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Kokinis escorted out of building in Cleveland
Posted by Mike Florio on November 2, 2009 6:35 PM ET
There's a very strong rumor in league circles that the Cleveland Browns escorted G.M. George Kokinis out of the building today, the first business day into the team's bye week.
Jay Glazer has heard the same thing, and he'll be posting something soon at FOXSports.com.
For now, it's a rumor -- but a very, very strong one. (Or just "very". We're on the fence about it.)
Recently, the Browns fired Erin O'Brien, the director of football operations. O'Brien served as coach Eric Mangini's personal assistant when Mangini was the head coach of the Jets.
Kokinis was hand picked by Mangini to be the G.M. In many cities, the General Manager supervises the head coach and holds "final say" authority over the roster. In Cleveland, Kokinis is (was?) second fiddle to Mangini.
There previously had been speculation in league circles that Mangini would throw Kokinis under the bus if necessary to save Mangini's job. If the rumor of Kokinis' departure is accurate, the speculation will now be that Mangini sacrificed Kokinis now in order to get through the rest of the year, and possibly beyond.
UPDATE: We're hearing the same information from more and more sources, including one source who witnessed Kokinis collect his things and exit the building.
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Seems to me that the Browns firing Kokinis is like the Browns firing my dog Buck. Neither of them really had much influence on the Browns.
The implications could be far felt, though. Opens the door for a strong GM/President...
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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Glazer: Odd rumblings coming out of Cleveland
by Jay Glazer
Jay Glazer is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com on MSN and also appears every week on FOX NFL Sunday as the network's NFL Insider. For the latest Glazer scoopage, both on and off the field, click here.
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Updated: November 2, 2009, 6:53 PM EST 0 comments
Rumblings out of Cleveland on Monday suggest that something went down in the front office. But it's unclear what exactly has happened, if anything.
Several sources told FOXSports.com that general manager George Kokinis was escorted from the building at some point Monday. Two other sources believe that Kokinis has been fired, though another source inside the building maintains he has not heard that.
I'm still trying to get to the bottom of what, if anything, has happened one day after owner Randy Lerner said he was "sick" of losing, but also said he would not fire head coach Eric Mangini this week, the team's bye week.
Kokinis was hired as GM in January of this year after serving as director of pro personnel for the Ravens for the last six years.
Let me be clear: I am not reporting that the Browns have fired Kokinis. But with all the buzz I'm hearing out of Cleveland, it appears that something may have gone down on Monday.
Stay tuned...
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This will probably get deleted. But if true it is crazy.
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http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2009/11/sources_cleveland_browns_gm_ge.htmlSources: Cleveland Browns GM George Kokinis escorted out by security By Mary Kay Cabot November 02, 2009, 6:58PM Browns general manager George Kokinis was escorted out of the Browns facility in Berea by security, two league sources told the Plain Dealer. The Browns were not immediately available for comment. Kokinis was handpicked by Browns coach Eric Mangini to be his general manager, but was barely heard from after his hiring in January. Browns owner Randy Lerner said after the 30-6 loss to the Bears on Sunday that he was looking for a "strong, serious, credible'' leader to guide and explain decisions. Kokinis had 18 years' NFL experience, including 13 with the Ravens. Detail to come.
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Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
#GMSTRONG
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I was waiting to post this since it was still in rumor mode and didn't want it getting axed. But since someone else was the guinea pig, let's have at it.
PFT said they talked to someone who witnessed it go down. If he was escorted out, I would think that the Cleveland Browns are no longer his employer.
![[Linked Image from pic18.picturetrail.com]](http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL905/3216203/6567769/349897772.jpg) "The Browns' defense is kicking mucho dupa."
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Browns have had consultant "in the building" the past week
Posted by Mike Florio on November 2, 2009 6:59 PM ET
As we continue to hear from more and more folks that (possibly former) Browns G.M. George Kokinis was escorted out of the Browns' facility on Monday, we're told that the Browns have had a consultant "in the building" for the past week.
Though there's no specific evidence at this point that a connection exists between Kokinis' departure and the presence of a consultant, the leap of logic is slightly smaller than the Snake River Canyon.
Given the recent termination of director of football operations Erin O'Brien, it's also possible that the "consultant" was retained not only to help improve the franchise, but also to develop evidence to support the termination of one or more officials with cause, which would block their entitlement to ongoing salary for the duration of their contracts.
Owner Randy Lerner currently is paying the ongoing wages of former coach Romeo Crennel and former G.M. Phil Savage.
Lerner suggested Sunday that he would like to hire an upper-level executive. Lerner's words implied that he's interested in someone who would essentially run the football operations and supervise the head coach and the General Manager. It could be that the new hire will operate essentially as a G.M., possibly with some of the scouting duties deferred to a director of player personnel.
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They are comfirming this on Channel three on The Point After right now..
