebrand the expansion Browns as a team that finishes and wins, and didn’t improve enough with his slow and shaky game management decisions.

Obviously lots more to say, but at this fulcrum, let’s look back at what players this regime inherited and now leaves behind. There’s also a column for players Phil both brought and let go. The chart excludes some minor names at the camp fodder/practice squad level.

How much did the roster really improve in these four years? Check out the era’s sheer volume of churn. Count how many holes remain (or will soon emerge) in the starting and key backup roles (* = headed for unrestricted free agency). Remember the upcoming draft picks in rounds 3, 5, and 7 are already spent. Enjoy the circle turning around once again.

Phil Savage and the Browns Roster
Position
Inherited from ’04 Bequeathed in ’08 Came & went
QB starter J. Garcia B. Quinn T. Dilfer
backups K. Holcomb* D. Anderson C. Frye

L. McCown K. Dorsey D. Johnson

J. Harris B. Gradkowski L. Campbell
RB starter W. Green J. Lewis R. Droughns
backups L. Suggs J. Wright* C. Barclay

A. Echemandu J. Harrison T. Thomas
S. McCullough A. Patrick
FB starter T. Smith L. Vickers
backups C. McIntyre C. Ali

B. Miller
TE starter K. Winslow K. Winslow B. Miller
backups S. Heiden S. Heiden P. Irons

A. Shea M. Rucker

K. Heinrich* D. Dinkins*
C. Mustard B. Cieslak
OL starters R. Verba J. Thomas J. Andruzzi

E. Demar E. Steinbach C. Coleman

J. Faine H. Fraley L. Bentley

K. Garmon R. Tucker N. Dorsey

R. Tucker K. Shaffer L.J. Shelton
backups M. Fowler R. Hadnot M. Spears

J. Gonzalez S. McKinney* K. Butler

K. Chambers I. Sowells D. Yovanovits

P. Zukauskas* S. Young J. Dunn

D. Cook L. Friedman* B. Hallen

C. Beasley E. Young M. Pucillo
WR starters A. Bryant B. Edwards L. Moore

D. Northcutt D. Stallworth B. Rideau
backups A. Davis J. Jurevicius T. Wilson

R. Alston J. Cribbs T. Carter

F. Jackson P. Hubbard C. Brewster

A. King* S. Steptoe
C.J. Jones S. Sanders
DL starters C. Brown S. Rogers J. Fisk

G. Warren C. Williams T. Washington

O. Roye R. Smith S. Fraser

K. Lang S. Smith E. Kelley
backups E. Ekuban A. Rubin B. Oshinowo

T. Rogers* L. Leonard J. Parker

A. McKinley S. Thomas J. Haye

A. Gordon M. Purcell O. Harris

N. Eason
A. Hoffman

M. Myers
C. Pittman

C. Jackson
LB starters A. Davis A. Davis* M. Stewart

C. Thompson D. Jackson D. McMillan

W. Holdman* K. Wimbley N. Speegle

K. Bentley W. McGinest* J. Kurpeikis
backups B. Gardner* A. Peek O. Ruff

M. Unck B. Bell

E. Westmoreland* L. Williams

B. Taylor A. Hall

S. Coates K. Griffin*

B. Boyer S. Orr*
T. Brown
DB starters A. Henry* E. Wright B. Russell

D. McCutcheon B. McDonald G. Baxter

R. Griffith S. Jones* K. Wright

E. Little B. Pool R. Brown
backups M. Lehan M. Adams* A. Harris

L. Sanders* T. Cousin R. Mickens

S. Jones T. Daniels* P. Hunter

C. Crocker N. Sorensen J. Perry

M. Jameson G. Lawson J. Hamilton

L. Bodden H. Abdullah D. Minter
D. Carter D. Holly* A. Perkins
Spec.
P. Dawson P. Dawson S. Player

D. Frost D. Zastudil K. Richardson
R. Pontbriand R. Pontbriand P. Ernster