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Do IT this week: Layering
Mangini, Pioli, other candidates hang together, have Cleveland ties, advance in NFL at same time
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:18 a.m. EST, Dec 31, 2008
In the 1990s, they toiled in anonymity, working long hours for low pay under demanding Browns taskmaster Bill Belichick. As they labored, they formed a bond, an almost unspoken fraternity that holds them to this day despite being scattered throughout the NFL and college ranks.
Today, one of them said in reference to another, ''Oh, yeah, he's one of us.''
The group produced ex-Browns General Manager Phil Savage, fired by owner Randy Lerner on Saturday. But Lerner is considering tapping that fraternity again for his next general manager and coach to replace Savage and Romeo Crennel, asked to step down Monday.
Lerner will interview just-fired New York Jets coach Eric Mangini and New England Patriots vice president for player personnel Scott Pioli in the next 24 hours, a league source said this afternoon.
An Associated Press report said Lerner talked to Mangini in the New York area today. Another source said Pioli's interview would likely be conducted on the East Coast since Pioli is already familiar with the Browns' Berea headquarters.
Mangini and Pioli began their NFL careers with the Browns under Belichick.
Mangini, 37, started as a ballboy and public relations intern in 1994 and became a coaches assistant in 1995. Browns beat writers used to call Mangini when the refrigerator in the press room was out of soft drinks. When he became Jets coach in 2006 and faced the Browns that season and in 2007, he took his old role to another level, ordering catered Wednesday lunches for the Browns media.
Pioli, 43, broke in as a pro personnel assistant in 1992 and moved with the team to Baltimore as director of pro personnel in 1996. He just completed his ninth season with the Patriots and his 16th with Belichick, including three when Belichick was a Jets assistant under Bill Parcells, who is Pioli's father-in-law.
Because Pioli is wrapping up end-of-season meetings after the Patriots failed to make the playoffs, he might not have been immediately informed of Lerner's interview with Mangini. The nature of Pioli's and Mangini's relationship is unknown after Mangini was the alleged whistle-blower on Belichick's taping of defensive signals in the 2007 ''Spygate'' controversy.
If Pioli and Mangini could form a team, it might mean ex-Browns coach Romeo Crennel could stay on as defensive coordinator, an option Lerner discussed with Crennel on Monday.
On Monday, Lerner's top priority seemed to be replacing Savage. Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher rebuffed Lerner's overture in a Saturday night meeting in New York. Reports say Cowher might talk to the Jets about replacing Mangini, but the NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported that was merely to inform the Jets he will not coach in 2009, as Cowher also told Lerner.
After Cowher forced Lerner to turn to Plan B, most assumed Lerner would hire the general manager and let him pick the coach. That might still be the case. WKYC (Channel 3) reported today that the Browns have received permission to interview Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager, and that they won't have to wait until the Falcons are eliminated from the playoffs to talk to him.
But Lerner's body language when informed during a media session Monday that Mangini had been fired after three seasons in the Big Apple gave away his interest.
The Jets were 8-3 in 2008 but finished 9-7, mainly because 39-year-old quarterback Brett Favre threw two touchdowns and nine interceptions during the Jets' 1-4 slide. Mangini, who attended Belichick's alma mater of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., was considered a prodigy as he worked 10 years with Belichick, three together as Jets assistants. Mangini spent just one season as defensive coordinator for the Patriots in 2005, succeeding Crennel.
A Boston Globe report said if Pioli were hired as GM, his first choice would be University of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. Ferentz spent 1993-95 as offensive line coach for the Browns, then served as assistant head coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 1996-98 under Ted Marchibroda. Pioli and Ferentz worked together four years with the Browns and Ravens.
After a USA Today story ran in 2006 on the highest-paid college coaches, Ferentz responded with a comment on his Cleveland days. ''I know if I wasn't the lowest-paid offensive line coach in the NFL that I was the second-lowest paid line coach,'' he told the Quad City Times. Coaching the Hawkeyes against South Carolina in Thursday's Outback Bowl, Ferentz is now making a salary of nearly $3 million per year.
