The Browns fired their coach after one season. Now they’re sweeping out their front office.
Owner
Jimmy Haslam announced Tuesday that CEO Joe Banner will step down in
the next two months and general manager Michael Lombardi is leaving the
team.
"Mike and Joe have left us in good position in terms of free
agency and cap space as well as this year’s draft, where we have 10
overall picks and three of the first 35," Haslam said at a news
conference.
It’s yet another stunning development for a franchise that has undergone nearly constant change in the
past 15 years.
Haslam
also said assistant GM Ray Farmer, who was pursued by Miami to be the
Dolphins’ GM this winter, has been promoted and will immediately take
the over the team’s football operations and lead the Browns during free
agency and draft. Cleveland has two first-round picks in May’s draft and
is well under the salary cap to spend on free agents.
Haslam added that president Alec Scheiner will keep his current role.
"Alec
Scheiner will run our business side and remain as president, Mike
Pettine will be our head coach and Ray Farmer will be our GM," Haslam
said. "We will not have a CEO and those three people will report
directly to me."
The shake-up comes one month after the Browns
finally hired coach Mike Pettine after a 25-day search. Banner and
Haslam had fired coach Rob Chudzinski after a 4-12 season, the team’s
sixth straight with at least 11 losses.
"Mike will have final say
on the 45-man roster — who plays on Sundays, and Ray will have final say
on the 53-player roster," Haslam said.
Banner, who previously
worked in Philadelphia, was hired by Haslam to run the team shortly
after his ownership was approved by the league in 2012.
"We
appreciate Joe’s contributions to the Cleveland Browns, especially in
helping us as new owners," Haslam said in a release. "He was committed
to creating a successful organization and bringing in talented
individuals. We thank him for his work and dedication. We wish him and
his family the best."
Banner will transition out of his job over the next two months.
"It
is bittersweet leaving the Browns organization," Banner said. "I have
thoroughly enjoyed working with Jimmy Haslam and helping him set the
infrastructure for this franchise. I am proud of the talented
individuals we brought in to help lead this team and feel that the
Cleveland Browns are in good hands moving forward."
Lombardi’s departure ends a curious second stint with the team.
His
hiring was widely panned by some Cleveland media members and many fans
because of his time with coach Bill Belichick when he was Cleveland’s
coach. Lombardi kept a low profile over the past year in Cleveland and
was not in attendance at any major news conferences.
"We’re also
grateful for Mike Lombardi’s efforts and commitment since rejoining our
organization," Haslam said. "He is an experienced and creative NFL
executive with a unique ability to see the big picture. He has
tremendous instincts and I know he’ll be a valuable addition to any NFL
organization. We simply wanted to give Ray this opportunity that he’s
earned. We wanted to move forward under his leadership and
capabilities."
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