Browns Part Ways With Wide Receivers Coach Mike McDaniel

On Thursday, the Cleveland Browns mutually agreed to part ways with wide receivers coach Mike McDaniel. (Side note: what's with this new trend of "parting ways" with a coach rather than firing him?)

The move should not come as a surprise, considering that McDaniel has pretty much shadowed former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan his entire coaching career. McDaniel, 31, was an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans from 2006-2008. From 2011-2013, he was an offensive assistant and then wide receivers coach for the Washington Redskins. It was the only position coach hire last year that one could have looked at and said, "Shanahan played a hand in this hire," so at this point in time, it's unclear what the fate of the rest of the offensive staff will be.

In related Shanahan news, if the Denver Broncos are able to lure Gary Kubiak into being their head coach, Shanahan would be a strong candidate for the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator position:

#Browns ex-OC Kyle Shanahan now being linked to #Ravens if Gary Kubiak leaves for Denver HC. Browns shouldn't have released him so hastily.

— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) January 15, 2015

The Browns did better than expected this year at the wide receiver position until Josh Gordon, the "stud" of the group, returned to action.