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Legal battle could follow Browns' ouster of Kokinis
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They would have to wait if they want to hire him
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 11:14 a.m. EST, Jan 12, 2009
Browns owner Randy Lerner interviewed Baltimore Ravens Director of Pro Personnel George Kokinis on Sunday, and their meeting reportedly went well. But the possibility of hiring Kokinis as general manager to partner with coach Eric Mangini will have to wait.
The Ravens advanced to the AFC Championship Game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, making Kokinis unavailable to join the Browns until their playoff run ends. That could be after the Super Bowl Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla.
The delay will give Lerner time to consider other candidates. He vowed Friday to be ''thorough and thoughtful'' in his search and said he thought that there was less urgency in finding a general manager thanhiring a coach. As of Monday morning, no other interviews had been scheduled, a source said.
Kokinis began his pro career as an intern in the Browns' operations department in 1991, then moved into scouting. He has worked with Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome for 18 years. Kokinis met Mangini in 1994, when Mangini served as a Browns ball boy and public relations intern, and they were roommates for a time.
One of the main focuses of Mangini's week will be filling his coaching staff. New York Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll is expected to be named offensive coordinator and Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan should be picked for that same post. By some reports, Ryan is already at work since his contract with the Raiders was expiring.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
Browns owner Randy Lerner interviewed Baltimore Ravens Director of Pro Personnel George Kokinis on Sunday, and their meeting reportedly went well. But the possibility of hiring Kokinis as general manager to partner with coach Eric Mangini will have to wait.
The Ravens advanced to the AFC Championship Game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, making Kokinis unavailable to join the Browns until their playoff run ends. That could be after the Super Bowl Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla.
The delay will give Lerner time to consider other candidates. He vowed Friday to be ''thorough and thoughtful'' in his search and said he thought that there was less urgency in finding a general manager thanhiring a coach. As of Monday morning, no other interviews had been scheduled, a source said.
Kokinis began his pro career as an intern in the Browns' operations department in 1991, then moved into scouting. He has worked with Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome for 18 years. Kokinis met Mangini in 1994, when Mangini served as a Browns ball boy and public relations intern, and they were roommates for a time.
One of the main focuses of Mangini's week will be filling his coaching staff. New York Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll is expected to be named offensive coordinator and Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan should be picked for that same post. By some reports, Ryan is already at work since his contract with the Raiders was expiring.
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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Stow, OH
Posted 11:49 AM, 01/12/2009
With the NFL draft looming on the horizon and the Browns need to fill many positions that are seriously lacking in talent ,I fail to see Lerners logic that the coaching position is a more urgent post to fill.Especially when there are many more coaches available than there are GM candidates.A good GM will have to have good people under him evaluating the talent available in the draft and the NFL combine . Mangini will only have a partial role in drafting talent.
We are doomed to keep repeating the same blunders all over again as long as Lerner thinks he knows what he is doing .Franchises win because of their system they have set up ,not just because of a coach,or a GM .Yes ,I am grateful we have a team ,but Lerner is the broken link in the chain,the Emperor has no clothes and doesn't know it .
A, O
Posted 12:03 PM, 01/12/2009
Go Ravens!!!!
Ravenna, OH
Posted 12:19 PM, 01/12/2009
They should let Model take the name too. Then the Browns would have won a Superbowl. Cleveland is not smart enough to have a professional team.
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 01:12 PM, 01/12/2009
Not Brainwashed by the Media; hey,the Indians and Cavs are doing ok.The Browns are not the only game in Cleveland.People have to forget the Browns of the Paul Brown era,that's gone forever.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 02:44 PM, 01/12/2009
GO STEELERS !!! Who gives a flip about who the GM for the Browns is. Whoever ends up with the job will be a Savage type failure. The curse of Art Modell & Paul Brown is on the 1999 new team colors and name forever.
Posted 05:30 PM, 01/12/2009
Ye of little faith !I am a die hard Browns Fan win
or loose.I really believe the Browns will be a win-
ning team again.If,Lerner stays out of the operations of the team.If the New General Manager,
and Mangini goes out and gets us some quality play-
ers and not some high priced over the hill players,
but players who can make a difference on the field
and not give up when the chips are down.The Browns
are my team for life.GO BROWNS1
San Diego, CA
Posted 09:47 PM, 01/12/2009
Since it's the Ravens against the stillers in the AFC championship game, how many of you have become Cardinals or Eagles fans...whomever wins that other game this weekend? Since it's impossible for both teams to lose (Ravens and Steelers) I'll be an Eagles fan for a couple of weeks!!
Posted 10:47 PM, 01/12/2009
Grump,
Do you drive a Gran Torino? I will say that I was quite impressed with Wafflesburger over the weekend. I didn't see the lingering effects that I hoped to see. Still, he'd better be just as sharp against the Ravens or Heinz Ward is going to be crying in his helmet again. Once again, the Steelers were the beneficiaries of lucky bounces. They should change their name to the Pittsburgh Lucky Bounces.
As far as GM for the Browns, you people need to relax. There are plenty of people in the organization to make GM type or managerial decisions. Besides, right now, the GM normally would be on vacation in Hawaii. Lerner has plenty of time.
San Antonio, TX
Posted 01:49 PM, 01/13/2009
This season has been a dissappoint in so many ways. First our guys under achieved,the coach was clueless on how to right the ship and the fans and players began pointing fingers. Not playing the young guys at the end was a misstake. Well at least we got to see plenty of quarter backs. How special. We can't even dawg out the Steeler fans. The Steelers once again had a fantastic season. They had plenty of injuries and figured out how to win. Untill we win the Steeler fans will rightfully so dawg us out. Okay so we have Mangini not my first thought. Gee, the coach of Denver was available before Lerner made a choice. He didn't even interview him. For better or worse we have Mangini and I hope it is for the better. GO BROWNS
San Antonio Bill
Smethport, Pa
Posted 12:02 AM, 01/19/2009
old man, we Browns fans care. if you hate the Browns so much why don't you find another hobby. i, for one, will always bleed orange and brown. GO BROWNS
