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By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 05:45 p.m. EST, Jan 07, 2009
Browns' ball boys have new reason to dream big.
Eric Mangini completed a storybook rise from that lowly task Wednesday when he reached agreement on a contract to become the fourth coach hired by the Browns since 1999.
Although he interviewed some of the brightest coordinators in the league, owner Randy Lerner was seeking prior coaching experience. That swung the decision in Mangini's favor, along with his reputation as a disciplinarian who works his team hard and reportedly a vow to Lerner that he can win with quarterback Brady Quinn.
Mangini compiled a 23-25 record in three seasons with the New York Jets, including a 10-6 playoff season in his first year in 2006. After a 4-12 season in 2007, the Jets started this season 8-3 but finished 9-7 as quarterback Brett Favre faded down the stretch. Mangini was fired the morning after the season's final game and Lerner was visibly excited when he learned the news during a session with the media.
Turning 38 on Jan. 19, Mangini was the first person Lerner interviewed after firing coach Romeo Crennel and General Manager Phil Savage. The two went 4-12 in 2008 and 24-40 in four years.
''I'm excited for him,'' Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro said of Mangini, his brother-in-law. ''He's an extremely intelligent, creative and driven guy. He will increase the Browns' chances to be a championship team again.
''On a personal level, this is the first time in 18 years in Cleveland that I will have family here and that would be a reason for other family members to come here to visit.''
Terms of Mangini's contract were not disclosed, but ESPN reported it as four-year deal. Mangini's agent is his father-in-law Ron Shapiro.
Mangini will be introduced at a news conference at 9:30 a.m. today in Berea.
According to ESPN's Michael Smith, Mangini will hire Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll, whose contracts are expiring, as his coordinators.
Smith reported that Mangini and Crennel discussed working together, but decided it was best for both to go in a different direction. Crennel and Mangini spent seven years together with the Jets and New England Patriots, with Crennel and his wife Rosemary living with the Manginis while their house was being built in New England.
A protege of former Browns coach Bill Belichick and a graduate of Belichick's alma mater Wesleyan University in Massachusetts, Mangini worked with Belichick for 11 years, although the first was as a ball boy and public relations intern in 1994. Mangini was promoted to coaching assistant in 1995. Mangini spent one season with the Baltimore Ravens as an offensive assistant before rejoining Belichick with the Jets, where Belichick was assistant head coach under Bill Parcells.
Mangini and Belichick were close during Mangini's six years in New England, the last as defensive coordinator succeeding Crennel in 2005. But they no longer speak after Mangini allegedly blew the whistle on the Patriots' illegal taping of defensive signals in the 2007 ''Spygate'' controversy.
Lerner also interviewed New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Lerner was rebuffed by former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, a CBS analyst who intends to sit out for a third season.
Lerner must wait until Sunday to interview Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis, a close friend of Mangini and his suggested candidate for general manager. Kokinis started his pro career with the Browns in 1991 as an intern in the operations department and moved into scouting. Kokinis, 41, like Mangini a native of Connecticut, has worked with Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome for 18 years.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Browns also received permission to interview Eagles General Manager Tom Heckert. WKYC Channel 3 reported Lerner might talk to him on Saturday. Heckert, 41, has been a general manager for three years and with the Eagles for eight. His father Tom was a Browns scout from 1982-86.
Although Heckert does not have final say over the 53-man roster, with that power held by coach Andy Reid, he seems more qualified than Kokinis. But lining up a possible interview with Heckert might only be a fall-back plan by Lerner if his session with Kokinis does not go well or if Lerner does not want to give Mangini the luxury of selecting his own general manager. Lerner is well aware of the disconnect between Savage and Crennel the past two seasons and does not want to repeat that scenario.
The hiring of Mangini means the end of Lerner's courting of Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who was interviewed Dec. 31. Pioli interviewed with the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, but might be leaning towards staying with the Patriots.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
>> Patrick McManamon: Browns' choice just doesn't feel right
>> Mangini acts quickly picking coordinators
>> Be heard: As coach, will Mangini lead the Browns to the playoffs?
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Browns' ball boys have new reason to dream big.
Eric Mangini completed a storybook rise from that lowly task Wednesday when he reached agreement on a contract to become the fourth coach hired by the Browns since 1999.
Although he interviewed some of the brightest coordinators in the league, owner Randy Lerner was seeking prior coaching experience. That swung the decision in Mangini's favor, along with his reputation as a disciplinarian who works his team hard and reportedly a vow to Lerner that he can win with quarterback Brady Quinn.
