DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum The Interviews......continued

But you'd think, if he was all that, he'd pound his chst and say something like,"But despite this I'm going to produce a winner"!

Pioli is sounding less and less spactacular by the day!

The Browns arent in salary cap trouble at all. DA's contract was a 1 year deal, Stallworth was a 1 year deal, I believe Lewis has the same type deal in place. The Browns have done a pretty good job in how they have approached contracts.

oo the Browns dont have a 3rd,5th and 7th. The sky is falling the sky is falling. Come on we have screwed up just about every 3rd round pick we have made in the last 25 years anyway. 7th well who cares. 5th hmm that one is usually our good pick round lol.

I see a guy lik Cowher wants his name out there. He wants people to talk about him but he doesnt want to make a change.

I was telling my dad the same thing about the cap.

i hated last years draft class in general so I wasnt very fond of trading away picks to move up for guys in the draft class. This year is going to be a special draft. We can probably get a 2nd or 3rd for DA anyway. so that will help and with our needs, trading down is highly possible.

Yeah, but we don't have a 2nd or 3rd right now for DA.

This year could be a good draft class, but we're missing a lot of picks. I don't feel moving up for who we did was worth it this past draft.

I agree I'm not too hot on McKay. They've had a great resurgance but it isn't like they have a long-term track record. He has a decent run with his background with Tampa.

I think the Paoli/McDaniels combo is our best option.

yes but their contracts were basicly a series of 1 year deals easily voided. If things didnt work out we had built in escape closes.

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yes but their contracts were basicly a series of 1 year deals easily voided. If things didnt work out we had built in escape closes.

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true.


Trip McCracken: Browns MVP, 2004-08!

I was interested in seeing the other NFL teams FO's and staffs and just comparing prominate members of each.

I'm not going to make some long observation, just posting the link so you can compare if the desire so hits you.

Not alot of prominent GM's etc out there. Even coaching staffs only have a smattering of guys I'd consider to have had great-stellar careers.

I'll just ask...what qualifies these guys in our eyes? Their legend or impression they made in our lives while watched them play?

Does that even equate to a good coach/teacheroffice guy?
From this list, I'm inclined to say no way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_NFL_staffs

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What will the fans do when the HC and the GM Decide Anderson is the better Qb over Quinn

Will the fans burn the city of Cleveland down?

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Personally, I could care less who the better QB is.. as long as they pick one, and stick to it and we win.....

Here's Tony Grossi's take on Mangini/Kokinis, and others. I like his thoughts on McKay teaming up with Mike Mularkey.


Grossi's NFL Insider: A Mangini-Kokinis package is a back to the future move by Browns

January 03, 2009 18:28PM

As Browns owner Randy Lerner moves toward hiring fired Jets coach Eric Mangini, he further reveals his fascination with the Patriots/Bill Belichick management tree.

One NFL executive observing the Browns' GM and coaching search commented, "In these situations, sometimes it's not who interviews first but who interviews last" who makes the biggest impression.
Let's hope so.

After one busy week of interviews, owner Randy Lerner is said to be enamored with Eric Mangini as coach and Scott Pioli as general manager, but he fears that the the two can't co-exist. So Lerner may choose Mangini and let him pick his personnel chief to assure they work arm-in-arm.

It is no secret in the NFL that one of Mangini's best friends in the business is George Kokinis, currently the director of pro personnel for the Baltimore Ravens. If Mangini wants to lure Kokinis as his right-hand man, he would have to formally cede total football authority to Kokinis. Anything less than that and Kokinis would not be able to leave the Ravens.

So how does a Kokinis-Mangini duo grab you?

Wow.

There are good "wows" and bad "wows." A good wow would mean Bill Parcells or Bill Cowher or Mike Shanahan entering the picture.

The other kind of wow is the equivalent of "Are you kidding me?"


Kokinis, 41, is yet another branch of the Bill Belichick tree sown in Cleveland in the early 1990s. As is Mangini. As is Pioli. As is Kirk Ferentz, Pioli's alleged favorite coaching candidate. As was Phil Savage.
The Browns have been obsessed with the Belichick "tree" ever since Belichick departed Cleveland and created a dynasty with the New England Patriots. Nobody has been able to do in Cleveland what Belichick has done in New England. That includes Belichick. So the Browns might want to expand their horizons.

Possible alternatives: Atlanta President Rich McKay reportedly told the Browns not to consider him a candidate for chief football executive until they finish all their due diligence and conduct the rest of their interviews.

