Browns send Kitchens packing

We thank Freddie for his hard work and commitment to this organization but did not see the success or opportunities for improvement to move forward with him as our head coach.

FREDDIE Kitchens and the Cleveland Brown part ways following another fruitless season. AFP

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Cleveland Browns wasted no time in sending head coach Freddie Kitchens packing, announcing he had been fired after the team’s National Football League’s season-ending loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Kitchens was at the helm for just one season, presiding over a 6-10 campaign that saw the Browns miss the playoffs for an 18th straight season.

“We thank Freddie for his hard work and commitment to this organization but did not see the success or opportunities for improvement to move forward with him as our head coach,” Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslem said in a statement.

“Our focus is on hiring an exceptional leader for this football team and we will take a comprehensive approach to this process. We are excited about the core players we have to build around and develop and we look forward to bringing in a strong head coach that will put this group of players in the best position to succeed.”

Hours earlier Kitchens had spoken to reporters in the wake of the Browns’ 33-23 loss to the Bengals — a National Football Conference North division rival that had won just one prior game this season.

“What I’m going to do is do my job until they tell me not to,” said Kitchens, who arrived in Cleveland last year as a running backs coach and became offensive coordinator after head coach Hue Jackson was sacked midway through the season.

Kitchens’ success last season calling plays for young rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield helped earn him the head coaching job for this season.

But Mayfield struggled this year and the Browns battled a welter of disciplinary issues.

Cleveland has yet to make the playoffs in 17 years and was unable to finish with a winning record in 12 years.

The Browns are now looking for their 12th coach since returning to the league in 1999.