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BEREA, Ohio -- Carmen Policy arrived for work on an early
morning in October nearly two years ago and realized his days as
president of the Browns were numbered. After the death of Cleveland owner Al Lerner, his close friend
and partner, Policy sensed it was time to move on. "It was surreal," Policy said. "I had a feeling it would be
different from that day on." On Wednesday, it changed for good as Policy announced he will
step aside and let someone else run the Browns. Policy's five-year run as the club's president and chief
executive officer will officially end May 1, but he will stay on as
a consultant through the 2004 season. John Collins, the NFL's senior vice president of marketing and
sales who has negotiated more than $1 billion in sponsorship deals
for the league, will replace Policy. Collins received a five-year
contract. "What we're doing today is right for the Browns," said Policy.
"I was ready to leave. I am ready to leave because it's the right
time pursuant to the plan -- a plan I designed." While the announcement of the front-office shift was abrupt,
Policy said it merely completed a plan in place almost since Randy
Lerner assumed ownership following his father's death on Oct. 23,
2002. Policy had been hand-picked by the late owner when Cleveland was
awarded an expansion franchise and returned to the league in 1999
following a three-year absence. But Lerner's death changed things for the 61-year-old Policy,
who recalled arriving at the team's offices the next day and
sensing a huge void. "I opened the door and it was like someone had sucked the air
and the life out of Berea," Policy said. "He was a major presence
for this organization. I'm talking about the aura, and the inner
power of the man." Policy found his successor sooner than expected. Collins, who has worked in the league office since 1989, is
intrigued by working for one of the 32 teams he represented while
brokering deals across boardroom conference tables. "It's pretty hard not to get excited about the opportunity to
come to Cleveland and join the Browns," Collins said. "This is a
team environment and that feels really good to me." Policy emphasized he wasn't retiring or leaving to pursue any
other opportunities. There has been speculation he could head an
ownership group if an expansion team is awarded to Los Angeles. "My leaving has strict relevance to the Cleveland Browns," he
said. But it does slightly alter the team's power structure. Coach Butch Davis, who already enjoys undisputed control of
football operations, will now report only to Randy Lerner -- as will
Collins. "John will be responsible for all business matters," Policy
said. "Coach Davis will be responsible for all football matters.
It's that clean and simple." At Randy Lerner's request, Policy signed a contract extension
last season through 2008. The deal was structured so Policy could
slowly turn over more responsibility to Lerner, who said he'll be
more visible but will maintain a low-profile. Lerner bought back Policy's 10 percent ownership share last
year. Also, Policy purchased 10 acres of land in California's Napa
Valley, where he plans to build a home and winery for his private
label. Policy already seems to be enjoying the idea of working
part-time for the Browns. "That means that I will have a business card," he said. "That
means I will get paid and that means I really won't have to work
that hard." The Browns are just 26-53 since 1999, including a playoff loss
to Pittsburgh in 2001. The club went 5-11 last season, which began
and ended with a quarterback controversy involving Tim Couch. Still, Policy, who helped build the San Francisco 49ers into a
power during the 1980s and '90s, is proud of how far the Browns
have come since their expansion infancy, when the furniture at
their headquarters was rented. "A lot of what we have accomplished is quite extraordinary,"
he said. "But if you don't win on the field, nothing else seems to
matter. We'll be back on track this year."
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