Also, the plain dealers Grossi has just confirmed it as well..
#GMSTRONG
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Daniel Patrick Moynahan
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Quote:
Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
Had he even spoken since the day of his hiring press conference? Maybe post draft I don't know.
This guy was to Mangini what Charlie McCarthy was to Egdar Bergen. 
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This team is something else.....almost as disfunctional as the Raiders.
I'm coming home, I'm coming home, tell the world I'm coming home
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This might be, since neither posted article includes a link, since they are blogs/rumors. To add to the hearsay  I have heard this is true.
This comes as no surprise to me, he has been invisible in the media, and is most likely being scapegoated so Mangini can save his job.
This also means that if Randy hires a new GM between now and the offseason (or during it) then they will most likely get rid of mangini and bring in 'their guy' to be the coach. Just a thought.
Statistics are like a bikini; what they show is interesting, but what they hide is vital.
Drive for show (1st round), Putt for dough (rest of draft).
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Quote:
Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
That isn't true.
It leave open the possibility a strong hire is near.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong ![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)
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Quote:
Quote:
Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
Had he even spoken since the day of his hiring press conference? Maybe post draft I don't know.
This guy was to Mangini what Charlie McCarthy was to Egdar Bergen.
Do you know how many people are going to have to google that reference! 
#GMSTRONG
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How does Mangini still have a job? He is the one who wanted Kokinis hired to begin with, so why should he keep his job?
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To be honest, I didn't mind Kokonis....He obviously had some strong credentials, but why the hell would Mangini want him fired? It makes him look as bad if not worse......Now there is truly no one else to blame
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Good lord I wish Lerner would just sell this team to someone in Cleveland or Columbus....
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Quote:
Quote:
Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
That isn't true.
It leave open the possibility a strong hire is near.
Good point....
I hope it isn't another of Randy's flings that he spends 5 seconds thinking about and acting on....
I'm coming home, I'm coming home, tell the world I'm coming home
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Quote:
Quote:
Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
That isn't true.
It leave open the possibility a strong hire is near.
What's a "strong" hire going to do? For this year, for next year?
We have the players we have....and counting on 11 draft picks next year to revive this team is foolhardy.
Can a guy that did nothing? Okay, probably right. But that will result in........?????
Nothing, short term anyway. And very little long term. Unless the coaches are fired as well. jmo
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Quote:
Quote:
Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
That isn't true.
It leave open the possibility a strong hire is near.
The statement was made in reference to the amount of value he brought to the team and how much his lack of presence is going to make to our current situation.
#GMSTRONG
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More to back up 'Peens point LINK Browns have had consultant "in the building" the past week Posted by Mike Florio on November 2, 2009 6:59 PM ET As we continue to hear from more and more folks that (possibly former) Browns G.M. George Kokinis was escorted out of the Browns' facility on Monday, we're told that the Browns have had a consultant "in the building" for the past week. Though there's no specific evidence at this point that a connection exists between Kokinis' departure and the presence of a consultant, the leap of logic is slightly smaller than the Snake River Canyon. Given the recent termination of director of football operations Erin O'Brien, it's also possible that the "consultant" was retained not only to help improve the franchise, but also to develop evidence to support the termination of one or more officials with cause, which would block their entitlement to ongoing salary for the duration of their contracts. Owner Randy Lerner currently is paying the ongoing wages of former coach Romeo Crennel and former G.M. Phil Savage. Lerner suggested Sunday that he would like to hire an upper-level executive. Lerner's words implied that he's interested in someone who would essentially run the football operations and supervise the head coach and the General Manager. It could be that the new hire will operate essentially as a G.M., possibly with some of the scouting duties deferred to a director of player personnel.
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Browns have had consultant "in the building" the past week Posted by Mike Florio on November 2, 2009 6:59 PM ET As we continue to hear from more and more folks that (possibly former) Browns G.M. George Kokinis was escorted out of the Browns' facility on Monday, we're told that the Browns have had a consultant "in the building" for the past week. Though there's no specific evidence at this point that a connection exists between Kokinis' departure and the presence of a consultant, the leap of logic is slightly smaller than the Snake River Canyon. Given the recent termination of director of football operations Erin O'Brien, it's also possible that the "consultant" was retained not only to help improve the franchise, but also to develop evidence to support the termination of one or more officials with cause, which would block their entitlement to ongoing salary for the duration of their contracts. Owner Randy Lerner currently is paying the ongoing wages of former coach Romeo Crennel and former G.M. Phil Savage. Lerner suggested Sunday that he would like to hire an upper-level executive. Lerner's words implied that he's interested in someone who would essentially run the football operations and supervise the head coach and the General Manager. It could be that the new hire will operate essentially as a G.M., possibly with some of the scouting duties deferred to a director of player personnel. Consultant in Berea the past week
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As bad as this looks, I think it is a good thing. I even liked Kokinis. But whatever it takes to get Mangini out is fine by me.
