How much wackier can the AFC West get? The Kansas City Chiefs named Romeo Crennel as their new head coach, as he officially replaces Todd Haley. I don't think any Browns fans expected Crennel to get a head coaching job so soon, but how can you not give it to the guy? During his three-week reign, his team played inspired football as they handed Aaron Rodgers and the Packers their only loss of the season, followed up by a tough overtime loss to the Chargers, and closing out with shutdown defense on the one and only Tim Tebow. The players love him. It only got him one winning season in Cleveland, but the Chiefs aren't coming off of a several-season stretch of mediocrity. Fortunately for Crennel, his first big decision next season will involve something he specialized at here in Cleveland: picking a starting quarterback.
On Tuesday, the Oakland Raiders fired head coach Hue Jackson after one 8-8 season (see, it can happen to a first-year head coach...just only if your owner passes away and your son brings in a general manager to run the show). From Al Davis' passing during the season, to the stunning trade involving quarterback Carson Palmer, the firing of Jackson definitely brought mixed reviews from the fans over at Silver and Black Pride. Carousing through a few of the polls on their site, out of the fans who weren't neutral, there was about an even 50-50 split on fans who thought he should've stayed versus those who thought he deserved to be canned. Tough crowd.
The Chargers, meanwhile, despite being Super Bowl contenders for about the billionth year in a row, had another disappointing season, this time keeping them out of the playoffs despite a late run in December. Norv Turner kept his job as head coach.
And then, you have the Denver Broncos: a team that was 1-4 to start the season, then switched to Tim Tebow to see their record improve to 8-5 late in the season. The Broncos lost their final three games, allowing golden opportunities for the Chargers, Raiders, or Chiefs to catch up and win the division. It didn't shake out that way. Denver won the division at 8-8 by default...and then torched the Pittsburgh Steelers top-ranked defense in the first round of the playoffs, allowing them to advance to New England next week.
It's certainly hard to wrap your head around this division; fortunately, the Browns face all four teams next season.
0 recs | 26 comments
Raiders new plan: Hire guys with terrible haircuts.
HenryDawg - January 10, 2012
Haha wow, I was thinking the same thing!
Brownsbacker488 - January 10, 2012
Well, the guy on the left is Davis…
SpecialBrownie - January 11, 2012
My God, I thought it was a reincarnated Chris Farley.
batard - January 11, 2012
I thought it was Meatloaf.
Off-the-Chain - January 11, 2012 via mobile
or
You decide.
batard - January 11, 2012
how do you post a pic i tried and failed.
BG_Dom84 - January 11, 2012
Copy image location and put that between two exclamation marks. Or, put in the image location, highlight it, then click on the little picture of the tree in underneath where you put in the subject line.
North Coast Flea - January 11, 2012
When I saw the list of pictures to choose from in the SB Nation editor, this one was the clear cut choice. I loved it.
Chris Pokorny - January 11, 2012
Looks like Ishmael from Kingpin shaking hands with Norm from Cheers.
North Coast Flea - January 10, 2012
As far as the Chargers go – I would kind of like to support them since I live in San Diego now, but I’m still baffled at the idea that they would fire Marty for going 13-3 and losing in the playoffs, and yet Norv keeps having even worse seasons and they keep him. I think they’re just stalling for the inevitable…Los Angeles.
Brownsbacker488 - January 10, 2012
Don’t cross over to the douche side.
Brownie's Year - January 11, 2012
Yeah they’re pulling a Major League.
Just for firing Marty after he went 14-2 you should hate them.
HenryDawg - January 11, 2012
Norv Turner should be replaced by Hue Jackson. Dumb fire, dumb fire, dumb firing.
The New Kardiac Kids - January 11, 2012
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100418808017380&set=a.804705686400.2385149.20902373&type=3&theater
BG_Dom84 - January 11, 2012
I would love to see what we can do against Tebow.
rufio - January 11, 2012
Depends if he passed or ran….I definitely think he’d have had a hobbled foot though. ;)
The New Kardiac Kids - January 11, 2012
Don’t we play them next year?
notthatnoise - January 11, 2012
We play the Broncos, it remains to be seen whether we’ll play Tebow.
rufio - January 12, 2012
Ah. Touche.
Brownie's Year - January 12, 2012
What’s the over/under on number of years before the next Raiders coach is fired? My guess is 1.5 and I’ll take the under.
Simmsinns - January 11, 2012
Only if they go 8-8 or better. If they have a losing record, he stays.
Doc's Kid - January 11, 2012
I’d set the over/under at 0.75 seasons.
rufio - January 12, 2012
Really hoping RAC has some success there. Many succesful coaches have had to undergo the pain of being whacked. The key is if you learn from your mistakes – and if RAC gets a little tougher – he can win in KC and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Chiefs my 2nd favorite team in2012.
realmccoy - January 11, 2012
Norv Turner should have been hired by San Diego. Schottenheimer got a raw deal there.
champion64 - January 11, 2012
Norv Turner should NOT have been hired. is what I meant to type
champion64 - January 11, 2012
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