As Romeo Crennel’s seat gets increasingly uncomfortable, an Elyrian is helping to turn up the heat.
Sam Lambert is one of two Browns fans who launched the Web site Cowher09.com to show their support for hiring former Steelers coach Bill Cowher as the next Browns coach. Of course, that’s under the presumption Crennel isn’t around after what’s turning into a disappointing 2008 season.
“Cowher’s available. He wants to coach somewhere again,” Lambert said Tuesday. “I think he’d be a great fit for Cleveland.”
Cowher, who played for Cleveland and was an assistant under Marty Schottenheimer, coached Pittsburgh from 1992-2006. He was
21-5 against the Browns and won the Super Bowl following the 2005 season. He works on the CBS pregame show, but has said he’s open to returning to the sideline in 2009.
“It would be something to spark the rivalry that seems truly gone,” Lambert said, referring to the Steelers’ 10-game winning streak. “With him as our coach, we can do to them what they’ve done to us.”
Lambert and Ryan Martz, both season-ticket holders, started the Web site in September during the Browns’ 0-3 start after hatching the idea over a couple of drinks. For the next six weeks, as the Browns managed to win a few games, the site was largely irrelevant.
Then a confluence of events put Cowher09.com on the radar of Cleveland fans.
First, the Browns lost a pair of home games in five days, blowing double-digit leads in both and falling out of playoff contention at 3-6. Then running back Jamal Lewis said some of his teammates quit during the loss to Denver, calling into question Crennel’s leadership. And finally, stories about Cowher09.com appeared in the Plain Dealer and on WOIO Channel 19 and WTAM 1100-AM.
“It’s gone kinda crazy,” Lambert said. “It’s fun. It’s definitely gone to a different level. We plan to take it as far as we can.”
While the Web site provides an outlet for Lambert’s and Martz’s frustration, the centerpiece is a petition urging owner Randy Lerner to make a coaching change and consider Cowher.
As of Tuesday night at 6 o’clock, 3,980 people had signed the online petition. Less than 100 had signed Friday before the recent publicity. The goal is to get 73,000 signatures — the number of seats at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
“If we can get 73,000, we’ll do everything we can to get the signatures to Randy,” Lambert said. “It’s an eye opener what the public is looking to say to Randy Lerner.”
Lambert will take his cause to the people Nov. 23, when the Browns play their next home game against the Houston Texans. Lambert plans to be in the Muni Lot with a big petition and T-shirts for sale.
Lambert said he’s sold about 130 T-shirts off the site. The most popular is an orange shirt with a drawing of Cowher — and his prominent chin — surrounded by the words “Unleash the Power of Cowher.”
Lambert, who has a T-shirt business and runs Moss’ Prime Rib and Spaghetti House for his family, handles the merchandise while Martz is in charge of the Web site.
“We’re both entrepreneur-type people, but we’re not out to make real money out of this,” Lambert said. “We just want to get our part of the rumor mill, be part of it.
“We’re both tired with this season.”
Lambert said Cowher was the obvious choice for the face of the site, but the bigger issue is removing Crennel, who’s 23-34 in his fourth season.
“In our eyes, it looks like he’s lost the team a little bit,” Lambert said. “Even if it’s not Cowher, we’re getting the word out something needs to happen. We need a change in coaching. We want an experienced coach.”
Crennel has always acknowledged his job security depends on his winning percentage. When he won 10 games last year, he received a two-year contract extension through 2011. If he continues to lose, he’ll likely be looking for work in January.
Of course, seven games are left on the schedule, so there is time to change his fate.
“My gut feeling says it’s not going to happen,” Lambert said of a turnaround.
And he’s got the perfect replacement.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.
 

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