Browns reportedly 'intent' on doing this after Jim Schwartz resignation

It's no secret that the Cleveland Browns wanted Jim Schwartz to remain their defensive coordinator under recently hired head coach Todd Monken. 

However, Schwartz ultimately resigned from his role after he was left upset over the fact that he failed to win the team's head-coaching job. A previous report suggested that the Browns could allow Schwartz, who is under contract for the next two years, to simply "walk away" and explore coaching opportunities elsewhere in the event that he didn't want to be part of Monken's staff. 

During the latest edition of the "Orange and Brown Talk Podcast," Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer spoke about what became a messy divorce. 

Will Jim Schwartz be stuck in football limbo after Browns exit? 

"At this point in time, I don’t see a path forward for him except for sitting out the next two seasons," Cabot said about Schwartz. "But once again, sometimes time changes things. Sometimes there are discussions that can be had and deals that can be made. But at this moment in time, I think the Browns are intent on just letting it play out and having him let the contract expire after two years."

Schwartz and Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase were seen by many local reporters as the favorites to win the Browns' head-coaching job before they went with Monken. A subsequent report noted that Monken "was the 'strong No. 1 choice' of everyone on the search committee," including Browns general manager Andrew Berry and team owner Jimmy Haslam.

Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said during the podcast that Schwartz "did not help himself with the way it ended" as it pertained to the coach's rights. Meanwhile, Cabot expanded on Schwartz's emotional reaction to being passed over for the head-coaching job.

Jim Schwartz saw becoming Browns head coach as a "full circle" moment 

"He was very upset by this," Cabot explained. "He was very, very upset by this. And understandably so. I mean, his heart and soul has been in this defense. And this is also the place that he started his career. He loves the Cleveland Browns, or loved the Cleveland Browns. And he was going to come full circle by being the head coach in the place where he started his career in 1993." 

Schwartz first served as a personnel scout for the Browns in 1993. It now seems unlikely he'll ever work for the organization again following the events of this winter.