GM Savage stays mum on Collins' exit

He survived the front-office upheaval that sent the team president packing.
BEREA (AP) -- As Phil Savage pulled back his chair moments before the news conference began, Cleveland's general manager smiled as he looked out across a crowded room of reporters and cameras.
"Welcome back," someone told him.
The comment was strange, yet perfectly suited for Savage, who never officially left the Browns.
On Monday, Savage, who recently celebrated his one-year anniversary with the team, commented for the first time since a front-office power struggle he described as "unfortunate" led to president John Collins' resignation.
Savage survived the upheaval, and while he didn't shed any light on what transpired in the final, hectic days of 2005, he said he never stopped going about his job of rebuilding the Browns.
"I was never told that I was not going to be the GM," Savage said. "I just tried to stay above the fray."
Somehow, he did, emerging as the winner in a weird drama that threatened to set the Browns farther back than they already are.
On Dec. 30, two days before Cleveland played its season finale at home against Baltimore, a report said the club was on the verge of firing Savage for "philosophical differences." As news of his possible dismissal spread, Savage said he watched Cleveland's practice, went for a jog and planned to scout a bowl game the next day.
Later, he would receive more than 1,000 e-mails of support from Browns fans, many of whom couldn't fathom the team losing him.
"That makes you feel pretty good," Savage said. "I'd like to think that I'm a believable person."
Apparently, owner Randy Lerner thinks so.
Savage said he and Lerner, who did not attend the news conference, have talked through any suspected differences, and that his duties have not changed since the Browns hired the Ravens' former personnel director last winter.
"We are on the same page," Savage said. "I've got confidence with our relationship."
Savage, too, said he and coach Romeo Crennel have a strong bond. However, he said he was unaware if Crennel had gone to Lerner to voice his support of his GM.
"If something like that happened, then I certainly appreciate it," Savage said. "Quite frankly, both of us work better together than flying solo."
Evasive on details
Savage was evasive when asked about Collins' role with the team, but said the organization was stronger than it was 10 days ago.
"I sense there is a re-focus," he said. "I know I feel re-energized having come through this."
Savage addressed several issues that were presented as reasons for his possible departure, including talk that he spent too much time on the road scouting college players in his first season.
He defended his travel itinerary, saying they were essential in being able to find the Browns better players.
"We [GMs] all have different styles," he said. "I came from a scouting background and I'm not ashamed of that. I think it's the reason that I got the job."
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