The 1994 Browns coaching and scouting staffs also included Alabama coach Nick Saban (defensive coordinator), Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome (director of pro personnel), Fresno State coach Pat Hill (tight ends/assistant offensive line), Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz (college scouting assistant) and Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis (college scouting assistant). Schwartz could also be a candidate for the Browns job.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
In the 1990s, they toiled in anonymity, working long hours for low pay under demanding Browns taskmaster Bill Belichick. As they labored, they formed a bond, an almost unspoken fraternity that holds them to this day despite being scattered throughout the NFL and college ranks.
Today, one of them said in reference to another, ''Oh, yeah, he's one of us.''
The group produced ex-Browns General Manager Phil Savage, fired by owner Randy Lerner on Saturday. But Lerner is considering tapping that fraternity again for his next general manager and coach to replace Savage and Romeo Crennel, asked to step down Monday.
Lerner will interview just-fired New York Jets coach Eric Mangini and New England Patriots vice president for player personnel Scott Pioli in the next 24 hours, a league source said this afternoon.
An Associated Press report said Lerner talked to Mangini in the New York area today. Another source said Pioli's interview would likely be conducted on the East Coast since Pioli is already familiar with the Browns' Berea headquarters.
Mangini and Pioli began their NFL careers with the Browns under Belichick.
Mangini, 37, started as a ballboy and public relations intern in 1994 and became a coaches assistant in 1995. Browns beat writers used to call Mangini when the refrigerator in the press room was out of soft drinks. When he became Jets coach in 2006 and faced the Browns that season and in 2007, he took his old role to another level, ordering catered Wednesday lunches for the Browns media.
Pioli, 43, broke in as a pro personnel assistant in 1992 and moved with the team to Baltimore as director of pro personnel in 1996. He just completed his ninth season with the Patriots and his 16th with Belichick, including three when Belichick was a Jets assistant under Bill Parcells, who is Pioli's father-in-law.
Because Pioli is wrapping up end-of-season meetings after the Patriots failed to make the playoffs, he might not have been immediately informed of Lerner's interview with Mangini. The nature of Pioli's and Mangini's relationship is unknown after Mangini was the alleged whistle-blower on Belichick's taping of defensive signals in the 2007 ''Spygate'' controversy.
If Pioli and Mangini could form a team, it might mean ex-Browns coach Romeo Crennel could stay on as defensive coordinator, an option Lerner discussed with Crennel on Monday.
On Monday, Lerner's top priority seemed to be replacing Savage. Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher rebuffed Lerner's overture in a Saturday night meeting in New York. Reports say Cowher might talk to the Jets about replacing Mangini, but the NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported that was merely to inform the Jets he will not coach in 2009, as Cowher also told Lerner.
After Cowher forced Lerner to turn to Plan B, most assumed Lerner would hire the general manager and let him pick the coach. That might still be the case. WKYC (Channel 3) reported today that the Browns have received permission to interview Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager, and that they won't have to wait until the Falcons are eliminated from the playoffs to talk to him.
But Lerner's body language when informed during a media session Monday that Mangini had been fired after three seasons in the Big Apple gave away his interest.
The Jets were 8-3 in 2008 but finished 9-7, mainly because 39-year-old quarterback Brett Favre threw two touchdowns and nine interceptions during the Jets' 1-4 slide. Mangini, who attended Belichick's alma mater of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., was considered a prodigy as he worked 10 years with Belichick, three together as Jets assistants. Mangini spent just one season as defensive coordinator for the Patriots in 2005, succeeding Crennel.
A Boston Globe report said if Pioli were hired as GM, his first choice would be University of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. Ferentz spent 1993-95 as offensive line coach for the Browns, then served as assistant head coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 1996-98 under Ted Marchibroda. Pioli and Ferentz worked together four years with the Browns and Ravens.
After a USA Today story ran in 2006 on the highest-paid college coaches, Ferentz responded with a comment on his Cleveland days. ''I know if I wasn't the lowest-paid offensive line coach in the NFL that I was the second-lowest paid line coach,'' he told the Quad City Times. Coaching the Hawkeyes against South Carolina in Thursday's Outback Bowl, Ferentz is now making a salary of nearly $3 million per year.
