The Browns went from 5-11 last season to 4-12 this season under first-year coach Rob Chudzinski. According to Chris Mortensen, Chud will be fired. (Although he hasn't actually been fired yet.) Browns players are reportedly mad at the prospect of Chud leaving.


Mike Silver talked to various people in the Browns organization, and they seem to be in disbelief that Chud wouldn't get the chance at a second season.




Considering the offensive weapons that Chud—a guy with an offensive coaching background—was handed in his first season as head coach, his canning would be so, so stupid. Outside of Josh Gordon and tight end Jordan Cameron, Chud had nothing to work with, and yet the team still produced the best wide receiver in the league this season. Cleveland's top running back Trent Richardson was traded away to the Colts after two games, and the stable of replacements included Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whittaker, Willis McGahee, Edwin Baker, guys who shouldn't be considered as starting rushers.


The quarterback depth chart was the largest clusterfuck. Brian Hoyer was awesome for a few games early in the season, but he tore his ACL, because nothing nice is allowed to happen. Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell played out the rest of the season, but neither of them should be held against a coach's first-season performance, especially considering what he came into. It's not like the Browns were an annual contender and Chud fucked everything up. How can you rebuild if you keep rebuilding the rebuilding staff?

Update: Chud has been officially fired, according to Ian Rapoport. The Browns tweeted out Chud's firing, too.


Photo: AP