I said in my last post that I believed new Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley is not at all happy about getting fired by he Pittsburgh Steelers after the season, and that he is anxious to prove his worth.
Following his introductory press conference on Wednesday at Browns Headquarters in Berea, we now know all that to be true. It is a fact.
Just check out these comments:
*“I would like to start just by talking about Pittsburgh for a minute. I had six really good years in Pittsburgh. I was brought in to do a job. I feel like I did that job or more and did a lot of really good things. We developed arguably the best receiver in the league. We developed arguably the best back in the league and one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Consistently did a lot of really good things and scored a lot of points. I’m really fond of my time there. It is a place that meant a lot to me from my history. Obviously, my father played there in the ’60s and worked there for a long time. To be able to go to Pittsburgh and have six really good years was really something that I enjoyed. That being said, I’m looking forward, not back.”
*“I don’t have a lot to say about it (getting fired). I do know that how I was mentored and taught early was that a coach’s job is to come in and coach the players and develop the players first and foremost. That has to be No. 1. That is really how I go about business. I have developed a lot of great relationships in Pittsburgh with players, staff and coaches. Like I said, I have nothing but fond memories. After sitting down and talking, it was obvious it was time for me to move on to a new challenge. As I said, this is a big challenge, but I’m really excited about it.”
*“I hate this phrase, but it is what it is. Like I said, I’m looking forward. This is a really exciting challenge, and I think it will be really great to be part of helping turn this great organization around with a rich, rich history. Having grown up in Pittsburgh, I hated the Browns, but I liked a bunch of players a lot. (Former Browns head coach) Sam Rutigliano befriended me years ago, and I get excited every time I get a little note from him because on the front it is him and (former Browns QB) Brian Sipe. Obviously, Jim Brown; I have heard stories from my dad about him trying to tackle him. It is a rich, rich history. I think the fans are tremendous. The times that I have ever been in here, whether it was Kansas City or with the Steelers, it is a great crowd. All I can visualize is what it would be like when we are winning games.”
*On if he really wants to beat Pittsburgh: “I always want to beat whoever we are playing (. Blood is thicker than water they say. Everybody always asked me, we had Steelers stuff stocked up for six years, and people are amazed that when you go somewhere else, you put it in a box and see who wants it.”
