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Since Jimmy Haslam took over ownership of the Cleveland Browns, the team is now on its fourth coaching staff. Many of those formerly in charge of the Browns’ players remain in the NFL, coaching at various spots around the league. And at least some of them decided to get together for a reunion of sorts at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the group held “a fired Browns coaches party” at an Indianapolis restaurant:
Best story I heard from NFL combine: A small group of former Browns coaches held a fired Browns coaches party at a local restaurant in Indianapolis.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 7, 2018
But it was his ESPN colleague, Adam Schefter, who supplied the really juicy details—namely the location of the Friday night gathering: Rock Bottom.
Former Cleveland HC Mike Pettine, and some of his former assistants, were amongst the crew of former Browns’ coaches gathered together Friday night...at Rock Bottom. https://t.co/aB8d2bKncR
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2018
While Rock Bottom is a popular gathering place for media, scouts and other front-office types during the Scouting Combine, the name of the venue makes for an even better punchline given the context; namely, that’s where the Browns have spent their past few seasons, both in win-loss record and general sentiment around the league.
Not much is known in terms of attendance beyond Schefter’s report that former head coach Mike Pettine and “some of his former assistants,” were present. That could include former offensive coordinators John DeFillippo and Kyle Shanahan, but could also extend to the likes of Pat Shurmur, Mike Chudzinski and others.
Their misery could sure use company, given that the Browns totaled just 19 wins over the four years the Haslam-era ex-coaches spanned. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that room; the stories likely shared would easily fill quite the telling tome.