Browns G.M. Phil Savage couldn’t have picked a more inopportune time to send a profane e-mail message to a fan who had been heckling him.  With the Browns reportedly talking to Bill Cowher and with Cowher virtually certain to want full control over the team’s football operations, Savage would almost certainly get the shoe.

The problem is that Savage received an extension after last season’s resurgence, and he’s now signed through 2012.  If, as some believe, he’s making $3 million per year, a buyout would cost owner Randy Lerner $12 million.

But maybe it wouldn’t.  Though we haven’t seen the specific language of Savage’s contract, typing “f@#* you” to a fan likely would permit the Browns to fire Savage “for cause,” thereby extinguishing any responsibility to him for ongoing payments.

Savage would have the ability to file a grievance with the league office, but would he?  Regarded as mild-mannered (at all times except when sending the e-mail in question), Savage might not want to fight the issue. 

Another possibility would be for Lerner to offer Savage $3 million to walk away, and for Savage to accept it.

For more on the lessons to be learned from the Savage e-mail, we give you a couple minutes of PFTV.