Jan 5th 2009 5:20PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, Jets, AFC North, NFL Fans, NFL CoachingYesterday I mentioned that while Browns owner Randy Lerner waited for Patriots vice president Scott Pioli to make up his mind about the GM job, Eric Mangini was emerging as the unofficial favorite to replace Romeo Crennel.

Still no word on Pioli’s plans — he’s scheduled to meet with the Chiefs this week — but they might not matter as far as Lerner’s concerned; National Football Post’s Mike Lombardi is hearing things: “I hear - and keep hearing - it is Eric Mangini’s job in Cleveland, and he is already assembling a staff.”

You know, if true, I think that’s a solid move for the Browns. Not splashy, but solid. Mangini got run out of New York after missing the playoffs two of the last three seasons. Part of the problem, apparently, was that he was meticulous in his preparation, but couldn’t motivate Kris Jenkins to eat a cheeseburger.

Sound familiar? Bill Belichick was a mediocre NFL head coach during a five-year stint in Cleveland in the mid-’90s, known as much for his winning personality as for being responsible for running Bernie Kosar out of town.

Five years later he re-emerged in New England, and now sports three Super Bowl rings and has people calling him genius (just like Jim Zorn but the exact opposite).Continue Reading