The Cleveland Browns coaching search has officially spiraled into a "data-driven" disaster.
After a decade of the "Moneyball" experiment under the now departed Paul DePodesta, the franchise boasts the largest analytics department in the NFL... Yet the results on the field tell a different story.
With a stagnant offense and a record that has become the punchline of the league, the "smartest guys in the room" are finding themselves increasingly alone.
ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Rizzo didn’t hold back on the team’s spreadsheet-obsessed culture. During an impassioned rant on the network, Rizzo delivered a blunt reality check to the Berea front office: "You suck! Your process sucks!"
Rizzo’s fire stems from reports that the Browns are forcing coaching candidates to complete multi-part essays and homework assignments, a move that has backfired.
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The "nerd-heavy" model is actively repelling top-tier talent. Offensive mastermind Mike McDaniel and defensive guru Jesse Minter both pulled out of the search, while Jacksonville’s Grant Udinski withdrew Monday to pursue other options.
It’s clear that the NFL’s best coaching options don’t want to write essays for a front office that hasn't won.
Berry and owner Jimmy Haslam will meet with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase in Los Angeles today. The choices appear to be down to Scheelhaase, current DC Jim Schwartz, Todd Monken and Anthony Lynn. As the search drags on, the Browns are learning a hard lesson—you can’t win a Super Bowl with a calculator if no one wants to lead your team.
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