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This is getting very interesting. As of this morning, ESPN still stands by their “Savage gonna be fired” story, continues to scroll it on ESPNews along with the John Collins denial of the original Chris Mortensen report, and has this on ESPN.com.

Mortensen, however, has confirmed the team’s plan with several sources, and stands by his report.

And the Browns have this on their website.

In response to rumors that were widely circulated today, the Cleveland Browns wish to reiterate that Phil Savage is and will continue to be our senior vice president and general manager.

Something is definitely going on here.

Before everyone starts getting all rah rah for WTAM’s Mike Trivissonno scooping everyone with the John Collins denial that Phil Savage was fired, pay attention. EVERYBODY thought Savage was fired until Collins went on the air at WTAM, including WTAM. This is from Cleveland.com (the Plain Dealer’s site) at 5.43 pm, before Collins went on the air at 6.10.

5:43 p.m. update
WTAM Browns sideline reporter Casey Coleman is reporting that Phil Savage is definitely out as General Manager after he refused to rework his contract and give up some of his duties.

Some guy called WTAM saying Jim Donovan was on the air on WKYC reporting that Savage was gone at 6.15 pm, while Collins was just getting on the air at WTAM. Yeah, there’s nothing to this story. Nothing to see here. Move along.

What. The. F. WKNR just reported a ton of stuff….Savage and some of his staff out. Ray Anderson in. Crennel will be ordered to fire some assistants. Collins takes over some duties. I switch to WTAM, and John Collins is on there saying “Phil Savage is not getting fired, will not be fired”, we’ve “renewed our vows.” Ray Anderson not being brought in. Chaos.

Collins & Fat Pig Triv are kissing each other’s ass on the air, Trivisonno; “This ain’t a ratings play, we didn’t start this, John!” Collins; “I know you guys wouldn’t do that.” Everybody blames ESPN. Trivissonno asks if Savage might resign, Collins says, “I don’t know.”

NEW TAKE? Yeah, ESPN has the worst journalists in the entire world, they’re all a bunch of hacks, how dare they. Nothing to see here, move along. This is going to get very interesting. Let’s see how this plays out after the Ravens game.

UPDATE – WKNR, after reporting “deed was done” at 6.00, then going to Danny Ferry on the phone while WTAM talks to John Collins who denies it, comes back at 6.30 to report the “deed was undone…entire story flipped upside down in the last half hour.”

No idea what the hell is going on here. Seems to me either ESPN’s Chris Mortensen really went off half cocked, or he got played by someone in the Browns front office, or this whole thing will resurface next week.

Listening to WKNR, seems to be quite a bit more to the story than just “Savage getting fired”.

Liveblog….Chris Mortensen of ESPN stands by the story, and says the Browns have offered Phil Savage a role in their player personnel department, that the Browns are trying to salvage something out of the situation. Mortensen can’t believe someone would ever get fired over “philosophical differences on salary cap issues”, so this makes him think it’s pretty serious. He believes Savage took the job believing he’d be in charge of everything, including the salary cap. “Randy was siding with John to bring in somebody else to run the department.” “This has been a very positive Browns season, they’ve obviously improved their personnel, it’s just an incredible development.” “Obviously there’s a rift, maybe it can be solved.” “It would surprise me more if Phil compromised.” “I was told that it would be as early as today and by Monday probably, but at the same time it left an opening for something to be resolved.”

Earlier this afternoon on WTAM, Jim Brown denied the whole story. I have no idea how much access to the facts Jim Brown would have, or whether he speaks for the team. Meanwhile Leigh Bodden signs a four year extension.

Shoot me now.

UPDATE – John Clayton on ESPNNews reports that John Collins wanted to bring in a cap guy to work with Savage, that Savage is not officially fired yet, that it’s a very “strange situation,” and that “we may be seeing one of the best personnel guys in the NFL on the way out.” Meanwhile, Roda just dumped a caller for launching into profanity.

EARLY TAKE? If you’re gonna fire the guy, fire him. Don’t let ESPN report that you are “planning to fire” him. The way ESPN is reporting it, seems like their source is Savage himself, as they are blowing smoke up his ass every chance they get, and the Browns’ flaks on WTAM (Jim Brown, fat pig Triv, Reggie Rucker) are all hatin’ on Savage, denying the story even exists. Sounds like Collins & Savage are having a pissing match via the media. Lovely.

Talk about out of the f’ing blue.

The Cleveland Browns plan to fire senior vice president and general manager Phil Savage, NFL sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen on Friday. The split is over “philosophical differences,” primarily salary cap management. The announcement could come as early as Friday, Mortensen reported. Savage could not be reached for comment.

Wow. I mean, WOW. The ESPN article lists Atlanta Falcons chief administration officer Ray Anderson as a possible replacement. I wonder what these “philosophical differences” are, and who he’s in disagreement with: Romeo, Lerner, or both.