Butch Davis out

**Saulbadguy** · 11-30-2004, 08:24 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1934933

Butch Davis is out as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Butch Davis
Davis
A source close to Davis told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Davis was fired during a meeting with club officials late Monday night. Reached by phone this morning, Browns president John Collins said Davis resigned and was not fired.

There has been no decision on a replacement, but Mortensen is reporting that team owner Randy Lerner intends to meet with a group of Browns players to discuss who will be selected as the interim coach. Offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie and defensive coordinator Dave Campo are the leading candidates to take over as the interim coach for the rest of the season.

The Browns (3-8) are in last place in the AFC North and have lost five consecutive games.

Davis' departure comes a week after Mortensen reported that Lerner almost fired Davis after a loss to the Jets. The next day, the Browns put out a statement saying that the coaching staff would stay intact through the end of the season.

"Randy could not have been more direct or clear last week (Tuesday)," Collins told Mortensen, referring to the statement that Lerner put out saying Davis would be the coach for the rest of the season. Collins said Davis approached Lerner on Monday and told the owner that he felt he could not go on as head coach given that it had become clear that he would be fired at the end of the season.

Collins indicated the Browns would honor the four years remaining on Davis' contract.

Collins will address the media today at a 2 p.m. ET press conference at the team's training facility in Berea, Ohio.

Davis became the 10th full-time head coach of the Cleveland Browns on Jan. 30, 2001. In four seasons with the Browns (2001-04), Davis' teams went 24-35 (.407) in the regular season and qualified for the AFC playoffs with a 9-7 record in 2002.

There has been speculation that Davis will pursue a high-profile college job. One newspaper report said there is mutual interest between Davis and the University of Florida. Davis coached at the University of Miami before joining the Browns in 2001.

Robiskie is in his fourth season with the Browns, his first as offensive coordinator. His only NFL head coaching experience came with the Washington Redskins in 2000, when he coached the team's final three games after the departure of Norv Turner.

Campo, in his second season with the Browns, was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 2000 to 2002. The Cowboys went 15-33 under Campo.

11-30-2004, 08:24 AM	Topic Starter
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2506966	Butch Davis out http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1934933 Butch Davis is out as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Butch Davis Davis A source close to Davis told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Davis was fired during a meeting with club officials late Monday night. Reached by phone this morning, Browns president John Collins said Davis resigned and was not fired. There has been no decision on a replacement, but Mortensen is reporting that team owner Randy Lerner intends to meet with a group of Browns players to discuss who will be selected as the interim coach. Offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie and defensive coordinator Dave Campo are the leading candidates to take over as the interim coach for the rest of the season. The Browns (3-8) are in last place in the AFC North and have lost five consecutive games. Davis' departure comes a week after Mortensen reported that Lerner almost fired Davis after a loss to the Jets. The next day, the Browns put out a statement saying that the coaching staff would stay intact through the end of the season. "Randy could not have been more direct or clear last week (Tuesday)," Collins told Mortensen, referring to the statement that Lerner put out saying Davis would be the coach for the rest of the season. Collins said Davis approached Lerner on Monday and told the owner that he felt he could not go on as head coach given that it had become clear that he would be fired at the end of the season. Collins indicated the Browns would honor the four years remaining on Davis' contract. Collins will address the media today at a 2 p.m. ET press conference at the team's training facility in Berea, Ohio. Davis became the 10th full-time head coach of the Cleveland Browns on Jan. 30, 2001. In four seasons with the Browns (2001-04), Davis' teams went 24-35 (.407) in the regular season and qualified for the AFC playoffs with a 9-7 record in 2002. There has been speculation that Davis will pursue a high-profile college job. One newspaper report said there is mutual interest between Davis and the University of Florida. Davis coached at the University of Miami before joining the Browns in 2001. Robiskie is in his fourth season with the Browns, his first as offensive coordinator. His only NFL head coaching experience came with the Washington Redskins in 2000, when he coached the team's final three games after the departure of Norv Turner. Campo, in his second season with the Browns, was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 2000 to 2002. The Cowboys went 15-33 under Campo.
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