The 1994 Browns coaching and scouting staffs also included Alabama coach Nick Saban (defensive coordinator), Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome (director of pro personnel), Fresno State coach Pat Hill (tight ends/assistant offensive line), Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz (college scouting assistant) and Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis (college scouting assistant). Schwartz could also be a candidate for the Browns job.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
Comments
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Naples, FL
Posted 06:37 AM, 12/31/2008
Please, no college coaches. What Has Ferentz done in the past 5 years to merit ANY consideration as an NFL head coach? Tht is the worst thing that could happen to the Browns.
Urbana, Oh
Posted 06:45 AM, 12/31/2008
wake up Lerner!!!!Cowher turned us down, now don't let Shanahan slip away....he won't last long!!!!!!Leave these other guys in New England
Posted 07:04 AM, 12/31/2008
I still vote for Marty.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 08:13 AM, 12/31/2008
How about Bill Cowher interviewing for the NY Jets job this week after telling the Browns he wasn't interested in coaching in 2009. Speaks volumes about how the NFL views Randy Lerner & his Browns these days - one messed up organization with no chance to win. There is no hope Browns fans. Join the Akron Pittsburgh Steelers fan club today and support a winner. GO STEELERS !!!
Stow, OH
Posted 09:31 AM, 12/31/2008
I'm telling you now, don't think for one minute that winning doesn't start at the top .Randy Lerner in my opinion is too passive,he does not have the knowledge to get a good football guy . I would be camped out at Bill Parcell's house with a blank check and keys to the city waiting for him to get released from his contract.This boob in Cleveland will bring in another retread from New England and we will be starting all over again in 4 years.
Just because he inherited money doesn't make him a good owner,just rich.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:04 AM, 12/31/2008
I still say that Lerner should sell the Browns franchise and that Dolan should sell the Indians franchise.
kraus
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 10:06 AM, 12/31/2008
Forget Parcells,the guys an opportunist.He never stays anywhere too long.It takes a certain incite to find the right people to run a team.Cleveland seems to lack that instinct.Who would have thought a guy like Tomlin would be the head coach at Pitts.?Is he a good coach or did he inherit an great team,time will tell.Point is,he wasn't another retread floating around the NFL.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:12 AM, 12/31/2008
Sorry, Old Man, you wont' get anyone joining your hillbilly Steelers club here. Unlike you, we support our team, we're not frontrunners.
Posted 10:29 AM, 12/31/2008
Parcells or Marty. Let's get a proven winner who has immediately transformed fortunes everywhere he's been. This team needs organization, order, toughness, physicality, aggressiveness, focus and the appropriate mentality. Either of these two would assure all those bases are covered instantaneously. Anyone other than these is merely a hopeful. Maybe he succeeds; maybe he doesn't. Even Cowher inherited a system he and Tomlin have simply had the sense to maintain and honor, contrary to what the Browns have done following the Paul Brown/Blanton Collier eras.
Posted 10:38 AM, 12/31/2008
Keeping Romeo as Defensive Cordinator...genius move...look for more years of the same disappointment
Smethport, Pa
Posted 08:12 PM, 12/31/2008
OldManGrump shame on you. Where is your loyalty? GO BROWNS!!
allentown, pa
Posted 08:52 PM, 12/31/2008
Get Jim Johnson from the Eagles as the defensive co-ordinator for the Browns. Having to watch too many Eagle games out here in eastern PA makes me a believer in his aggressive blitzing style and in his talent. Romeo is a nice old grandfatherly type. Send him back to New England. I don't think he has the personality to be an aggressive, blitzing, demanding coach and one to make adjustments when things aren't working out. Better yet - send him to Pittsburgh.
......, Oh
Posted 09:48 PM, 12/31/2008
OldManGrump I'm behind you 100%
My loyalty lies with the 5 time SUPERBOWL WINNERS
GO STEELERS!!
Wilmington, NC
Posted 10:44 AM, 01/04/2009
No first time coaches. No college coaches. WAKE UP AND TAKE MANGINI! Forget Pioli. He already has a bad attitude if he doesn't jump at this chance.
At least the talk of Tressel has faded away. That would have been the single worst thing this team had ever done.