Mangini compiled a 23-25 record in three seasons with the New York Jets, including a 10-6 playoff season in his first year in 2006. After a 4-12 season in 2007, the Jets started this season 8-3 but finished 9-7 as quarterback Brett Favre faded down the stretch. Mangini was fired the morning after the season's final game and Lerner was visibly excited when he learned the news during a session with the media.
Turning 38 on Jan. 19, Mangini was the first person Lerner interviewed after firing coach Romeo Crennel and General Manager Phil Savage. The two went 4-12 in 2008 and 24-40 in four years.
''I'm excited for him,'' Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro said of Mangini, his brother-in-law. ''He's an extremely intelligent, creative and driven guy. He will increase the Browns' chances to be a championship team again.
''On a personal level, this is the first time in 18 years in Cleveland that I will have family here and that would be a reason for other family members to come here to visit.''
Terms of Mangini's contract were not disclosed, but ESPN reported it as four-year deal. Mangini's agent is his father-in-law Ron Shapiro.
Mangini will be introduced at a news conference at 9:30 a.m. today in Berea.
According to ESPN's Michael Smith, Mangini will hire Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll, whose contracts are expiring, as his coordinators.
Smith reported that Mangini and Crennel discussed working together, but decided it was best for both to go in a different direction. Crennel and Mangini spent seven years together with the Jets and New England Patriots, with Crennel and his wife Rosemary living with the Manginis while their house was being built in New England.
A protege of former Browns coach Bill Belichick and a graduate of Belichick's alma mater Wesleyan University in Massachusetts, Mangini worked with Belichick for 11 years, although the first was as a ball boy and public relations intern in 1994. Mangini was promoted to coaching assistant in 1995. Mangini spent one season with the Baltimore Ravens as an offensive assistant before rejoining Belichick with the Jets, where Belichick was assistant head coach under Bill Parcells.
Mangini and Belichick were close during Mangini's six years in New England, the last as defensive coordinator succeeding Crennel in 2005. But they no longer speak after Mangini allegedly blew the whistle on the Patriots' illegal taping of defensive signals in the 2007 ''Spygate'' controversy.
Lerner also interviewed New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Lerner was rebuffed by former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, a CBS analyst who intends to sit out for a third season.
Lerner must wait until Sunday to interview Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis, a close friend of Mangini and his suggested candidate for general manager. Kokinis started his pro career with the Browns in 1991 as an intern in the operations department and moved into scouting. Kokinis, 41, like Mangini a native of Connecticut, has worked with Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome for 18 years.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Browns also received permission to interview Eagles General Manager Tom Heckert. WKYC Channel 3 reported Lerner might talk to him on Saturday. Heckert, 41, has been a general manager for three years and with the Eagles for eight. His father Tom was a Browns scout from 1982-86.
Although Heckert does not have final say over the 53-man roster, with that power held by coach Andy Reid, he seems more qualified than Kokinis. But lining up a possible interview with Heckert might only be a fall-back plan by Lerner if his session with Kokinis does not go well or if Lerner does not want to give Mangini the luxury of selecting his own general manager. Lerner is well aware of the disconnect between Savage and Crennel the past two seasons and does not want to repeat that scenario.
The hiring of Mangini means the end of Lerner's courting of Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who was interviewed Dec. 31. Pioli interviewed with the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, but might be leaning towards staying with the Patriots.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
>> Patrick McManamon: Browns' choice just doesn't feel right
>> Mangini acts quickly picking coordinators
>> Be heard: As coach, will Mangini lead the Browns to the playoffs?
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 06:08 PM, 01/07/2009
He wasn't exactly that successful in NY. Why should he be any better in Cleveland. An improvement though!
Akron, OH
Posted 06:17 PM, 01/07/2009
I think I underwent a more rigorous, extensive interviewing process to become a teacher. So maybe I should ask for a raise?
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 06:20 PM, 01/07/2009
Once again the Clowns do it backwards, hire the coach them the GM? Lerner is a fool.
Posted 07:02 PM, 01/07/2009
OMG - in this case, have to agree with you 100%. On both the collegiate and pro level, it amazes me how departments/organizations do these wham-bam coaching searches.
Posted 07:32 PM, 01/07/2009
Line up and fall into line. We're all Mangini's Weanies now.
somewhere near you, OH
Posted 07:37 PM, 01/07/2009
I wonder what he did in a past life to deserve this modern day version of Dante's Inferno?
