I'm sitting in the press box in Pittsburgh, waiting for the Steelers to play the Chargers in the playoffs and wondering how that Arizona-San Diego Super Bowl will play in America. The amazing thing is that the NFL now could have both of the lowest-seeded division winners hosting the championship games – if San Diego beats the Steelers. I don't expect that to happen, but with all these road teams winning all these games anything can happen here in Ketchup Field.
It's always good to attend one of these games, in part because it reinforces the notion that this is a pretty unbelievable job. But it's also good because you run into a lot of national types who are at the playoffs. That includes scouts, team employees and national media. That provides a good gauge of how your team is perceived nationally. Might not be an accurate reflection, but it is the reflection.
A few years ago the Browns gave Butch Davis a contract extension after a lousy season. At the Super Bowl, everyone came up and asked: What the heck are they thinking extending his contract after he went 5-11? So after the commissioner's speech the Friday before the game, Tony Grossi and I met with Carmen Policy and Randy Lerner to discuss the state of the team. Our first question: Everyone's been asking us what you were thinking extending Davis' contract after a losing season … so what the heck were you thinking?
They discussed continuity and consistency and all that, then Davis was fired before the next season ended.
At any rate, the going question in today's press box was: What the heck are they thinking hiring the coach before the GM? When I asked what kind of GM the Browns could hope to hire at this point, I was greeted with a lot of blank stares and rolled eyes. The going thinking is that any strong-minded GM would not join a team that hired a coach without input from the GM.
Word has it that:
–George Kokinis does not favor taking the job, and if he does want the job the Ravens might make it impossible by telling the Browns they will not let him leave unless he has full hiring and firing powers in Cleveland.
–Rich McKay was never a real serious candidate.
–Ted Sundquist might be do it because he's not with a team now. Same with Floyd Reese, Charley Casserley and Tom Donahoe. Me, I've thought Reese was an excellent choice from day one.
–Nick Caserio would be a good hire, but he also might not leave New England.
–The Browns would be wise to pursue Chris Polian, but his father might not recommend he make Cleveland his next stop.
If none of this happens, the Browns may well give personnel power to coach Eric Mangini and hire a personnel guy like T.J. McCreight.
As the Browns world turns.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
"At any rate, the going question in today's press box was: What the heck are they thinking hiring the coach before the GM? When I asked what kind of GM the Browns could hope to hire at this point, I was greeted with a lot of blank stares and rolled eyes. The going thinking is that any strong-minded GM would not join a team that hired a coach without input from the GM."
more proof that the guy with six years of experience with football needs to learn a little bit more. most browns fans have more knowledge about the game and it's inner workings than randy lerner.
What the heck are they thinking hiring the coach before the GM?
I assume these people will be asking the same question of the owner of the Denver Broncos, seeing as he is doing the same thing. Right?
i draw comfort from the fact that the same idiots also objected to mike brown being hired before danny ferry. look how poorly *that* turned out.
why not talk to marty about the gm position.
HAS ANYONE HEARD FROM PHIL SAVAGE OR IS HE ON SUICIDE WATCH?
yea he is on suicide watch, butt no one is watching!!!!!
Why do the Ravens get to dictate the terms of employment for someone who chooses to resign from their organization?
Barry and LynnDawg are on the money. He's made his mistakes, but I'll take Lerner's brainwaves over Terje's anytime! Mangini will right the ship.
alan, can i trade you stalkers? i'd rather have rick than a shut-in with a crusty sock named "kathy" who masquerades online as a "female executive".
I agree that hiring the coach before the GM is an unusual situation but what about the Browns since 1999 hasn't been? I hope this situation works out and Lerner is able to find a capable GM. I'm more interested in knowing how the power will be divided as it seems Mangini will have much more input on personnel than Crennel did.
I find it strange that the Broncos are following almost the same blueprint by hiring a coach first but have not received the same criticisms. Granted Bowlen has a much more successful track record than Lerner but it is still the same concept.
I hope that Lerner has learned through this process that maintaining continuity for the sake of continuity (that is, in the absence of success) is just wrong. It is much more important to have people at the top of the org chart who know what they are doing and have them on the same page.
i highly doubt that 32 year old josh mcdaniel is going to be calling all the personnel shots in denver. bowlen has been around long enough to know what kind of g.m. pool he is looking at to match up with his wonderboy. what i don't understand about the mangini hire is why the sub-.500 genius is going to have most of the power. he hasn't done anything at the pro level but the browns are giving him a yes man? i just don't get it but as lou said, it's unusual and it typifies the expansion browns mindset.
Uh … it really didn't turn out too well, barry. If Gilbert had done it the right way originally, basketball wouldn't have been so freakin' offensive to watch since 2005. I also find it astounding that so many people think hiring a coach before a GM turned them into some kind of master champion. Try a 2004-2005 home record of 29-12 on for size, and that's before James could dominate like he does now. They could have done everything with Silas and Paxson, had the same results since then, and maybe it wouldn't have been as torturous to watch for three consecutive cornea-piercing seasons.
Anyway, there's a substantive difference. A football roster has 53 guys, and sticking LeBron at wide receiver probably ain't gonna do much for Mangini. Doing it the way Lerner is doing it defies logic, wisdom and good old-fashioned common sense. It doesn't mean it can't or won't work, but I can't imagine there is anybody with any brains in the business world would advise a CEO to manage their company this way. If this dude didn't have an unlimited supply of inherited money and a local fan base that will buy anything and a stadium lease that is beyond perverted, it's unlikely he would be throwing caution to the wind like he is right now.
And terje, who the hell is kathy? You lost me.
It is amazing that there are so many ignorant owners in the NFL. I mean even now , Pat Bowlen, the owner of the Denver Broncos, who we thought was such a good owner has proved his ignorance by doing the same thing as Randy Lerner. He has also hired a coach before the GM. If only they would ask the brilliant members of the media…sigh…
Hey Bill,
What do you expect from Bowlen. The idiot hired a coordinator that has no NFL head coaching experience. (yes, it's sarcasm)
Is Lerner getting good old boy advice or is he actually a football savy owner? Which ever type of owner he is it is for certan his name is on the door as well. Being an owner is probably a tough job. It is after all a very exspensive investment. Hopefully, he is getting input from his fellow owners. One can only hope that Mr. Rooney is on that list. In the final analagy Mr. Lerner makes the final decission whether it's a coach or GM.
It seems to me Mr. Lerner has control or should have control of who he hires. He should of not only ask for a resume but also explain to both hires what he expects and what the fans want–a championship and bring Brown's glory years back. I as a fan don't care how Mr.Lerner does it just that he does it. After all this what the fans exspect of Mr. Lerner.
Hey, just saw Gruden got fired in Tampa. How about we fire mangini, he hasn't won a damn game for the Brownies. Lets get Gruden!!!
oh, wait, I'm about 4 games into next year ahead of schedule…