T
tipyerbartender1
Guest
Never heard this tale until this morning, thought it pretty interesting. Source is Jeff Phelps, on the radio, he's a Cleveland sports media guy that has bopped around, used to be the sports anchor on one of the local network affiliates in the early nineties, forget which one.
Browns fans knew that Cowher and Belichick were on Modell's short list for the HC job before the '91 season. Cowher had been a Browns linebacker and special teams kamikaze in the '80's, and had coached in Cleveland and then KC under Schottenheimer. Belichick was then the NFL's coordinator flavor-du-jour, fresh off an improbable Super Bowl win under Parcells against the high-powered Bills (the Norwood game).
Phelps wants to interview both candidates when they are due in town to interview for the Browns job. He calls the Browns, calls the Giants, calls the New York papers, calls everyone but the witness protection program, he cannot find Belichick. BB's jetted in, driven around in secret cars, snuck in and out of side doors. Remember, this is before Bill Belichick is Bill Belichick. Turns out, he was a self-important prick before he had a reason to be. Phelps whiffs at the Belichick interview. He calls the Chiefs ... "Hi, this is Jeff Phelps from Cleveland .... can I speak with Bill Cowher?" Cowher answers his own phone, confirms he's on the way into Cleveland the next day for the interview, gladly gives Phelps his flight info, sez he'll meet him at the gate. Couldn't have been more accomodating. At the airport, Cowher asks Phelps if he's seen anyone from the Browns yet! That's when Phelps knows who's going to get the HC job.
Cowher got the Pittsburgh job the following year. The Browns stunk, the Browns left, the world changed, but the one constant has been that the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns into submission, no matter the coach, every single time they play.
Well, I don't see Romeo making it through the offseason. As it turned out, ol' Art Modell was on to something with both of these guys, picked Belichick, right guy at the wrong time, correctly forecasted he'd be the last Browns coach he'd ever hire (although the team had to move and change names for the prophecy to be fulfilled).
Lerner's got the money. How about Bill Cowher in 2009? Better 18 years late than never.
Browns fans knew that Cowher and Belichick were on Modell's short list for the HC job before the '91 season. Cowher had been a Browns linebacker and special teams kamikaze in the '80's, and had coached in Cleveland and then KC under Schottenheimer. Belichick was then the NFL's coordinator flavor-du-jour, fresh off an improbable Super Bowl win under Parcells against the high-powered Bills (the Norwood game).
Phelps wants to interview both candidates when they are due in town to interview for the Browns job. He calls the Browns, calls the Giants, calls the New York papers, calls everyone but the witness protection program, he cannot find Belichick. BB's jetted in, driven around in secret cars, snuck in and out of side doors. Remember, this is before Bill Belichick is Bill Belichick. Turns out, he was a self-important prick before he had a reason to be. Phelps whiffs at the Belichick interview. He calls the Chiefs ... "Hi, this is Jeff Phelps from Cleveland .... can I speak with Bill Cowher?" Cowher answers his own phone, confirms he's on the way into Cleveland the next day for the interview, gladly gives Phelps his flight info, sez he'll meet him at the gate. Couldn't have been more accomodating. At the airport, Cowher asks Phelps if he's seen anyone from the Browns yet! That's when Phelps knows who's going to get the HC job.
Cowher got the Pittsburgh job the following year. The Browns stunk, the Browns left, the world changed, but the one constant has been that the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns into submission, no matter the coach, every single time they play.
Well, I don't see Romeo making it through the offseason. As it turned out, ol' Art Modell was on to something with both of these guys, picked Belichick, right guy at the wrong time, correctly forecasted he'd be the last Browns coach he'd ever hire (although the team had to move and change names for the prophecy to be fulfilled).
Lerner's got the money. How about Bill Cowher in 2009? Better 18 years late than never.
