The Browns won 10 games and just missed making the playoffs.
For a team predicted to finish at the bottom of the league, the season can be judged nothing but a success.
“The mentality of the team has changed,” general manager Phil Savage said. “I think we can safely say that we have turned the page and have put a winning environment, a winning culture in place.”
Browns Town is still smiling over the unexpected good fortune, but the future isn’t guaranteed. The Browns need to look no further than the New York Jets, who won 10 games in 2006 and followed with four this year. The league is filled with such stories.
“We had a good year this year and we’ve got some of those same guys, hopefully, coming back,” coach Romeo Crennel said. “But you start over every year.”
The firing of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on Friday officially turned the page to 2008. Crennel and Savage saw a problem and moved to correct it by promoting defensive backs coach Mel Tucker.
“Next year is going to be extremely challenging,” Savage said. “We’re going to be fighting off the expectations of some newfound success. We just can’t assume that we’re automatically going to be a good team next year.”
“That’s not the makeup of this team,” receiver Joe Jurevicius said. “I don’t think anybody’s resting on their laurels here.”
Before the focus turns to free agency, the draft and minicamps, it’s time to take a last look back at a fun 2007 season.
No one saw the drastic turnaround coming, but Savage was the architect. He credited changes in the offensive coaching staff, a roster upgrade, an increase in the production of Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow and a reset of the team’s psyche. Savage said owner Randy Lerner was the impetus for the overhaul.
“Behind the scenes, he’s making a lot of things happen as an owner,” Savage said. “A quality owner hires people, tries to get out of the way, tries to support when necessary. Randy was the driving force to really get us to take a hard look at what we’re doing, what we need to try to do and put a comprehensive plan in place to try and get the Browns off the deck.”
The best plan in the world wouldn’t have come to fruition without Derek Anderson’s emergence at quarterback. He took over for Charlie Frye and made rookie Brady Quinn a non-factor.
“You come into the year and you’ve got an incumbent starter in front of you and then the savior behind you,” Savage said of Anderson. “Then all of a sudden you become the guy — that’s a lot to ask and a lot to handle. He did an extremely good job doing that.”
The success of 2007 didn’t satisfy anyone. It only left them wanting more.
“We still have some objectives to reach — make the playoffs, win in the playoffs, going to Super Bowls, being one of the very best offenses in the league, improving our defense,” Savage said. “I feel like our window is just opening now.”
“We know how close we came,” running back Jamal Lewis said. “We know how far we can go.”
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.