Kokinis is fired. A new GM/President is hired. That guy evaluates the team (from players to coaches to ball boy.)
If said GM/President doesn't like anyone they're gone.
This is going to be a crazy bye week.
I wonder who this "consultant" is. Is Bernie Kosar just walking around firing people?
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Quote:
Quote:
Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
That isn't true.
It leave open the possibility a strong hire is near.
I can't believe people were screaming for Lerner to become proactive, then he comes out yesterday with a statement and fires the GM today....and he still gets slammed.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
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He must get it right this time...I mean...well, he just must get it right.
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Quote:
This team is something else.....almost as disfunctional as the Raiders.
Come on. There is a BIG difference between the Browns and the Raiders. The Raiders play in warmer weather.
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Quote:
Good lord I wish Lerner would just sell this team to someone in Cleveland or Columbus....
I've read Youngstown native Eddie DEbartlo wants to get back in the nfl as an owner.
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Quote:
He must get it right this time...I mean...well, he just must get it right.
Maybe he's like Edison, he knows 10,000 ways it won't work, eventually he'll happen upon the configuration.
#GMSTRONG
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
That isn't true.
It leave open the possibility a strong hire is near.
I can't believe people were screaming for Lerner to become proactive, then he comes out yesterday with a statement and fires the GM today....and he still gets slammed.
Okay.
So answer this: what is a gm doing in the middle of the season that affects the play of the team?
If the gm (kokinis) was the problem, how does a new guy correct the problem at this point?
And I understand we're not talking this season........is this just a shot over Mangini's bow?
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Eventually he has to accidentally hire someone that knows what they are doing. Right?
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I remember last year when I wrote on here that it seems as if Mangini was acting as GM and coach considering that all of the players being brought in were Jets.
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Mangini is soooo spineless...
#gmstrong
"Players come along at different points in time" - Ray Farmer
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Might as well have fired the water boy...
What a useless gesture.
That isn't true.
It leave open the possibility a strong hire is near.
What's a "strong" hire going to do? For this year, for next year?
We have the players we have....and counting on 11 draft picks next year to revive this team is foolhardy.
Can a guy that did nothing? Okay, probably right. But that will result in........?????
Nothing, short term anyway. And very little long term. Unless the coaches are fired as well. jmo
Nothing can be done for this year dude....what it can do is provide a grounding effect on the 11 picks we have in the next draft.
I don't know if Mangini was a bad hire or not. What I do know is the removal of Kokinis leaves open a slot to bring in someone who isn't going to be a buffer between Lerner and the coach.
If the new guy says Gini needs to go, he goes. Kokinis wasn't in a position to do that.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong
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Quote:
Eventually he has to accidentally hire someone that knows what they are doing. Right?
You would hope so. Mangini must have gave him a load of bs in the interview, and Lerner bought it. To make changes 9 months into a regime is unprecedented.
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what bums me out the most about this...is that, seeing that the Chargers waived Chris Chambers...i was really hoping that we would sign him in an effort to spark the passing game...
but...without a GM how can we do that?
"It has to start somewhere
It has to start somehow
What better place than here?
What better time than now?"
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Quote:
If the gm (kokinis) was the problem, how does a new guy correct the problem at this point?
And I understand we're not talking this season........is this just a shot over Mangini's bow?
I think a shot over the bow describes it perfectly. He's giving Mangini a last chance. I think it was a strong move, especially given his usual approach. That said, we really don't have a clue what the day to day operations were like and what role Kokinis played in them....was he active but ineffective or did Mangini really run everything like people here say?
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
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And it was a real revelation.
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Quote:
What's a "strong" hire going to do? For this year, for next year?
I find that to be a funny comment, think about it Arch,, so many were advocating the immediate termination of Mangini,, yet, when someone else asks what value that will have on the organization, you really don't get much in the way of answers except that when Rutiglaino was fired half way through the season, Marty went on to a 4 and 4 record the balance of the year..
Well, when Butch was fired, released, resigned or whatever,, it didn't work out too well.. it's a crapshoot..
But to answer the specific question as to what a new GM, if Hired today, could do between now and the Draft.. OK, heres the list:
1. Prepare for the draft
2. Determine if he has the right HC and coaching staff
3. If he determines he doesn't have the right HC, then start the search
4, Surface candidates to fill holes in the scouting department.
5. Target FA's for March.
6. Surface candidates for variuos coaching jobs
Will any of it mean a certain turnaround next year.. hell if I know. But the thing is, how much worse could they get?
On the Point After, they briefly speculated that Bernie could be that guy.. Dunno how accurate that is..
But overall, I think there is value to move on with the GM.. I'm still of the opinion, you keep the HC until at least the end of the season. JMO
#GMSTRONG
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Daniel Patrick Moynahan
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Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Kokinis escorted out of building
in Cleveland
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