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 07:47 PM, 01/07/2009
who cares?
wow, we got a ballboy.
college football is a thousand times better than what the pro football scene in cleveland is.
maybe he and lerner can eat popcorn in their Brown's p.j.'s and talk over the game plan every saturday night.
did we sign him to a 10 year contract or will that come in an extension next year when he plays .500 ball with one of the leagues easiest schedules?
misery loves company is about all this proves.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 07:49 PM, 01/07/2009
i do think he can lead our team to playoffs: with the contract lerner gave him he could afford all the seats for every player whereever the game is played.
Posted 07:59 PM, 01/07/2009
Wow these people are plain dumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
didnt he just get fired fom the jets?
Hagerstown, MD
Posted 08:32 PM, 01/07/2009
Perhaps one day the right people will lead the Browns back into a respected organization. I don't envy Mangini or whoever becomes GM. This team is lacking talent in so many positions and the salary cap room is limited. No offensive line - can't run -QBs injured too often. Secondary torched way too much. No consistent pass rush. Can't stop the run. Any team that has such a good turnover ratio and looses 12 games is in big trouble. The kicking game is pretty good.
Hope springs eternal.
Posted 09:12 PM, 01/07/2009
This is just a case of one loser Lerner hiring a bigger loser Mangini. Turn in your season tickets fans it going to be a long long time before we see a winning team again if ever.
Posted 09:26 PM, 01/07/2009
Well, in previous years we were all wrongly optimistic about our coaches. Hell, we thought since Crennel was from New England that he would take us right to the top. Perhaps the pessimism is a good thing...we have low expectations so now we can't be let down.
Posted 10:28 PM, 01/07/2009
Once again, you all jump out of your skin to prove you're the worst "fans" around. This is exactly what I expected to find here. Not but a few hours have gone by and you've all got the Browns going 10-54 over the next four years. Why do you all enjoy the pity party so much? Keep it to yourselves. You're making the rest of us ill.
Go Browns!
Archbold, Oh
Posted 10:36 PM, 01/07/2009
Before jumping into Lake Erie without hopes of another winning season in the forseeable future, take a gander over at the message boards at NY Jets and see what they are saying about him. I know he seems like a shadow of the big guy (RAC)...he would get lost in that shadow I believe, but the fans seem to really think that he was not the issue over there. http://forums.newyorkjets.com/showthread.php?t=695
Just saying, let the hiring sink in and let's listen to what he talks about tomorrow. One thing has never been in question with Eric (his football IQ).
Posted 11:08 PM, 01/07/2009
MARK MY WORDS: GOOD HIRE!!!!!!!!
hendersonville, tn
Posted 11:20 PM, 01/07/2009
As a long suffering Jet Fan. I will tell you that this last year appeared to have the owners finger prints on it. First there was the drafting of Ghoston(he may develope in time) then Farve? Mangini was derailed. I've seen them all come and go since 1968. I'm now a Browns Fan. Hopefully the moronic chatter about inability to make adjustments doesn't even get a chance to rear its ugly head. I respect Romeo but Mangini will have the Browns in the Playoffs this year.
Posted 05:35 AM, 01/08/2009
saintpaulbrown, why are you yelling at me. Yes, I'm Mark. And I know those are your words.
Barberton, OH
Posted 05:45 AM, 01/08/2009
Well, at least hiring Mangini wasn't a "PR" move. I wonder if Winslow will stay here now because there are less black coaches? Remember what his father said when the draft was going on about the amount of black coaches that teams had? I liked Winslow Sr, but that was just too much!
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:20 AM, 01/08/2009
Eric Mangini is Mark Shapiro's brother in law so I think it is an interesting choice, though that I think this may be the first time in Browns' history that they hired a coach with previous NFL head coaching experience. Maybe Lerner has learned something?
Meanwhile, GO STEELERS this weekend !!!
barberton, oh
Posted 07:49 AM, 01/08/2009
Manginious was the best out there 2 B had. I am saying it was a good decision on Lerners end, we know we can't say that very often. Playoff talk already, R U kiddin me ? They need an O-Line in the WORST WAY 2 start with. Then we have 2 look for Corners and Linebackers. The players we have in those positions now just SUCK, period.....
Posted 07:56 AM, 01/08/2009
Giving the benefit of the doubt. Remember back to when Bellichek coached here. He was pretty average. Now look where he is. At least, Mangini has coaching experience. But I am willing to wait before passing judgement although I am not totally comfortable with this scenerio. Not ho the Ravens guy at all. We need a GM with experience and he's in NE,
Posted 08:05 AM, 01/08/2009
Here we go again! Hire a coach that doesn't even have a 500 record ... Browns again are losers!!!! I'm no expert on football, but obviously Lerner isn't either! Guess he never wants to see a superbowl ring! Sure Shapiro is happy ... his sister has an income for the next 4 years ... unlike many other Americans.
