Rain Cloud Looms Over Cleveland as Browns Fire Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson during the 2018 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sept 11, 2018 (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

CLEVELAND (GSM) – The Cleveland Browns have fired head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley during week 8 of the 2018 NFL season.

Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam released the following statement:

“We greatly appreciate Hue’s commitment to the Cleveland Browns organization over the last two and a half years,” the Haslams said in a joint statement released Monday afternoon. “We understand how critical this time period is in the development of our football team, individually and collectively, and believed it was in the organization’s best interest to make the move at this time, in order to maximize our opportunities the rest of this season. We certainly only wish Hue, Michelle, and his family the best moving forward.”

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley was also relieved of his duties, the team confirmed.

Former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will be the team’s interim head coach until a new selection is made.

Hue Jackson Postgame Press Conference vs. Steelers

Head coach Hue Jackson spoke to the media following the Browns 33-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 28, 2018.

Steelers Defeat Browns at Heinz Field

Steelers defense swarms Cleveland Browns’ running back Dontrell Hilliard. October 28, 2018. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH – The Steelers were victorious in the wake of tragedy.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, although proud of his team’s 33-18 victory against the Browns Sunday, started his opening remarks referencing the shooting at Tree of Life synagogue where 11 people lost their lives over the weekend. A resident of the Squirrel Hill community himself he said the massacre hit close to home.

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin during the matchup against the Cleveland Browns. October 28, 2018 (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

Let me start by representing our organization and saying that our hearts go out to the victims of yesterday’s shooting, the Squirrel Hill community and the community of Pittsburgh at large. I am a member of the Squirrel Hill community, personally, and words cannot express how we feel as members of this community. We are prayerful.

As for the game, Running back James Conner rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns to help his team seal the win. Tomlin, who watched Conner play at Pitt, not surprised by what he can do. “I had a front row seat for his college exploits,” Tomlin Said. “Not that we’re surprised by his talents or his play demeanor or his displays of will. It’s pretty impressive.”

Steelers running back James Conner stretches to score one of his 2 touchdowns in teh game against the Cleveland Browns. October 28, 2018. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

Conner, humble in his approach, says he loves football and will do what it takes to win. “I’m just doing what I love to do. I’m trying to be in the right sport for Ben in the check-downs [and] trying to put the ball in the right spots in the run game.”

In what some are calling a blowout, offensive lineman Ramon foster says even though the score was high, Their AFC North rival has improved over time. “They are a really good team. They’re not the Browns of old. They’ve got a lot of high picks. They’ve got guys who understand how to play the game a little bit better.”

The Steelers head to Baltimore this weekend to face the Ravens on November 4. The Ravens lost to the Carolina Panthers 36-21.

Steelers Up Against a High Powered Offense in Falcons

I was able to catch a lot of action at the Steelers v Falcons game that took place at the beginning of October and the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Sports photography is definitely exciting and getting that perfect action shot takes practice.  I enjoy capturing the moment and the mood of the stadium!  Check out some of my photography that did just that.

Steelers V Ravens

Although it was a disappointing start to the 2018 NFL season for the “Black and Gold,” I still got the shot.  The preferred camera bodies for modern sports photography have fast auto-focus and high burst rates, typically 8 frames per second or faster. When photographing sports, a photographer has to anticipate where the action is going to happen.  I have been shooting Steelers football games for many years and there is always action on the field. Take a look at some of these photos from the game in which I show the story, the highs and lows, and emotion and atmosphere of the game.