Browns, Crennel agree on two-year extension

Coach Romeo Crennel has agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, who won 10 games in his third season and finally returned to NFL respectability.

Crennel’s agent, Joe Linta, said Monday that the sides had agreed in principle to the extension but that it hadn’t been signed. The deal could be finalized today.

The 60-year-old Crennel, the league’s oldest coach, had two years remaining on the five-year deal he signed on Feb. 8, 2005. Once the extension is finalized, Crennel will be signed through the 2011 season.

Last month, General Manager Phil Savage said the Browns intended to reward Crennel for turning the team around after years of disarray.

“He really deserves an extension,” rookie tackle Joe Thomas said last week. “He did a great job this year, and you can see that his plan is kind of taking hold, what his vision was when he first got hired.”

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Ray Rhodes was hired as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Houston Texans.

Rhodes, who spent five seasons as a head coach, first in Philadelphia and then Green Bay, has worked in Seattle since 2003. He was the defensive coordinator for the Seahawks from 2003 to 2005 and had the title of special projects/defense the last two seasons.

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Rex Ryan was hired as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. The hire was made by new head Coach John Harbaugh, who prevailed over Ryan in the team’s quest to find a replacement for Brian Billick.

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The Philadelphia Eagles hired Sean McDermott as secondary coach, replacing Harbaugh. Bill Shuey moves from defensive quality-control coach to linebackers coach. Mike Caldwell will replace him, and Otis Smith will be the assistant secondary coach. Mark Whipple also was hired as offensive assistant coach.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Cedrick Wilson withdrew a protection order against his ex-girlfriend after they agreed to have no contact with each other and share custody of their 1-year-old daughter. . . . New Orleans promoted Greg McMahon to special-teams coordinator and Dennis Allen to secondary coach. . . . Miami hired John Bonamego as their special-teams coordinator and George DeLeone as tight ends coach. . . . Long snapper Ryan Pontbriand was added to the AFC squad, giving the Browns four representatives for next month’s Pro Bowl game.

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The San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints expect to play each other in London this fall in the NFL’s second regular-season game to be played outside of North America. Both teams said the invitation should come from Commissioner Roger Goodell during his Super Bowl address Friday.