Crennel tries to keep Browns' politics at bay
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Joe Thomas, center, and Brady Quinn, right, share the stage with Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain at a rally Wednesday in Strongsville, Ohio
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BEREA, Ohio -- The country is divided into states colored red and blue. Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel wants to keep his locker room shaded only brown and orange.
Crennel gathered his players after practice Wednesday and urged them to keep their political views private. With the presidential election less than a month away in a political season gushing with history and hysteria, Crennel doesn't want his players to lose focus on their season or split into camps.
"Politics are their politics as long as they don't interfere with the team," Crennel said yesterday. "That's my main concern, that they don't get on a soap box in the locker room and get it going back and forth about a particular candidate against another candidate. That's why the ballot is a secret ballot when you go vote."
Shortly after Crennel spoke to his team, backup quarterback Brady Quinn and tackle Joe Thomas attended a boisterous rally for Republican presidential nominee John McCain in Strongsville, Ohio. Quinn introduced McCain, hailing the Senator and former prisoner of war in Vietnam, as a hero. Quinn's father, Ty, is a Vietnam veteran.
"[Quinn] took the time to do that, but as long as he keeps it outside the building and outside the team, that's his choice," Crennel said.
Crennel said he knew about Quinn's appearance before he decided to talk some political football with his club. He didn't detect any tension among his players but wanted to make sure they understood his position.
"I just know politics. In politics you have got one guy against the other guy," Crennel said. "If you are starting your case for this guy, the other guy is stating this case for this guy, then there is room for potential confrontation depending on how strongly you want to make your case or how strongly he wants to make his case.
"I think in my situation, I let the team know that the team comes first."
Last weekend, Browns linebacker Willie McGinest attended an early-voter registration rally in downtown Cleveland sponsored by Democratic nominee Barack Obama. McGinest said he was motivated by Obama to vote for the first time.
Browns kicker Phil Dawson has been with the club since its 1999 expansion rebirth. This is his third presidential election since coming to Cleveland, and he said this one has been remarkably subdued inside the team.
"This has been the calmest one," he said.
"I can remember open, loud, lively debates over the last couple."
First Published October 10, 2008 12:00 am
