Report: Browns prepared to clean house
As expected, Black Monday in the NFL will include an overhaul of the Cleveland Browns.
According to multiple reports, second-year coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert will receive pink slips on New Year's Eve after Cleveland plays at Pittsburgh in the 2012 regular-season finale.
The Cleveland Plain-Dealer cited sources saying both men knew they would be fired but haven't received that official notice from owner Jimmy Haslam or new CEO Joe Banner, who replaced Mike Holmgren as the team's head of football operations.
Shurmur, hired to replace Romeo Crennel by Holmgren, is 9-22 entering Sunday's season finale.
Rumors have linked Alabama coach Nick Saban, a onetime Browns assistant under Bill Belichick, ESPN analyst Jon Gruden and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to the coaching post.
The Browns are also expected to pursue a general manager, even after hiring a new team president, Alec Scheiner, last week.
ESPN reported former Browns and Raiders personnel executive Michael Lombardi was in the mix for the GM job.
