Pat Shurmur gets emotional as Cleveland Browns end season on 10-24 loss to Pittsburgh Steelers – NFL Recap
The Cleveland Browns lost 10-24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday (Dec. 30) to end the 2012 season the way they had started it, although coach Pat Shurmur in his emotional post-game remarks backed the team as a group of young aspirant and committed players.
In his remarks, which according to some players were an emotional speech, the official insisted he has inspired the players to improve, in spite of a 5-11 record at end of the season.
Quarterback Thad Lewis had his first opportunity to start the offence for the Browns and managed well to throw for 204 yards, including a touchdown. The Browns however were nowhere closer to their performance in the last game versus the Steelers. A major
difference between then and now was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had been out with a rare rib and shoulder injury.
Further, the Browns were without quarterback Brandon Weeden, star running back Trent Richardson and backup QB Colt McCoy. All of them are recovering from respective injuries.
With all the performance concerns and his record of 9-23 in two years he has spent as a coach with the Browns, Shurmur has defended the record of all officials. This includes him as well.
Shurmur said:
"The future is bright for that group of guys. You need to call your league sources," when asked about his job status.”
He added:
"I'm looking forward to this team next year if that's the case. If not, then what I'm going to do is help coach and help inspire a team to win games in some role. I have kids in college, I have mouths to feed - and this is my profession and this is what
I choose to do. That's it. That is how simple it is in my mind."
Realistically, as some of the players who witnessed Shurmur offering his comments said, the official was almost in tears, which reflects on the fact that he deep down knows his days with the Browns might have been numbered.
Nevertheless, it is less likely that the emotional state of the official could impress or convince new owner Jimmy Haslam. The coach knows his and jobs of other officials from the front office and coaching department are on the line in the post-season rebuilding
phase of the team that the owner is likely to implement in coming days.
Jimmy has already hired new chief executive (CEO) Joe Banner and tasked him with the team’s restructuring. The Browns have already let president Mike Holmgren leave Cleveland at end of his contract with the team. Now general manager Tom Heckert and coach
Pat Shurmur who are direct hiring of Holmgren are on a higher risk of getting sacked, although they have sounded very positive about their prospects.
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