The Browns' failed attempt to trade for Bengals QB A.J. McCarron last week "could cost" Exec VP/Football Operations Sashi Brown his job and "damage his relationship with coach Hue Jackson beyond repair despite the executive's insistence he’s not concerned about those scenarios," according to Nate Ulrich of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. Brown said last week was a "tough, tough week for us from a PR perspective," and there are "things we can get better on." He added, "I don’t (worry about it costing me my job). We’re in good communication with (owners) Dee and Jimmy (Haslam) on these things, and they’re well apprised of what we’re doing and why and how things come together. They’ve seen our track record in terms of being able to perform and pull off some of the more creative deals in the league and a host of just simple, straightforward transactions, whether they’re in the season or on draft day." Ulrich reports even if the Haslams are "understanding about the unsuccessful McCarron deal, significant organizational changes are expected after this season." Brown said that the owners "haven’t assured him the regime will stay intact and return next season" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 11/7). Brown "did not deny that losing 23 of 24 games since he and Jackson took over has put a strain on the organization." He said, "These builds are challenging, and they do place a lot of adversity on organizations" (ESPN.com, 11/6).
BROWN'S ROLE IN TRADE: Brown also "disputed reports that he sabotaged" the McCarron trade because he "didn't want to do the deal." Brown: "That's wholly untrue." In Cleveland, Mary Kay Cabot cites a source as saying that the trade "wouldn't have gone through even if the Browns had sent in their paperwork separately" from the Bengals. Brown said, "It's too technical to try to simplify that way. ... They had our paperwork, we had theirs and then it was incumbent upon us to send it in." He acknowledged that "waiting so long to make up their minds helped doom the deal." Brown: "That's the one place that we were talking this morning a little bit about what we would do differently next time." Brown said that it is "not the case" that the botched trade has widened the rift between the coaching staff and front office (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/7).
DECISIONS, DECISIONS: In Cleveland, Dan Labbe writes the NFL is "fickle on so many levels when it comes" to rebuilding. No sport "offers more longterm challenges in regards to roster construction," as the cap is "unforgiving." This is a league "designed, in many ways, for day traders, not those looking for longterm security." That could "work out" in the Browns' favor if things "break their way." If there is "going to be a turnaround for this team, it's going to happen this offseason when they possess five picks in the Top 65 and have some semblance of a base to build from." Labbe: "Whether it's going to be this front office and coaching staff that gets to lead that potential turnaround is the decision Haslam faces" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/7).