You can't blame McKay if he doesn't want to be part of this circus. He is over-qualified for the position Lerner appears to be favoring.

McKay fits as an overseer, an experienced football executive who could re-establish the Browns' football culture by hiring his own general manager-type and coach.

He also is a polished public communicator and would bring to the Browns a much-needed expertise in law. The Princeton-educated McKay was a licensed attorney and was Tampa Bay's chief legal counsel before embarking as a football executive. You don't think McKay could have prevented the fiasco that unfolded this year with Kellen Winslow?

McKay's critics in Atlanta point to his decisions to give Michael Vick a $100 million contract extension and to hire Bobby Petrino as coach as great failings. They certainly were decisions McKay wished he'd have back. But they shouldn't be held against McKay in connection with the Browns' job. Better for McKay to commit those mistakes elsewhere and learn from them.

After all, that's the rationale for hiring Mangini. He's made his mistakes and should be a better head coach the second time around.

Which brings us to: Mike Mularkey.
The former Bills head coach and current Atlanta offensive coordinator has the same qualifications as Mangini with one important addition -- he knows the AFC North.

Mularkey was Cowher's tight ends coach in Pittsburgh from 1996 through 2000 and his offensive coordinator from 2001 through '03. That affiliation alone should merit Mularkey an interview, but he also has the experience of Buffalo head coach in 2004 and '05.

Like Mangini, Mularkey made his mistakes his first time around. He was 9-7 his first season and 5-11 the second year after he replaced Drew Bledsoe with J.P. Losman. Mularkey also inherited some coaches with whom he didn't see eye to eye.

After owner Ralph Wilson replaced Tom Donahoe as general manager with Marv Levy, Mularkey resigned and forfeited a year owed him if he had been fired.

Mularkey spent the next two seasons with Miami before landing as coordinator under first-year Atlanta coach Mike Smith. Under Mularkey's supervision, Falcons No. 1 pick Matt Ryan was a runaway winner of the league's offensive rookie of the year award and Atlanta made the playoffs with an 11-5 record.

Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson both would benefit under Mularkey as head coach.

Cowher power: The Browns believe Cowher is serious in not wanting to coach in 2009, but they may give him a chance to change his mind.

Cowher's credibility was enhanced when he declined to sit down with the Jets about their opening after most in the New York media reported it would happen. During that weird 24-hour period in which Cowher was reported to be meeting with the Jets, the Browns received assurances from Cowher's people that it wouldn't happen -- and it didn't.

Also, the theory Cowher would not coach for the Browns out of loyalty to the Rooney family and Pittsburgh was debunked in Lerner's sit-down with Cowher. Cowher wants to coach in a passionate football city like Pittsburgh, and Cleveland is high on his list. He simply wants to sit out another year. In fact, a source said Cowher jokingly asked, "Can you wait a year?"

Cable guy: Looking for a totally outside-the-box coaching candidate? Check out what Tom Cable did as interim coach of the Oakland Raiders.
The disciple of offensive line guru Alex Gibbs took over as Raiders coach after Al Davis fired Lane Kiffin in that classic, haunting press conference. As dysfunctional as that situation was, Cable over time restored some professionalism to the team and provided toughness in the offense, particularly the running game.

The Raiders were 4-8 under Cable after winning their last two games in impressive fashion over Houston at home and then on the road against Tampa Bay.

Cable is a run-first coach who might not have enough flash in the passing game to be retained by Davis. He would be an interesting candidate to interview.

As someone in one of these threads said......They're not trotting out Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn to the media to talk about what's been happening because they're gonna get rid of them. It's because they want them as the face of the franchise.

The DA pimps should just let it go. Derek will be gone before we have to pay his roster bonus (in March, I think).

Yes, the roster bonus is due in March.....5 mill worth......bye DA....

Not to mention, I just heard Adam Schefter say that 2010 is going to be an uncapped year and teams won't be able to move cap money into that year. So 2009 is going to be a tough year on resigning RFA's or FA's if you're close to the cap already.

It's been brought up that we're not in great cap shape right now after Savage, so any cap guru's know where we really are?

Is Lerner going to interview Mckay now that the Falcons lost?

Or does Mckay want to be out of the running all together?

If Grossi's correct, it sounds like he told Lerner to talk to all the others and then give him a call. A little arrogant, or else a confident guy who is comfortable where he is ... or both.

