It's widely believed Pat Shurmur will be fired by the Cleveland Browns next week, but the coach -- 9-22 over two seasons -- told The Plain Dealer on Thursday that no special meeting with team brass has been scheduled for Monday.
New Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III and CEO Joe Banner have kept mum on Shurmur's fate, leaving the coach to prepare as usual for Sunday's finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"It's no different," Shurmur said. "I get this."
Before Shurmur came to town, the two coaches before him were let go after season-ending losses to Pittsburgh. Romeo Crennel didn't survive a 31-0 thrashing by the Steelers in 2008, and Eric Mangini was jettisoned following a 41-9 loss to Pittsburgh in 2010.
Shurmur beat the Steelers back in Week 12, the highlight of a 5-10 season that has mixed progress with disaster for the NFL's youngest team.
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The prospects for Sunday are ominous. The Browns might be down to mystery man Thaddeus Lewis under center. The practice-squad quarterback was activated this week and took first-team reps Thursday with starter Brandon Weeden and backup Colt McCoy nursing shoulder injuries. Cleveland's starting running back, rookie Trent Richardson, also missed Thursday's session with an ankle injury.
Shurmur said he won't rule anyone out until just before Sunday's game. One that will -- or won't -- be his last, depending on whom you ask.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
