NFL-Browns fire head coach Pettine after 3-13 season

Jan 3 (Reuters) - The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Mike Pettine on Sunday, the National Football League team announced. General manager Ray Farmer was also axed, only hours after the Browns ended a dismal campaign with a 28-12 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. "We greatly appreciate Ray and Mike's dedication and hard work," owner Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. "We've made this decision because we don't believe our football team is positioned well for the future. We are all disappointed with where we are and I take full responsibility." Pettine had a 10-22 record in two seasons with the Browns. After the Browns started 7-4 in Pettine's rookie season, they ended 2014 with five straight losses. The poor results continued in 2015 with the team posting a 3-13 record as Pettine struggled to decide whether to stick with firebrand quarterback Johnny Manziel as his starter. "Mike is the epitome of what we want the Browns to be: tough, aggressive and innovative with a blue-collar, team-first mentality," Haslam said when he appointed Pettine nearly two years ago. The 49-year-old Pettine worked on the coaching staffs at the Ravens, Jets and Bills before joining the Browns. (Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by John O'Brien)