LOCAL: Browns Players React to GM, Coaching Changes

BEREA, Ohio – The changes have already begun here in Berea. Monday morning, both Pat Shurmur and Tom Heckert were relieved of their duties as head coach and general manager.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said, “We felt that these moves were in the best interest of the Cleveland Browns and our Future. I enjoyed getting to know Tom and Pat over the past several months and want to thank them.”

Pat Shurmur in his two years with the Browns compiled a record of 9-23, but with marked improvement. This year’s team finished one win better than last season with one of the youngest rosters in the NFL.

Brandon Weeden was asked if this team had what it takes to make it to the playoffs next year. Weeden said, “This is a playoff caliber team, we are young but we were coming together and that’s all you can want.”

Scott Fujita said, “Change can be good, when I was in New Orleans we went through the same kind of the same situation and won a Super Bowl a few years later.”

The biggest question marks surround Josh Cribbs and Phil Dawson. Cribbs declined an interview in the locker room Monday. Phil Dawson reiterated that he would like to be back in Cleveland next year.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen here, I am kind of looking forward to free agency but right now I am going to go home and enjoy my family and I am sure I will hear something by march,” said Dawson.

Trent Richardson was able to come clean on all of the injuries that he played through this year including his injured ribs. Richardson when asked what the status is, “I probably have two or three broken ribs, I still can’t sleep flat and it is really painful.”

Doctors have told the rookie running back it will take a good 2-3 weeks of healing to be ready to go, to which Richardson added, “You will see me running around at full speed and you will no I am healthy and ready to go for OTAs and training camp next year, Next year will be a big year for me.”

A lot of what the Browns will do in the off-season will depend on who becomes the teams next head coach and general manager. Those are decisions still to be made over the next several weeks.