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I hope to God they don't make Bernie Kosar our GM. First of all, he doesn't have any experience whatsoever running a team or managing personnel. The guy can't even get his financials straight let alone manage a team that is starting from scraps. Second, I'm fairly certain that Bernie is still hooked on the ol' elixir-- he sounds like he had a stroke the way he slurs during commentary.

Although Lerner is ultimately the blame for this (just because he is the owner and he is accountable for his team), I don't think I put the blame on him. I feel pretty sorry for the guy. There is no doubt that he is concerned with the Browns performance. He tried to bring in Savage to turn things around and signed Crennel to a fat contract in an attempt to let them run the show. He axed both of them (still paying them for the rest of their term mind you) and hired what he thought was the most experienced coach and GM there was available (Mangini had 2 of 3 winning seasons and Kokinis had a part in building a solid Ravens team). It's not like the owner needs to have anything to do with the operations of the team--in fact, that usually evolves into a detriment to a team.

Blame Lerner for not having the right advisors and jumping the gun on new hires...but don;t say that he is not committed to the Browns. Lerner needs to get a GM or President in there that means business and has a definite direction of the team. BILL COWHER--- PLEASE COME TO CLEVELAND!

OK....I agree in that just because someone was a great player (not that Kosar was) they'll make a great HC, GM or whatever off the field.

They'd be better off hiring a legit GM, rather than bringing in Kosar.

Cowher is not about to come to Cleveland.

Ever.

Right now he's a first ballot HoFer and he knows it. (149 wins, 8 division titles, 4 trips to Hawaii, 2 AFC titles and a Lombardi) He has his pick of where he's going to go and he's not going to go to Cleveland. They have no idea what they're doing there. He wants to go somewhere where he can win right away and wont have to fight the owner or GM for control.

That, by the way, leaves out Dallas.

Hiring Magini was another mistake. People that coached under Bellacheat don't do well - the exception being the guy in Denver, though it's only a few games into the season. Weiss stinks in ND. Mangini stunk as a Jet and he stinks with the Browns. Romeo stunk with the Browns.

This is NOT the Bill Walsh coaching tree here...it's more like a weed.

They'd be better off taking a young DC from a great defensive team like the Vikings (worked for Pittsburgh) or Steelers and just listening to him.

What the hey, could it be better than where they are now?

*Sigh*

I'm thinking Jon Gruden coaches the Browns in 2010.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 04:59 PM ET  11.03 by rollinstoned

I'm thinking Jon Gruden coaches the Browns in 2010.

...and he's going to make the wild cat his bread and butter.

Ever hear him talk about it? Him or Jaws? Jeez, they just go on and on like it's the best offense ever.

I was watching a segment of the NFL Network a few minutes ago, and they were interviewing Mangini about the firing of the GM. I listened somewhat, but what caught my attention was when he said he wishes "him and his family the best, but that "we" had to make a decision...."....words to that effect. It sounded as if he, Mangini, had input on firing this guy.

Am I hearing things, or does this coach have that kind of influence?

Surely I misheard him?

I just saw it again, and I did hear it right, although the "we" came before he wished the family the best. One of the NFL Network people said that Mangini is the one who hand picked the GM. Then, he has a hand in running him off. Mangini should be run off, if you ask me, if for no other reason, than being 2 faced.

What a phony.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 04:59 PM ET  11.03 by rollinstoned

I'm thinking Jon Gruden coaches the Browns in 2010.

This is the same mistake they made in hiring Mangini. Forget who's gonna be coach. Hire a real football guy to run the team. Everything from hiring the coach to hiring the receptionist. Look at the Dolphins. Who said, "Let's hire Sparano". Nobody before Parcells. How about Smith in Atlanta, people weren't predicting that. Both coaches are doing pretty well. Leave Gruden in the TV box. Get a great GMand let him build the team.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 05:36 PM ET  11.03 by Bull_Shirt

I was watching a segment of the NFL Network a few minutes ago, and they were interviewing Mangini about the firing of the GM. I listened somewhat, but what caught my attention was when he said he wishes "him and his family the best, but that "we" had to make a decision...."....words to that effect. It sounded as if he, Mangini, had input on firing this guy. Am I hearing things, or does this coach have that kind of influence?Surely I misheard him?

I think you nailed it Bull,,, I listened to it to and I think he did have something to do it...The problem is not only the coach it is the players...They dont have a receiver that could catch a cold in the Antartic. They dont have a QB that is obvious, that is where alot of the problems are also, They need to address that, They need complete overhaul..From the Top down, and Mangini was never the answer .

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 08:28 PM ET  11.03 by bigbentheory7

I think you nailed it Bull,,, I listened to it to and I think he did have something to do it...The problem is not only the coach it is the players...They dont have a receiver that could catch a cold in the Antartic. They dont have a QB that is obvious, that is where alot of the problems are also, They need to address that, They need complete overhaul..From the Top down, and Mangini was never the answer .

When they hired him fresh off of his firing from the Jets, I asked myself..."Self, what in the hell are they doing? He just gets fired by the Jets, and they immediately hire him.....he couldn't do the job there, so what makes the Browns front office think he can do it in Cleveland"?

All I know is, he must KNOW someone really well. I would say BLOW, but I better not.....lol.

Listening to him today, he don't impress me one iota. I have watched football for over 40 years, and I am a Cowboys fan. But, I have watched Cleveland a lot of times. Jim Brown, LeRoy Kelly, Brian Sipe, etc. etc.

Their fans do NOT deserve this kind of crap at all. Mangini needs to go back to being a water boy in my opinion.

To get good players, tho, you have to have a knowledgeable GM and coach. Mangini evidently can't pour water out of a boot with the directions on the heel.

Let me give it to the Cleveland Brown fans they have been suffering ALOT the last couple of years. Cleveland's draft have been decent you cannot blame them there. They chose the best player on the board you cannot blame them for Tim Couch,Courtney Brown, and Gerrald Warren they were the best player going into that pick. What really has hurt the Browns is I believe lack of leadership on the field and off. They have been a revolving door for coaches!!!! Trading away talent is what has hurt the team also.

Wonder how this is going to tie into Cribbs' contract extension talks.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 10:27 AM ET  11.04 by LowCountryBrownsFan

Wonder how this is going to tie into Cribbs' contract extension talks.

I have heard 2 reports on this. One reported Kokinis had been working on and negotiating a new contract for Cribbs. The other implied Kokinis was dragging his feet and his firing would speed up the process. Time will tell.

Browns owe former GM Phil Savage and ex-coach Romeo Crennel their salaries through 2012 and 2011, respectively. There are other lingering contract payouts from the assistants on Crennel's staff. It's a pill of at least $20 million Lerner is swallowing, (not including Kokinis) and if he cans Mangini -- in the first year of an estimated four-year, $12-million deal -- it just adds to the financial burdon.

Ouch!

supposedly, Lerner said that he is willing to do this despite the financial burden. He supposedly said that he is willing to do whatever is necessary to right the ship, so to speak. We will see. Personally, until the Browns sign some talent it is hard to judge the coaching staff. getting rid of Braylon was the final nail in the coffin for the offense, but in the long-term it was a good move. I'm not a fan of mangini's antics but it's too difficult to pin the blame on him for how the season's turning out. but then again, pinning it on Kokinis somehow was deemed necessary.