The Eagles have named former Browns general manager Phil Savage as a special consultant for this year’s draft. Savage was fired from his position with the Browns in 2008.
Since then he has been calling games for Alabama University, which recently captured the national championship.
Savage previously worked under Ozzie Newsome as the Pro Personnel Director with the Baltimore Ravens. He will be working side to side with new Eagles general manager Howie Roseman.
I think the fact that he was calling the games for Alabama means he has great knowledge of the players in the SEC, which is considered the most talented conference in the nation. I could see the Birds leaning on his knowledge of that conference to try to snag some gold in this year’s NFL draft.
“I’ve always admired the work Phil Savage has done,” said Roseman. “And after spending time with him this past year, I realized how well we could work together. Phil is an excellent talent evaluator and having an extra set of eyes for us to utilize will definitely help our scouting staff as we prepare for the draft. He’s spent time working on the 2010 draft class already, so Ryan and I thought it is was a slam dunk when the opportunity was there for us to add him to our staff.”
Said Savage, who served as the radio color analyst for the Crimson Tide Sports Network in 2009: “This is a great opportunity for me to get back in the NFL. I’m really excited about the role the Eagles have afforded me and I’m ready to help Howie and the rest of their scouting staff in the best way I possibly can.”
The 44-year-old Savage spent four seasons as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Cleveland Browns from 2005-08. In his four years with the Browns, the team acquired five Pro Bowl players (three through the college draft) and won a franchise-best 10 games in 2007. That year, the Browns had six players selected to the Pro Bowl (Derek Anderson, Joshua Cribbs, Braylon Edwards, Ryan Pontbriand, Joe Thomas, and Kellen Winslow), which was the most by the franchise since six players were chosen in 1995
Prior to his stint with Cleveland, Savage enjoyed a nine-year run with the Baltimore Ravens. He was hired as the Director of College Scouting by Vice President of Player Personnel Ozzie Newsome in 1996 and held that position for seven years. He was elevated to Director of Player Personnel in 2003. In that time period, the Ravens acquired 11 Pro Bowl players through the college draft, including Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis, who helped Baltimore to a victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV.
In 1991, after a brief stint with the San Antonio Riders of the World League, Savage was hired by Cleveland Browns head coach Bill Belichick as a defensive assistant. He worked for three years as an assistant for defensive coordinator Nick Saban breaking down opponent tapes and working with the defensive backs. Savage also helped prepare for the Browns’ drafts by scouting potential prospects. Following the 1993 season, he moved to the player personnel department as an area scout for the West coast before being promoted to National Scout in 1995.
The Mobile, AL, native attended Murphy High School where he played football and baseball. From Murphy, Savage continued his academic and athletic career at the University of the South. He quarterbacked the Tigers’ football team and was a three-time all-conference selection on the baseball team as a shortstop. Savage majored in English and graduated in 1987. From there, he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant at Alabama on Bill Curry’s staff and worked under offensive coordinator Homer Smith in 1988-89. Savage followed Smith to UCLA in 1990 and coached the tight ends. During his time at Alabama, he earned his graduate degree in Physical Education.
Phil resides in Fairhope, Ala. with his wife, Dorothy, an accomplished theatrical actress and singer who will release her debut album, Glorious Mess, in March 2010.
