Zak Gilbert, the Oakland Raiders PR head who was fired earlier this month after reports that the team's owner didn't like a Sports Illustrated feature about the franchise, has landed with the Cleveland Browns in a key PR role.
Gilbert, who led media relations for the Raiders, takes the director of communications slot for the Browns, replacing VP-media relations Neal Gulkis, a holdover from the term of former coach Eric Mangini.
He previously led athletic media relations for Colorado State Univ. and worked in PR at the pro level for the Green Bay Packers and Colorado Rockies.
Browns CEO Joe Banner said in a statement the team is "thrilled" to added Gilbert's nearly 20 years of expertise on both the collegiate and professional level.
The Browns and Raiders both play in the NFL's American Football Conference.
Gilbert's ouster in Oakland caused some eye rolls in sports PR as the move appeared to be an impulsive reaction by the owner, Mark Davis.
The Browns job will be a challenge as the team wrapped its fifth straight losing season in 2012 and is dealing with an FBI probe of the company led by team owner Jimmy Haslam.
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