Crennel rewarded by Browns with 2-year contract extension

~ Cleveland won a franchise-record seven home games this season.

CLEVELAND -- Willie McGinest always believed Romeo Crennel would turn the Cleveland Browns into winners.

For a long time, though, it seemed like the 36-year-old linebacker was about the only who did.

"There was a lot of prejudgment about Romeo," said McGinest, who played for Crennel in New England. "And it was really unfair. It takes time. It takes players, and it takes a coach to do that."

Crennel did it.

The 60-year-old former defensive assistant, whose future in Cleveland was shaky after two forgettable seasons, signed a two-year contract extension Tuesday with the Browns, who won 10 games in Crennel's third season.

Crennel had two years remaining on the five-year deal he signed in February 2005. The extension, believed to be worth about $4 million per season, takes Crennel through the 2011 season.

The Browns were one of the NFL's surprise teams in 2007. One season after going 4-12, they went 10-6.