Watching the replay of Eric Mangini's news conference Tuesday, the one when he pretty much refused to discuss the "firing" of GM George Kokinis, one word came to mind.
Arrogance.
The arrogance of this coach and this team to set up this system where the coach is the voice of the team during the season, then to have that voice dismiss legitimate questions during a news conference set up to answer questions.
I counted 11 times when a question was asked and Mangini said he would not answer, with respect of course.
I know I've been critical of Mangini, but this might be more of an organizational issue rather than his alone. That being said, he's the one who set up the organization.
Would I expect every question to be answered?
No.
Would I hope they'd make an effort to answer most queries?
Yes.
Was Mangini the wrong guy to put at the podium?
Maybe. But if he wasn't the right guy then the right guy should have been there.
Some explanation could be given even if settlement negotiations are ongoing. It's almost as if the Browns don't think the fans or the media deserve an explanation.
The GM of the team was removed from his job. The coach handpicked the GM. Stand up and answer questions about it. Be accountable, like he would expect his players to be. Don't duck or hide or use coy phrases. Just answer the questions — and if you can't say so and explain why.
Randy Lerner spent two hours meeting with a couple upset season ticket holders on Tuesday. That's fine. But he or somebody else could have made 15 minutes for the media, and by extension the fans, either Monday night or sometime Tuesday. Not doing so actually might have put Mangini in a more difficult spot than he deserved.
I mean, a man dubbed smart and energetic enough to be the team's GM last January was ushered out of the building on Monday.
Is an explanation too much to ask?
"Arrogance" is the word that best defines Mangini all-around, not just in this case. Ya know, this is just a football team, and yet secrets are guarded like it's civil defense or something. Why can't this organization begin establishing an actual relationship with the fans? The freeze began with Belichick—and you can see how the fans and media turned on him, the owner and the team. And that idiotic mentality has permeated the new Browns. Mangini just takes the cake.
Honestly, until the WaterBoy is ushered out of Berea and out of our lives, I don't think the Browns will EVER receive the fan support they think they need and deserve. WE DON'T LIKE YOUR PRODUCT OR THE ARROGANT "LEADER," Mr. Lerner. What aren't you *getting* about that? Get this hack outta here.
Pat,
I feel as though you are still surprised by all of the happenings coming out of Berea/Browns Stadium. That surprises me. The owner and the coach have no clue. None of this is shocking anymore, at least to me.
I hope the reality check has finally hit everyone: this season is lost, it can't be saved, and the reason rhymes with "Derek Cangenie".
I also want to put some blame on an owner who gave all that power to a man who hasn't won a thing in his career. You give that power to a coach with a Super Bowl or two on his resume — as the coach — not as the glorified intern. And someone with some maturity.
Half a season to go… and to think I was actually looking at those final games against Kansas City, Oakland, and Jacksonville and thinking we'd have a shot.
And we wonder "why" Acorsi, Schottenheimer, Cowher, etc. etc. said "NO!" to lerner and the Browns? We wonder WHY???????
Face it, people….this is no longer a football-proud city…it is the armpit of the NFL where no one and I mean NO ONE with any semblance of sanity or regard for their career will ever get involved.
the guy was scum before he ever came to cleveland. me and a few other posters were ridiculed on the peedee forums for ripping on mangini immediately. the responses? "you can't fire mangini after only x number of games!", "he brought discipline to the team!", "give the PROCESS at least three years!". the claim that browns fans are knowledgeable about football is greatly exaggerated.
reports of mangini's unethical behavior have been around since the day he took the jets job. from screwing belichick by taking the job and trying to steal his assistants to ratting out bill when mangini had no problem with spying while in new england. add his poor coaching ("but he had two of three winning seasons"–i heard that moronic quip on nfl live yesterday…yeah, his second winning season got him FIRED) and a player's rebellion and cleveland received a deserved turd storm when he showed up on scene. people who actually watch football when one of the teams is not wearing brown and orange knew that not only was mangini the wrong guy for coach but he was also capable of destroying a franchise.
mangini is a LOSER and a FRAUD. the only way mangini to repent for his behavior in cleveland would be allow every browns fan to spit in his face one after the other.
it's not even worth it to discuss the coward randy lerner. he is earning his spot on my cleveland browns tour of urine soaked gravestones along with his father and art modell.
For those of you who have been on the Duck Tours, up in Boston, I'm sure you also see the business possibilities for Terje's tour idea. We load up the brown and burnt orange golf carts with angry Browns fans. We drive around the Greater Cleveland Area making stops at key locations in our happy franchise's history: Lerner's Learjet, the site of Municipal Stadium, training camp in Berea, etc..
Each stop shouldn't take long, a quick zip-up and away we go. The principal costs will be juicing up the carts and filling the coolers with Carling Black Label. Who's with me!!
Paddy mac,
Please give it a rest. Of course he isn't going to talk about it. He doesn't even talk about injuries or gameplans or the lack thereof. You need to get off your bury-mangini soap box before you fall off. So when the ABJ finally gets tired of your lack of objectivity, are we supposed to get some kind of heart felt statement from them about how much you suck?
Pat,
Have you considered taking a covered dish when interviewing Mangini?
Sure, Mangini is arrogant, but let's speak with some semblance of common sense here. The "GM" was booted, supported by the PR department's press release vetted and gone over with a fine-tooth comb by one or more of the staff lawyers. So why in the hell would Mangini say one damn thing that would undermine their attempt to fire this guy "for cause?" No doubt they're still digging and digging and interviewing folks and going through records to support their case. The first thing any lawyer tells the client to do is keep his damn mouth shut. Which is precisely why Lerner and Mangini and everybody else in the organization will keep their damn mouths shut.
I'm not a Mangini fan, but please. He doesn't owe the media an answer, not in this specific situation and certainly not now. Everything will eventually come out in time, it always does.
Mangini didn't fire anyone..Its not his job to answer those questions..Speaking of arrogant Pat..look in the mirror.