Ray Farmer

Browns general manager Ray Farmer is attending the Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Alabama.

(Tony Dejak, Associated Press)

MOBILE, Alabama – Browns general manager Ray Farmer said it's natural for friction to exist between coaching staffs and front offices and "really, really good teams . . . work through those things."

Such friction, however, was one of the major reasons former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan wanted out of his contact with the club on Jan. 8, sources told cleveland.com.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the franchise allowed Shanahan to walk away with two years remaining on his deal, Farmer would not reveal his personal feelings about the offensive coordinator's action. Shanahan is set to join the Falcons in the same role.

But Farmer, who's worked in three NFL organizations, said disagreements between coaches and front-office members aren't uncommon.

"In every (building) I've been in, with the Atlanta Falcons, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns -- the teams I've been associated with -- there's always been a natural friction between front office and the coaches," said Farmer on Tuesday after a Senior Bowl practice.

"That's just how it is. Sometimes the personnel guys want Player A and the coaches want Player B. The teams that are really, really good, they work through those things. Sometimes, you have to have the hard conversations. Sometimes you look guys in the eye and you argue and you yell, but you're trying to get it right. You're trying to come up with the right answers."

Sources told cleveland.com the biggest problem in Shanahan's eye was that the personnel side and coaches aren't united on some key issues. One source said some coaches became upset when a high-ranking personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about play calls. That revelation sparked a league investigation into the calls.

The coaches, sources said, also might have felt pressure to start Johnny Manziel against the Bengals on Dec. 14 with the playoffs on the line.

Beyond the Shanahan resignation, the Browns fired quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains, while receivers coach and close Shanahan friend, Mike McDaniel resigned.

Farmer wouldn't say if he felt disappointed that Shanahan orchestrated his departure from a team that serious concerns at quarterback and in the passing game.

"Again, my personal feelings about how people do what they do is just that, it's personal," he said. "For me, I look at all this stuff as it's all a business."

The Browns could have forced Shanahan to honor the final two years of his contract, but chose to set him free, a decision that's drawn criticism in some quarters. Farmer said questions about that decision are better suited for coach Mike Pettine.

"End of the day my role is to try and find players, keep trying to add guys to this roster," Farmer said. "The whole Shanahan thing is what it is. At the end of the day we believe Pettine, the coaching staff, is going to find a better guy that's going to move us in a direction we want to go."

Pettine was not spotted at either practice Tuesday. The Browns are in the process of trying to fill the vacant coordinator's position.

Farmer said the discussion of what the Browns will do at quarterback next season remains "ongoing." Manziel led the Browns to just three points in six quarters as a starter before suffering a hamstring injury Dec. 21 against the Panthers. Brian Hoyer, who started the first 13 games, can become an unrestricted free agent on March 10.

"I don't think that conversation has ever stopped," Farmer said. "I don't think that conversation is ever going to stop. I think it's a constant evaluation of who's doing what, how guys are practicing, how guys are performing, how guys are doing in everything -- meetings, preparation, etc."

". . . My whole goal in this is to drive competition. I don't care if you have Brett Favre, you should try to get Aaron Rodgers. I know the quarterback is always the hot topic but (ultimately) you want a good enough team that you're constantly bringing in players trying to beat established players out."

Farmer said he hasn't had much discussion with receiver Josh Gordon, who the club suspended for the final game for missing a team walk-thru. The Browns must make a decision on the talented, but troubled receiver who missed the first 10 games due to a league-imposed drug ban. Several weeks ago, Farmer didn't sound overly optimistic about his return.

"It's the offseason and we can only have so much communication and contact with those (players)," Farmer said Tuesday when asked about Gordon. "When those things present themselves, we'll get into them. Those guys get their downtime. They get a chance to step away from the game, assess themselves, assess their situations and when the time is right for those conversations, we'll have them."