Posted 09:03 AM, 01/08/2009
I'm lovin' the fact that Rob Ryan is gonna be our D coordinator. Hopefully this gives us the inside track on signing Asomugha.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:29 AM, 01/08/2009
The Sopranos come to Brownstown. Is the Mob taking over the NFL?
Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!
Posted 09:33 AM, 01/08/2009
Wow, look the negative Nancies have shown up in force. Some of you don't have a clue about the NFL. Like Lou Szer, who thinks that your schedule one season is greatly impacted by your record the prior season. Only 2 games on the schedule are dictated by your finishing position the prior year. You still play everybody in your division twice (that's 6 games) and rotate through other divisions in the AFC and NFC. So even if the Browns had been 0-16 in 2007 they still would have had a tough schedule in 2008 (playing the NFC East and AFC South).
This is a good hire, the best available candidate. Nobody else with prior NFL coaching experience was available. Cowher, nope still not going to coach. Shottenheimer, not really interested in it. Holmgren, also likely to take the year off. Shannahan, maybe but he may also take the year off.
So who do all of you geniuses think the Browns should have hired? Some college coach? Another NFL assistanct coach, who may not be able handle the job?
Sure we still need a GM, and normally the GM would be involved in hiring the coach. But Lerner seems to be taking a different approach to things, and I'm willing to see how that goes. Our front office and coaching has been pretty bad over the last 10 years, so maybe a big change in how you do things is needed.
Go Browns.
PS OMG, Steelers will get beat this weekend, or next for sure. No SB for them this year.
Posted 09:42 AM, 01/08/2009
Doug: I agree, I think Rob Ryan will make a huge difference in the defence. That's the big new to me.
Look for the Browns to have a decent season. The schedule is pretty easy next year and is an opportunity for this team to learn that winning breeds winning.
Posted 09:55 AM, 01/08/2009
Anyone who watched the Browns this year had to figure out the demise of the offense was due to injuries, boneheaded play calling and clock mismanagement. Jamal Lewis had another season of 1000 yards. Think that doesn't mean anything? Guess who were the worst two teams in terms of rushing offense...Indy and Arizona...both playoff teams. The QB question has been answered with Quinn and the O-line needs a healthy right side...so, the main problem with the offense? people who can catch the ball and check their attitudes(trade both Edwards and Winslow...whoever called them a cancer was right on the money)). The defense was 14th in passing def., 2nd in interceptions and next to last in sacks...28th overall in rush defense. I'm certainly not a football guru, but isn't the problem obvious? The linebacker four are terrible. Go back to the 4-3, move Wimbley back to DE(isn't that what he played in college?), get rid of Mcginnnnnist(sp) and draft Maualuguaguau or however he spells his name from USC. Stopping the run should be the primary concern.
Posted 11:43 AM, 01/08/2009
This whole Coaching/GM system nowadays in the NFL is so broken, it is not even funny anymore. Experience and Competence is no longer demanded and/or rewarded. Sort of like virtually everything else in the Sports world. Can also apply to business corporations. We are expected to accept inferior products/services/performance, for premium prices.
I can't stand the breathtaking stupidity and selective ignorance anymore.
Posted 11:44 AM, 01/08/2009
Steve and Mr. Pickle are exactly correct. I don't hate the Mangini hire, just don't agree with hire a GM he hand picks.
The problem this past season was the passing game. If you can't throw the ball downfield successfully then defense load up for the short game (running and check downs). It also allows them to use more blitz packages since they aren't afraid of getting hurt with a deep ball, hench, everyone think the OL is horrible. It's not that they're horrible, they just can't handle the defensive fronts that our dismal offensive passing game creates.
On defense, it's all about our LBs. We need to draft Malauga, i think he's the league's next Ray Lewis. With him next to Jackson in the middle and Rodgers in front of them, it should shore up our interior defensive run stopping ability. Our OLBs have to improve on pass rush and outside contain. They need to force the rushers back inside to the MLBs. By that time, the SS should be stepping up for added support.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:29 PM, 01/08/2009
PS: The least improvement in leadership should see the Clowns in the playoff hunt next year for one reason alone: Their abysmal '08 record has earned them a soft '09 schedule.
Man-genius or not. Badda-bing.
hartford, ct
Posted 01:30 PM, 01/08/2009
A protege of former Browns coach Bill Belichick and a graduate of Belichick's alma mater Wesleyan University in Massachusetts...
FYI, Mangini and Belichick graduated from Wesleyan in Middletown, Connecticut, not Massachusetts
