Maurice Carthon resigned as Cleveland's offensive co-ordinator Tuesday, two days after the Browns' NFL-worst offence managed just one touchdown and seven points in a loss to Denver.
Carthon, whose head-scratching play calls and personnel moves angered fans and puzzled players, was in his second year running the offence.
Despite having two weeks to devise a game plan, the Browns (1-5) picked up only 165 total yards in losing 17-7 to the Broncos and are ranked at or near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories.
The team scheduled a news conference for 1:30 p.m. with coach Romeo Crennel to address Carthon's departure.
It's unclear if Carthon quit on his own or was forced out by Crennel, who hired him last year and had been reluctant to remove his close friend.
On Sunday, Cleveland's offence didn't move the ball inside Denver's 40-yard line until the final play of the third quarter and scored its only touchdown following an 18-yard drive set up by Browns linebacker Andra Davis' interception.
Last season under Carthon, the Browns scored a league-low 232 points.
Crennel had remained loyal to Carthon despite widespread criticism of his play calling and the team's lacklustre and unimaginative attack. However, Crennel opened the possibility of making a switch during his Monday news conference when asked if he planned a move with his offensive co-ordinator.
``Things can always change in football,'' said Crennel, 7-15 in two seasons. ``I'm staying with Maurice right now.''
Crennel and offensive line/assistant head coach Jeff Davidson were expected to take over play-calling duties for the Browns, who host the New York Jets on Sunday.
Following Cleveland's bye week, Crennel decided to stick with Carthon, a former New York Giants fullback and running backs coach who had never handled play calling before joining Crennel's staff.
Both the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals dismissed their offensive co-ordinators last week, and Crennel decided he would take on a more active role with the offence to help Carthon.
But nothing worked against the Broncos, who sacked Charlie Frye five times and held the Browns to season lows in points, first downs, third-down efficiency, total yards and rushing yards.
There had been grumbling inside and outside the Browns' locker-room for weeks about the offensive woes.
Tight end Kellen Winslow was openly critical of Carthon's schemes following a Week 2 loss to Cincinnati. Winslow, who was not on the field for several third-down situations in that game, complained that ``some of the coaches might be holding us back a little bit. We have nothing to lose. Let's go.''
Winslow later said his comments were a mistake, but after making them he started to get the ball more. Even Monday, Winslow cited Cleveland's poor play calling as one of the team's many problems.
Carthon, too, made some questionable calls and personnel decisions.
In a loss at Carolina, the Browns tried a halfback option on third-and-short but rookie fullback Lawrence Vickers' pass intended for Winslow was incomplete in the end zone. Crennel spent two weeks defending the call, which had frustrated Browns fans screaming for Carthon's head.
In Cleveland's opener against New Orleans, Carthon gave the ball to Vickers on two crucial third-and-one plays and both times the sixth-round pick was stopped short of a first down on sweeps.
Last year, Carthon clashed with quarterback Trent Dilfer over the Browns' offensive schemes and game plans. Dilfer was then traded in March, the first sign of Crennel's commitment to Carthon.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
