Browns Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward is still hoping for Jim Schwartz to return to Cleveland.
When the Browns bypassed Schwartz for their head-coaching opening and instead hired former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken for the job last week, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported that an upset Schwarz did not plan to remain as team's defensive coordinator.
But Ward isn't giving up hope, saying he hopes his defensive coordinator and the team can find a way to make amends and run it back.
"I'm not sure what was true or was not true, so I'm not going to speculate," Ward told Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer ahead of Tuesday's Pro Bowl Games in San Francisco. "I'm just going to wait to see how everything plays out and look forward to, hopefully we're still keeping him."
Schwartz, who has two years remaining on his current contract, led a Browns defense that ranked in the top five of the league in several major defensive categories. Ward was named to his fifth Pro Bowl this past season, and he joined other Browns players, includingMyles Garrett and Grant Delpit, who have publicly supported Schwartz and called for his return.
Ward said he liked the team's defensive mix of young standouts and established stars, with finalists for the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (Garrett) and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors (Carson Schwesinger). Ward thinks the Browns can compete if they get improved play at quarterback.
"The way the NFL is, if you've got a great quarterback, you'll go far in this league and play for the Super Bowl, and you can make up for a lot of things," Ward said. "But I think we've got good, core talent on our team, and we're going to add some more guys in the draft. I think we're right there. We're close."
That's one of the reasons why Ward hopes Schwartz and the team can find a way to make a reunion work.
"I've got a lot of respect for coach Schwartz," Ward said, "and he's an amazing coach, and I'm hoping he stays on the team."
