December 28th, 2008 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
In a move that wasn’t expected to come down till Monday, there are already reports out there that the Browns have canned GM Phil Savage. The report comes just about an hour after the team was crushed by the Steelers 31-0 in their season finale to wrap up 4-12. The report from ProFootballTalk.com reads as follows:
A league source tells us that the Browns already have parted ways with G.M. Phil Savage.
The move was widely expected. It has come faster than anyone anticipated.
Some reports suggested that Savage would be given a chance to stick around in a reduced role; it currently appears that there will be a clean break.
The next question becomes whether the Browns will try to stiff Savage with respect to his buyout. Arguably, Savage’s e-mail exchange with a disgruntled fan could provide the Browns grounds for terminating Savage with cause.
And Savage doesn’t seem to have the temperament to fight such a decision via the filing of a formal grievance with the Commissioner’s office.
There was a report earlier in the day that Savage along with current coach Romeo Crennel would be offered other jobs in the organization. Now that appears to be false, as Savage is out, and it appears that Crennel could be out as early as tonight or early tomorrow.
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