Policy Expects Palmer Back Next Year

Browns To Make Changes -- With or Without Palmer

Browns coach Chris Palmer's job is safe, but only if he runs the team differently.

Just six weeks ago, team president Carmen Policy said Palmer was a lock to return to the Browns next year. Now, after a string of double-figures losses, Policy says Palmer can come back for a third year - but only if he makes some unspecified changes.

Frustrated by the Browns' 3-12 record heading into the season finale Sunday against 11-3 Tennessee, Policy said Friday the Browns will begin a complete re-evaluation of the team next week following their second year back in the league.

``Chris Palmer will be part of that re-evaluation, and he will help initiate some of the changes,'' Policy said. ``If Chris is willing to accept these changes, then he will be with us and this management team will go forward intact.''

Policy didn't specify what changes Palmer would have to accept, but last week said the Browns would take a look at how Palmer conducted practices during training camp and in the regular season. Some current and former players complained that workouts were too difficult and might have led to the team's rash of injuries.

Franchise quarterback Tim Couch broke his thumb during practice in October and was lost for the season.

There also have been philosophical differences over how the Browns should be built. The team loaded up on veterans during its expansion year, but Palmer wanted to go with younger players after Cleveland lost its first game of 1999 season 43-0 to Pittsburgh.

As recently as Nov. 2, Palmer got a vote of confidence from Policy and owner Al Lerner, who guaranteed the coach would be back next season.

``We haven't even considered the fact that he wouldn't be here next year,'' Policy said then.

But Policy backed off that statement Friday.

``I knew better than to do that,'' he said. ``It was a weak moment. I said something I should not have said, even if we had been 10-2.''

Word that Palmer's job might be in trouble began after Cleveland was trashed by Baltimore and Jacksonville in consecutive weeks by a combined score of 92-7.