By Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Could the hiring of Nolan Cromwell to Pat Shurmur's coaching staff be a precursor to the next Browns offensive coordinator?
Cromwell, most recently Rams receivers coach, has extensive coaching experience under Mike Holmgren. He also spent two years as offensive coordinator under Mike Sherman at Texas A&M. Sherman is a presumed candidate to take over Shurmur's offense as coordinator. But Sherman, also from the Holmgren coaching tree, is waiting on Tampa Bay to choose its next head coach. Sherman has been interviewed for the position. 
Cromwell, 56, was an NFL safety for 11 years, but his NFL coaching experience has been on offense since 1998. He moved to receivers after seven seasons as Holmgren's special teams coordinator in Green Bay. Cromwell followed Holmgren to Seattle and was Seahawks receivers coach through 2007.
Cromwell left Seattle to become Sherman's offensive coordinator at Texas A&M. In two seasons, the Aggies ranked in the top 30 in rushing, passing, scoring and total offense. But Sherman called his own plays. When Cromwell decided to return to the NFL in 2010 as Rams receivers coach, Sherman praised him for his patience.
"It's not easy being an offensive coordinator under an offensive head coach," Sherman said.
In 2010, Shurmur and Cromwell enjoyed a successful season in St. Louis in quarterback Sam Bradford's rookie season. After Shurmur left for Cleveland, the Rams suffered a 2-14 season with Josh McDaniels as coordinator. The Rams fired the coaching staff and are now assembling a new one under new head coach Jeff Fisher.
Cromwell was a safety with the Rams, earning Pro Bowl berths four times. His coaching career began with the Rams in 1991 as a defensive and special teams assistant.
Cromwell joined Holmgren's staff in Green Bay in 1992 as special teams coordinator.
The Browns confirmed that Keith Gilbertson was retiring. Gilbertson, a former Holmgren assistant in Seattle, was Browns director of pro personnel in 2010 and was a senior assistant offensive coach in 2011.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/01/cleveland_browns_adding_nolan.html
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