A rather significant orthodontist appointment for my daughter meant I could not attend Eric Mangini's initial news conference. Throw the flag on me if you like, but some things take priority — and my daughters definitely are on that list. Heard Mangini was engaging, pleasant and did a nice job answering questions, that he got off to a good start. Of course you wouldn't expect him to go up and be a jerk, but it is nice to know he handled things adeptly and with a nice sense of self-deprecation. Marla Ridenour will have more on this as the day goes on.
I heard but have not confirmed that Tom Heckert has pulled his name from consideration for the Browns GM post. This indicates that George Kokinis of Baltimore really is the leading candidate, but if it's not Kokinis then who? Perhaps T.J. McCreight, the Browns Director of Player Personnel. This is not exactly the strong, experienced GM type I envisioned when this search started. It also indicates that Mangini's role in the hiring of the GM is not insignificant.
[ADD: Adam Schefter reported that Heckert is out on NFL.com ... which pretty much confirms it. Here's what Schefter wrote: "Heckert told the Browns he is canceling the interview that was scheduled for Friday because he doesn’t know Mangini and would not be entirely comfortable with the situation in Cleveland the way that it is. This leaves Baltimore’s director of pro personnel, George Kokinis, as the last known candidate for the Browns general manager job."]]
[[UPDATE II: John Taylor of the Orange and Brown report (a site all Browns fans should be aware of and read) apparently reads this blog -- a shame for him -- and got in touch to say he had learned Heckert is out, in part because he would have been coming as GM after having no say in the hiring of the coach.]]
Finally … everyone seems excited and energized by the hiring of Rob Ryan as the Browns defensive coordinator. Me included. At long last, the Browns will have a coordinator who attacks, who plays offense on defense. This could one of best and most significant positives about the Browns situation that has sprung from the hiring of Mangini. Ryan gets his guys to play for him. He will not sit back in a two-deep coverage against a guy like Trent Edwards. He will go after the offense. Which is a very good thing.
Call this a personal note if you wish, but this kind of thing bugged me about Mangini. It deals with the way he listed injuries in New York, which was less than candid and (quite frankly) against league rules. I hope this changes in Cleveland, and that a guy who has a pulled hamstring has a pulled hamstring. Why? Because honesty matters. The truth, as they say, shall set you free.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Perhaps the GM hire will carry less significance than we all imagine because both he and the head coach will be overseen by a career football guy installed above them both as Director of Football Operations.
Just a thought.
The Browns hire a new coach. The rest of this article is some hack's opinion. When did opinion trump the facts. I've only been a Brown's fan for 45 years and I think I can figure out if I like the new coach on his merits. How about reporting the news and letting the fans form their own opinions.
bubba, try breathing through your nose.
Bubba, how can you be a Browns fan for 45 years when the franchise is less than 10 years old? Interesting arithmetic.
This situation is absolutely ridiculous. Lerner might as well just name Mangini as the general manager, director of player personnel, and whatever other bogus title(s) they're going to give the new guy. Who the hell anywhere in the business world gets to have a prominent say in naming their very own boss? Didn't Lerner learn anything from his father? I mean, aside from how to conduct top-secret meetings on an airplane runway.
Does the Beacon Journal also conduct business in this manner, Pat? I suppose this answers the burning question as to why Rich Desrosiers and Ron Ledgard have been replaced by Adriana Lima and Faith Hill as your new editors.
how many coaches have been fired because of their failures in the draft and having too much say in drafting. Granted, many of these were in the Modell era. Is this being overlooked?
Oh, I guess you guys just still don't get it. Don't you see what is going on here?? To guys like Lerner and Mangini, title does not matter. Contract language does not matter. All that matters is that you have smart people with a keen intellect and a clear vision working together toward the same goal. And that's why Lerner hired Mangini. And if they get Kokinis, it will be for the same reason. The titles of coach and GM and VP of football operations are just that… titles. What matters is how these people work together to help this team WIN.