Two thumbs up to interviewing Tom Heckert

The Browns have asked for and been granted permission to interview Tom Heckert Jr., the General Manager of the Philadelphia Eagles. This news should be welcomed by Browns fans, because Heckert is a very highly regarded young executive. He brings 18 years of experience, smarts and years of good decision-making to the table. (You hear a lot of the same things about Chris Polian, son of Colts president Bill Polian, by the way.)

I knew Heckert's father when he worked in Miami for Don Shula and I covered the Dolphins. Heckert Sr. did an outstanding job there. He was very polite and friendly, but he also was extremely loyal. He knew his role and never tried to usurp authority from or upstage Shula. Not that he could have had he tried.

But Heckert Sr. grew to the point in Miami that Shula went along with all his personnel decisions, and when someone has that kind of respect from Don Shula he's accomplished something. Heckert Sr. also worked for the Browns as a scout more than 20 years ago. Every time I saw him after I left Miami, he'd ask how things were going in Cleveland. Clearly, he still cared about the team and city.

One would imagine many of those same traits have been passed down from father to son. Heckert Jr. (who henceforth in this crog shall merely be "Heckert") started his career working for the Dolphins as a scout, and eventually worked for both Shula and Jimmy Johnson. He was hired in Philadelphia with a strong recommendation from Johnson.

The main question about Heckert is whether he'll leave a good situation in Philadelphia. He and Andy Reid work extremely well together. They've got a good rapport, and the team has a good thing going. He's turned down the opportunity to leave before, and I'm not convinced, personally, that he will leave this time. To get him, the Browns would have to give him control of personnel or a promotion that would include a Vice President's title. But even if he had that title, he does not seem to have the ego that would force decisions on any coach.

He certainly seems ready. Heckert manages the Eagles player personnel department, and he has been responsible for all college and pro scouting. He's only 41, but he seems to have a resume that's extremely well-rounded. He joined the Eagles as Player Personnel Director in 2001, was promoted to Vice President of Player Personnel in 2003 and named GM in 2006. He's served on influential NFL committees and has been around winning teams. Last May, the team extended his contract through 2011.

When it was announced the Browns would interview Scott Pioli of New England and try to interview Rich McKay of Atlanta (and formerly Tampa Bay), the thought immediately popped into my head: Wonder why not Heckert? From that point, I've thought that Heckert would be a good alternative if the two main choices could not be landed. Interviewing Heckert seems like a winning proposition. Getting him out of Philadelphia might be challenging, though, perhaps impossible.

This does seem to indicate that Pioli is not coming to Cleveland, and the Browns and owner Randy Lerner have cooled on McKay. The team seems to be moving to new options, and probably would not do so if Pioli's hiring were still a real possibility. Nobody has told me that, but that's what the tea leaves say.

Now … I don't know the relationship between Heckert and Eric Mangini, and I don't know what this means to Mangini's candidacy to be the head coach. But I do think a team of Heckert and Mangini would bring more credibility and belief to the table than George Kokinis and Mangini. It may not be fair to Kokinis, and may simply be perception, but Heckert's resume is strong enough that it would seem fans would have great trust and belief in that pairing. And … I believe that if Heckert were hired as VP of Football Operations (or some other inane title like that) and he chose the coach, people would be more accepting of the decision – even if it again led to Eric Mangini. Not sure that's going to happen, but that's my opinion.

I will say that every time I start to feel comfortable about Mangini, I hear or read something that makes me wonder. The latest is the word that many in the Jets organization were relieved that he left, that the work environment he created was so unpleasant it was difficult to do the job there. This was not just assistant coaches, on whom Mangini was very tough. This was many in the building.

Does this mean a guy can't win? No. Does it mean that he can't change? No. But it does mean the odds are things would be the same in Cleveland. Again, few question Mangini's football acumen; they do question the way he goes about his job.

Here is an analysis on Mangini from Rich Cimini, one of the better football writers in the country, a guy who does not overstate things and who is a quiet professional. This package also includes a timeline of Mangini's days with the Jets.

With all that is happening, I really wonder if the hiring of Mangini would be more acceptable if a strong, experienced GM were hired as well. For some reason, Heckert-Mangini sounds palatable. Perhaps because it indicates Mangini is not calling all shots, including the hiring of the GM. That's the perception that was present with Kokinis.

Again, this all may not be fair to Kokinis. A guy can never be a successful GM if he's not given a chance, and Kokinis has been helpful and honest the couple times I've dealt with him. It's just that Heckert's resume is pretty strong.

But … I also think the Browns should continue to look, and interview. Interviewing Heckert is wise. I'd still see about interviewing Rich McKay. I'd consider Lionel Vital of Atlanta as well. If he's willing to interview, I'd wait for Mike Shanahan – it might be worth it. I'd interview Raheem Morris of Tampa Bay to be the coach (even though, yes, the Browns prefer not to hire an assistant) and Mike Mularkey of Atlanta. Nobody else seems to be clamoring to hire Mangini, so why not take more time. The road still may lead back to Mangini, and if it does that's fine. But taking more time would not hurt anyone.