CBS Sports NFL Insider Pat Kirwan reports (via CBS's Will Brinson) learning at the NFL Scouting Combine that Joe Banner, who is on the way out as CEO of the Browns, had taken the unusual action of directly overseeing the team's offensive and defensive coordinators Kyle Shanahan and Jim O'Neil.
That tidbit comes almost two weeks after team owner Jimmy Haslam stunned the football world with the announcement Banner would "transition out of his role as CEO" while GM Mike Lombardi would be leaving the organization as well.
In their place, Ray Farmer was promoted to GM while team president Alec Scheiner was left to run the team's business operations.
While some felt the old arrangement was a bit out of the ordinary, the new one appears much more traditional.
And Kirwan's report could offer some clarity to what Haslam was referring to when he spoke of a desire to streamline operation of the club during a press conference in Cleveland the day the moves were announced.
"Joe and I began having conversations several weeks ago about potentially restructuring the organization," Haslam said Feb. 11. "As (new head coach Mike Pettine) came on board and we evaluated where we are, we felt that it made the most sense. It was a much simpler organizational structure than we had before, much clearer lines of responsibility and authority and something that we all felt more comfortable with and something that we're very excited with. I look forward to letting you all have the opportunity to work with Ray."
