Monday, January 28, 2008
CLEVELAND (AP) — Coach Romeo Crennel agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, his agent said Monday night.
The 60-year-old Crennel, the league’s oldest coach, had two years remaining on the five-year deal he signed with the Browns in 2005. His agent, Joe Linta, said the sides have agreed in principle to the extension but that it has not yet been signed.
Crennel began the 2007 season on the hot seat after going just 10-22 in his first two seasons. However, Crennel, who won three Super Bowl rings as New England’s defensive coordinator before coming to Cleveland, guided the Browns to a 10-6 mark — their best since 1999 — and the club just missed making the AFC playoffs.
The extension is not a surprise. Last month, general manager Phil Savage said the Browns intended to reward Crennel for turning the team around after years of disarray.
“He really deserves an extension,” rookie tackle Joe Thomas said. “He did a great job this year and you can see that his plan is kind of taking hold, what his vision was when he first got hired.
“It will be nice for him to finally not feel the heat from everybody.”