The Browns Pulled the Pin on the Grenade, So the Vikings Should Pickup the Phone
The Browns conducted a long, winding search for a head coach after firing Kevin Stefanski. The end result has been to hire … Todd Monken?
Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network covers the news while looping in DC Jim Schwartz, who isn’t particularly pleased by the outcome: “After the Browns informed DC Jim Schwartz this morning they were passing him over to hire Todd Monken as head coach, Schwartz was visibly upset, said goodbyes in the building and told other coaches he’s not coming back, sources tell The Insiders.”
Further from Pelissero: “Schwartz is under contract and Cleveland wants to retain him. But his future is now unclear.”
So, too, did Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team comment on Coach Schwartz’s reaction: “Jim Schwartz has, in fact, told members of the #Browns — essentially — to go screw themselves after being passed over for the HC job. The Schwartz element was the biggest hurdle Cleveland faced in its long and complicated search, and it’s now blowing back in their face.”
The Browns, The Vikings, & The Grenade
In the end, Coach Monken could be precisely what Cleveland needs. Anything is possible, right?
The 59-year-old skipper has a pile of experience, most notably with the Baltimore Ravens. Spending just a few moments, though, to dig into his history will allow one to see how deep football runs into his past. Monken has worked everywhere from DII Grand Valley State to being the 2019 OC for the Browns, from Notre Dame to working with the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Ravens.
The Browns are looking to pickup the pieces after trading for Deshaun Watson, the lead contender for worst trade in NFL history. Maybe Monken can figure things out.
Jim Schwartz, though, isn’t particularly enthused about seeing if that ends up being the case. Whether he remains as the DC is tough to predict given the nature of the relationship between the team and coach.
Recently, Minnesota moved on from assistant head coach Mike Pettine, someone who used to work for the Browns. Schwartz, like Pettine, has previous experience as a head coach and specializes on defense. Does an assistant head coach job in Minnesota have any appeal?
There has then been a way to keep DC Brian Flores as the DC even though he’s worthy of being hired as an HC somewhere (Pittsburgh hiring Mike McCarthy is an objectively funny thing to do). Any chance the defense — and team more broadly — would benefit from another highly-accomplished defensive tactician?
Over and over again, Coach Flores has explained that he doesn’t care where good ideas come from. If a player or lower-level coach has a winning idea, then the DC isn’t so proud as to discard that idea. In theory, the Flores approach should be one that welcomes a very accomplished coach in Schwartz.
Last year, the Browns were mostly undone by tremendously awful play on offense. Not so for the defense that Coach Schwartz led. Cleveland’s defense finished off at 14th for points allowed.
Myles Garrett set a new NFL record for sacks. Other players such as DT Maliek Collins, EDGE Alex Wright, LB Devin Bush, LB Carson Schwesinger, and others played well. Could any of those talents find their way to the Twin Cities if a familiar coach gets added to Minnesota’s coaching staff?
In the NFL, money tends to solve any and every problem. The Browns would therefore be wise to up the compensation for the DC who is still under contract. If, however, that’s not enough to put the pin back into the grenade, then the Vikings should at least make a phone call to see about adding a talented coach.
