DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Kosar back as official advisor to Randy Lerner

LINK


Bernie's back -- Kosar joins Browns as consultant to Randy Lerner: NFL

Insider
By Tony Grossi
October 17, 2009, 2:22PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar has reached a working agreement with owner Randy Lerner to serve as a team consultant.

No formal announcement may be made and no specific duties have been outlined. But the two men reached an accord last week and Kosar spent several days in the inner sanctum of the football organization now controlled by coach Eric Mangini.

According to a league source, Lerner values Kosar as "another set of eyes." Kosar essentially reports to the owner.

Lerner has tried to woo Kosar into a role with the Browns for several years, including an informal overture to be club president a few years ago. But Kosar consistently declined to relocate from his home base in Weston, Fla., because of business and personal commitments.

Kosar, 45, has gone through some highly publicized tough times, first a messy divorce from his wife, Babette, and then personal bankruptcy. In the bankruptcy filing in June, Kosar listed $1.5 million in debt owed the Browns.

In between those traumatic changes of life, Kosar acquired executive experience as president of the Cleveland Gladiators. The club folded after one season when the Arena Football League went out of business.

"I've got a little more time now to do it," Kosar said of accepting Lerner's invitation. "I'm getting my personal life in order. I still miss football and the Arena thing whetted my appetite."

Kosar said he was unsure how much time he would spend in Cleveland. He has four children living in Weston. He said he doesn't know where the situation will lead.

"I want to make sure it's comfortable as a fit and make sure I can help," he said. "I want to be sensitive to all the time and work the coaches put into the job. They've been great to me."

Kosar does not have a history with Mangini, who joined the old Browns as a ballboy and then PR intern in 1994 -- the season after Kosar was released. Mangini, of course, would then be taken under the wing of coach Bill Belichick, with whom Kosar sparred.

The irony is that Kosar and Belichick grew closer long after their infamous parting and Mangini and Belichick grew far apart. The common ground of Belichick and Mangini is their insistence on strict discipline to build a solid team structure.

Truth is, Kosar always respected that aspect of Belichick's coaching.

"He knows you need structure in order to win," a league source closely familiar with Kosar said. "When you don't have structure, it becomes chaos."

Nobody knows how this dynamic will work in Lerner's organization chart. On the business side is President Mike Keenan and David Jenkins, vice president of finance and administration. On the football side is Mangini, General Manager George Kokinis, and Dawn Aponte, vice president of football administration.

Then there's Kosar and Jim Brown, executive advisor, reporting directly to Lerner.

I have a feeling that ManKok is not going to like this....

Welcome back Bernie! Great move Mr. Lerner!

If it puts a better team on the field, welcome home Bernie.
If it doesn't... who the hell cares?

I have a feeling that this was just made official but he has been doing it for a long time.

Bernie is a smart guy,.,, don't think anyone would question that.. He did get himself into a bit of a financial mess, but he's not the only one this past year... so I guess that can happen to anyone..

I think there are things that Bernie can see about the team performance that Lerner just doesn't know enough to notice. That's gotta help..

We'll see I guess...

Sounds like Lerner picking the brain of the most beloved Brown from the glory years. "Bernie, how do I get to these fans hearts"!

I don't think it's about performance. That would be an insult to Mangini and open a whole nother can of worms!

Quote:

---

I don't think it's about performance. That would be an insult to Mangini and open a whole nother can of worms!

---

I'm not suggesting he heed every word that comes out of Bernies mouth.. but since Lerner isn't a "football guy" in any sense other than the owner, he could be easily led astray. With Kosar in the room,, his knowledge of the game kinda puts the stop to that.. I"m not saying that Mangini or Kokinis would try to throw one past Lerner,, but now with Bernie in the room,, they can't.

If Mangini is threatened by that, perhaps he shouldn't be here....

Interesting move and on the surface a welcomed move for the fans who still love Bernie. Without knowing more about his duties and responsibilities it's difficult to form an opinion of the value of this move.

I can just imagine Bernie and Randy watching games together

BK "Hey Randy, look...Browns have the ball 2nd and 1...we have man coverage...this is a gimme play...we should take a shot deep."

Randy "This is going to be exciting."

Jim Donovan " Anderson hands off to Jerome Harrison up the middle, loss of 1 yard."

Welcome back Bernie. Nice name for a sitcom but this can not be good for Mangini in any possible way. You take one of the best ever at dissecting a defense observing the worst offensive coordinator in Browns history. Wonder what he will be whispering to Randy watching Daboll run a screen pass on 3rd and 2 lol

... or a draw on 3rd and 12.

First reaction is "Hallelujah." He may bring some more mud to the Pond and Berea, but a pro player guy who can help improve us is welcome. Anything for notches. Will sell tickets I'm sure (or maybe prevent the cancellations a bit). I love the guy's heart; we need more of this kind of passion for the franchise. But Jim Brown is there; arguable effectiveness on the field in terms of notches. Lots of luck! Welcome back! Sign him to the practice squad!

Great news!

I'd like it much more if the whole thing didn't sound so nebulous.On one hand they tout the importance of structure and then report the job is kinda vague.