Thanks, sounds like Mckay wants Lerners best offer and not to be used as a pawn to lure other candidates.

I like Mckays resume, but Im afraid he is happy where he is.

j/c

While we're bandying back and forth about we want, an experienced coach, a college coach or a coordinator or whom or whatever, I thought I'd take a look back at the last 20 coaches to win the super bowl, since that's ultimately the kind of coach we want and what they were doing before before becoming that teams HC.

Draw your own conclusions, if any.

Super Bowl Winning coaches last 20 (year played in, not season for)

1989 - Bill Walsh - HC since 79 - was Stanford's HC - retired, hand picked Seifert to succeed him.
1990 - George Seifert - Rookie HC - was DC for San Francisco (took over Walsh's team - current champs)
1991 - Bill Parcells - internal hiring from DC in 83
1992 - Joe Gibbs - HC since 1981 - was OC for San Diego
1993 - Jimmy Johnson - HC since 89 - was HC for College Miami
1994 - Jimmy Johnson - (Dallas) again
1995 - George Seifert - (San Francisco) again
1996 - Barry Switzer - Oklahoma HC - retired after the 88 season (give him some love, he beat pittsburgh and yes he took over Jones's team two years earlier)
1997 - Mike Holmgren - HC since 92 - was OC with San Francisco
1998 - Mike Shanahan - HC since 95 - was OC for San Francisco previous was HC for da raiders (fired)
1999 - Mike Shanahan - (Denver) again
2000 - Dick Vermeil - HC since 97 - was HC with Eagles retired in 82
2001 - Brian Billick - HC since 99 was OC for Vikings
2002 - Bill Belichick - HC since 2000 was asst HC and DBC for Jets
2003 - Jon Gruden - HC since 2002 - was HC for raiders - traded to Tampa Bay was raiders OC before the HC gig.
2004 - Bill Belichick - (New England) again
2005 - Bill Belichick - (New England) again
2006 - Bill Cowher - HC since 92 was DC for Kansas City
2007 - Tony Dungy - HC since 2002 - was HC for Tampa Bay (fired)
2008 - Tom Coughlin - HC since 2004 - was Jags HC (fired)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/98295...ch-jobs-in-2009

Steve Mariucci to the Cleveland Browns

Bill Cowher to Cleveland Browns: I'm just not that that into you.

It's sad. The Browns deserve Cowher, and unfortunately, it's not to be. It would've made for a wonderful story, and we all know how much the NFL loves those. But it's time to look in a different direction.

How about they head to another television studio and see what Steve Mariucci is up to?

Cleveland's desire to bring in Cowher shows how much they want a true head coach roaming their sidelines—a guy who's comfortable making tough decisions for the better of the season.

The fiasco in Detroit a few years ago may have turned the Mooch off from coaching for a while, but it's worth finding out if he’s healed from the scars.

Going into Cleveland will give Mariucci a very talented team in desperate need of his offensive guidance. It will give them a guy who knows how to handle the strain of being a head coach and who knows how to get the best from his players.

With the uninspired approach to football the Browns had in 2008, I can't think of anything more necessary than Mariucci. Does Cleveland really want to play the coordinator game again?
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I'd Love to Get Mooch

Wonder why Randy is not talking to him, this guy is probably the 2nd best option out there to Shanahan...EXCEPT Mooch would not want Full control

Why not hire him? He is a better Candidate than Mangini

I actually forgot about him. I always have liked Mooch.

j/c

Triv just came on WTAM (Bob's show) and announced its Mangini unless the bottom falls out of negotiations - which are expected to complete in the next day or so.

So - nothing final - but the strongest statements for a final decision thus far.

Trying to find a link to someone following up in print. Sure it'll be on cleveland.com shortly.

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Yes, the roster bonus is due in March.....5 mill worth......bye DA....

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I don't know about that Shep.. I think it's gonna depend on the thinking of the new GM and Coach.. Conventional thinking that has been around the Browns for years would lead me to believe you would be right... but not so fast... new guys=new ideas=new thinking... to be honest, we could use all of that.

When and if the contract is signed, I'll be very much relieved.

Until then?

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As someone in one of these threads said......They're not trotting out Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn to the media to talk about what's been happening because they're gonna get rid of them. It's because they want them as the face of the franchise.

The DA pimps should just let it go. Derek will be gone before we have to pay his roster bonus (in March, I think).

