NFL

Romeo Crennel Says It's 'Unfortunate' Browns GM Included 'F#@* You' in E-Mail to Fan

Posted Nov 20, 2008 1:50PM By Ryan Wilson (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Fans, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

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Just when it looked like the Browns were turning things around -- one-game winning streak! Brady Quinn rulz! Braylon Edwards only dropped five passes on Monday night! -- general manager Phil Savage had to go and drop an electronic f-bomb on a disgruntled fan.

Bacon touched on it earlier, and PFT pointed out that Savage really isn't the sort who uses naughty language, but there's only so much one man can take, apparently. Hey, it happens.

Whatever, head coach Romeo Crennel inexplicably commented on the situation during his daily news conference. From the Akron Beacon Journal's Patrick McManamon (via MDS at PFT):
Browns coach Romeo Crennel more or less confirmed today that General Manager Phil Savage responded to a fan's hostile e-mail with an implied obscenity Monday night.

''We all get frustrated at times,'' Crennel said in his daily news conference. He continued by saying people try to be ''professional'' and hold it in, but ''sometimes things slip out... It's unfortunate that it slipped out,'' Crennel said.
To Savage's credit, the f-bomb was, in fact, implied. According to Deadspin, the Browns GM provided a simple "Go root for Buffalo-f#@* you-" in response to an irate fan's e-mail questioning the direction of the team. That could mean anything.

So, yeah, I was pretty much willing to dismiss this story as some unhinged Browns supporter finally snapping, and just fabricating a conversation in the hopes that something -- anything -- changed at Berea headquarters. Now, though, Crennel basically admits that Savage sent the note, which, frankly, makes my head hurt.

This seems like one of those times when "I know nothing about that, we're focusing on this week's game" is appropriate. The absolute worst response? "We all get frustrated at times ... sometimes things slip out." Good God, man, did you just fall off the turnip truck?

But in the end, all's well and whatnot; Savage and the fan have metaphorically kissed and made up:
"It happened after the game," Savage in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "There had been previous e-mails from him over the months and enough was enough. We have both apologized to each other since. The Browns' fans have overwhelmingly been supportive of me over the past 3-plus seasons and I appreciate that greatly."
(As someone who receives his fair share of notes from outraged readers, I understand, Phil. Not sayin' you should've done it, but I understand.)

For the record, I hardly think this is reason enough for Savage to lose his job. If people got fired for cursing, I'd be chronically unemployed. That said, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to can Savage, starting with the guy who accidentally ratted him out at this morning's presser.

Tags: Brady+Quinn, BradyQuinn, Braylon+Edwards, BraylonEdwards, Phil+Savage, PhilSavage, Romeo+Crennel, RomeoCrennel

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