That aside,I'm still glad to hear it because I think BK really knows football the juries still out for me on Mankinis. Randy getting football opinions from other than from Mansneaky sounds like a good thing to me.

Why can't he just take over and be offensive coordinator, now wouldn't that be something?

j/c

PUT HIM IN COACH... He's the best QB in the organization!

If he has a real role, and isn't just a PR figurehead, then I view this as a positive development. If I'm Mangini or Kokinis, I view it as a red flag ... a football man - other than yourself - has the owner's ear. I have a feeling Kosar will get a frosty reception from the football operations side of things, which is a shame because he has a lot to offer in helping the development of our QB - whoever it ends up being.

It looks like Kosar is doing more than just PR work.
From Terry Pluto :

While the Browns never thought Derek Anderson was lazy, they have been excited to see the quarterback raising the level of his work ethic. He has been staying past 10 p.m. to study game films and help with game planning. He has been spending extra time with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and with former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, who has been working with the coaching staff recently, to review game film and help devise game plans. Anderson remained positive after losing the starting job to Brady Quinn at the beginning of the season, and he seems especially motivated now that he has been given a chance to start

Well, if nothing else, this ought to be interesting...

That is good news - thanks for the 411.

Throw out the kneeldown!

Man I feel bad for Bernie. Breaking down film with dumb and dumber.

Quote:

---

I think there are things that Bernie can see about the team performance that Lerner just doesn't know enough to notice.

---

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe Lerner isn't as dumb as most here assume. On the one hand he is hearing Mangini's take on what is going on, on the other hand he is seeing the poor product on the field. Sounds like Randy want another opinion....good move Mr. Lerner.

On the surface of this move you have to respect Lerner for attempting to bring in people to make the club better. People the fans already respect. If it's true he's been after him a long time and finally snagged him, great, whatever the backstory is I'm not sure it matters. Lerner is trying to make a positive move.

He's gonna be doing more than I thought he would... the guy ain't just a hood ornament to trot out to banquets. Poor Daboll...

Quote:

---

On WKNR AM/850 on Monday, Kosar said, "I've got to figure out what we are doing offensively before I can even try to give input because there are a lot of guys putting in a lot of effort and trying hard, but not making plays and scoring points. It's hard to watch.

"The first phase of it ... is just learning what they are doing and what's going on so that I can render an opinion and eventually try to help the offense.

"You see the disaster that's going on in Washington right now. Sherman Lewis comes in as a consultant and then a week later they name him today as the play caller. That's not the direction I'm going here with the Browns."

---

Bernie's 1st order of business should be to go into Lerners office and smack him around for a minute or 2. Knock some sense into him.

Quote:

---

Oh I see a short shelf life for Daboll..

---

Daboll is the youngest OC in the league.. It could be that it's too early to throw him away.. Let's be honest, he doesn't have top shelf talent to work with.

But still, we should be able to have scored more than we have. Hopefully Bernie can get to the issues and help solve them.

That's one way of thinking,, But then I look at what Denver is doing with Kyle Orton as thier starter and I say,, Holy smokes.. How could that be?

Kyle Orton is a solid QB when he has some players around him.

Daboll is the youngest OC in the league.. It could be that it's too early to throw him away..

Can we stop with the never-had-experienced OC's???

This mega-mistake is a common repeat of the Browns..instead of turning the offense over to a proven OC after seeing years of scew-ups with inexperienced ones , I'd think the new HC wouldn't go down that road again..
Nope..bring in a underling whom U can control..then argue with him about what the the heck he's calling..

Could have been avoided by bringing in someone with some cred..

I think bringing in Kosar is a mistake. To me it screams Ron Wolf all over again. Mangini comes across as a bit stubbon and set in his ways. Hope I am wrong but I dont see this ending positively.

How..? I think it's a good move..this organization hasn't been run right at all..

Here's a thought..Pioli told Lerner he was going to have to rebuild this team..Lerner didn't want to hear that..
Now just what has Mangini done since he settled in?
Tore it down..same thing SP was going to do.
Mangini wouldn't have been my first choice..I'm giving the guy a chance but he wasn't my cup of tea...

I have no problem with this yet..I'll wait and see what transpires first.

Quote:

---

Can we stop with the never-had-experienced OC's???

---

Wow, your head must be hurting

I agree,, but he's here now.. the only alternative is to do with Buffalo did,, Dumb him and put someone else in charge. I think that might be just as bad.. as it seems to be in Buffalo.

The alternative is bring in someone that has a history of making an Offense run from the players perspective.. Kosar fits that mold..

Quote:

---

I think bringing in Kosar is a mistake. To me it screams Ron Wolf all over again.

---

I can't agree with you on that. Basically, who cares.. Manginis pick as an OC hasn't exactly lit things up.. so setting a fire under them isn't a bad idea. And frankly, if Mangini can't see that what the owner is trying to do is to bring him some help, then man,, he can say good bye..

Quote:

---

The alternative is bring in someone that has a history of making an Offense run from the players perspective.. Kosar fits that mold.

---

So did Carthon.