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I think that's a pretty clear perception that they want these two guys to be the face of the Browns going forward..

The only hitch in the plan is, what if the new HC and GM decide that DA is the better fit for what they want to do going forward.

I just wouldn't count on DA being gone... I would say it's NOT an absolute.

Possible,, yes,, probable,, I think so,,, guaranteed..No, not at all.

True - especialy in this business, but Triv rarely comes out and says something unless he's got it from a reliable source.

I agree with you there. No qualms with him.

It's the "unless something breaks down" part that has me eating the Tums.

http://www.cleveland.com/budshaw/index.ssf/2009/01/bud_shaws_sunday_sports_spin_b_1.html

Bud Shaw's Sunday Sports Spin: Browns can't run, so why is Lerner rushing?

by Bud Shaw/Plain Dealer Columnist Saturday January 03, 2009, 10:51 PM

Eric Mangini looks to be the Browns' leading candidate

That's fine. So long as there isn't a rush to judgment.

(Wait, I'm being told there is a rush for some reason)

The Browns have waited 10 years to find the right coach. You'd think they'd be able to wait two more weeks for Mike Shanahan to return from vacation with his family.

Maybe Shanahan's agent is letting teams quietly know he's leaning toward taking a year off. But that was the word on Bill Cowher, too, and Randy Lerner still went directly to Cowher to get an answer. Do the same with Shanahan.

I mean, Lerner waited for Romeo Crennel like the French waited for Charles Lindbergh. He can't wait until mid-January to meet with a coach whose Broncos teams have specialized in good quarterback play and solid running games over the years?

If Shanahan isn't demanding complete control and a stadium immediately named in his honor, Lerner should want to hear from him before making any decision, no?

Shanahan's Broncos blew a historic three-game division lead with three to go. That doesn't speak well. His work as a GM should rule him out of the dual role in his next job.
I get that. But in the meantime, Mangini's Jets were 8-3 and won one of their last five.

Lerner was all about a brand-name coach before Cowher turned him down. Shanahan is a copyrighted brand.

The name on Mangini's door is Belichick.

Scott Pioli is said to have "extreme" demands

Why would Pioli be asking for so much?

Patriots ... Browns ... what's the difference?

Other than those Super Bowl trophies, all the winning seasons, that incredible 16-0 run in 2007, the organizational excellence and consistency not to mention the proven ownership, a job's a job.

I don't know who's at the top of the Pioli's list -- speculation is it's Iowa's Kirk Ferentz -- but ask yourself this question:

You feel better about Lerner picking the next coach without input from a GM, rather than Pioli or Atlanta's Rich McKay directing the interview process and then calling Lerner as it's narrowed to a top two or three?

Or any process, other than Lerner being fascinated by Mangini and hiring him before the GM.

If Lerner doesn't land Pioli and throws in with Mangini, Tony Grossi reports that Baltimore's George Kokinis could become a leading candidate for GM. So if you're keeping track, that would mean hiring an assistant to Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore as the new Browns front office leader and a former Belichick assistant as head coach.

Granted, Mangini has three years of head coaching experience.

Still, that's change you can believe in?

Short sighted.

We may hire our HC now and our GM in March.



Who knows? But everybody thinking they know more than the guy paying the bill? ( Shaw? )

I don't buy it.

I guess Shaw believes we should wait around and pick from the scraps that are leftover later?

No thanks.

I'm all for waiting for Shanahan. If it really would just be a matter of a couple weeks and he would definitely meet w/ Lerner.

Mangini was fired for reasons.

If you check out the NY media (NY Post and others). Some feel the reasons range from poor adjustments, bad game plans and poor clock management. Wow! does that sound familiar.

Some think he was the problem others feel he was a scapegoat.

One guy feels he will never get another NFL job because he sold out his former bosses Belicheck and Pioli with the spygate drama. Which was major bridge burning.

It has been stated we want an experienced head coach. Yet Marty, Billick, Shanahan, Cowher, & Holmgren ( 4 out of 5 won Super Bowls) are not on the radar. Some because they say they are not interested others because of timing.

It was stated in the PD that the Browns research found it is more important to find the coach than the GM. Really?

I am very concerned about hiring Mangini and letting him pick his buddy Kokinis than hiring Pioli and letting him bring in his guy be it Frentz or McDaniels.

Look for Shanahan to wait and see what happens with the Cowboys and the Colts coaching situations before he would even considertalking to Mr. Lerner..