It might seem odd that an offensive line coach fired in midsesason comes with good credentials, but that's the story with the guy the Browns hired to coach the linemen. George Warhop will be the Browns line coach, according to several league insiders who said his hiring is a strong one. Warhop spent the last three-and-a-half seasons in San Francisco, and was swept out after seven games of the 2008 season when San Francisco fired Mike Nolan.

Odd as it sounds given the circumstances of his firing, Warhop comes with strong reviews around the league.

He's vocal, demanding and will not hesitate to tell a player where he stands. He also won't hesitate to tell the team what he thinks about an issue or approach. In short, he sounds like an old-school offensive line coach, a gnarly guy who likes his guys to get muddy and dirty and nasty.

Warhop spent five years in Arizona and two in Dallas before joining the 48ers. When he coached the offensive line, Frank Gore became a Pro Bowl back, running for 1,695, 1,102 and 1.036 yards the last three seasons. Why was he let go? One negative: 49ers quarterback T.J. Sullivan was sacked 29 times in seven games.

"I respect George as a coach and I respect his passion and loyalty to the organization," 49ers GM Scott McCloughan said when his release was announced in October. "It was something, looking at the overall scheme of the team, that we thought would help us from here on out this year."

The Browns have not announced Warhop's hiring, but several insiders said the deal is done.

In general, Mangini is getting high marks for his staff. Special teams coach Brad Seely is considered one of the best. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is considered much better than he could show in Oakland. Defensive line coach Bryan Cox brings the same fire and passion he had as a player with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. Quarterback coach Carl "Tater" Smith is liked league-wide. The main question about Brian Daboll is that he has never called plays. He knows the style offense Mangini wants to run — "game-based, scheme-based" — but has never been a coordinator in the NFL before. Warhop has more than 20 years of coaching experience, more than 10 in the NFL.

On the Cavs …

Injuries to Jameer Nelson and Andrew Bynum will hurt Orlando and the Lakers, but they will not hurt any more than injuries to Z and Delonte West hurt the Cavs. Good teams play through difficult stretches, and the Cavs have done that. We'll see how the Lakers and Magic do it (though it sure helps the Lakers to have a guy like Kobe Bryant available to score 61).