
Slowly and steadily, Eric Mangini is filling his coaching staff. On Tuesday the Browns announced hiring Gary Brown as running backs coach and Steve Hagen as tight ends coach. Mangini headed to the Scouting Combine without a linebackers coach or receivers coach.
This is Hagen's second tour of duty with the Browns. He coached tight ends under Butch Davis from 2001-2003 and was the Browns quarterbacks coach in 2004. He coached tight ends for Davis at the University of North Carolina the last two years.
Brown was an eighth-round draft choice by the Oilers in 1991. He was an NFL running back for eight seasons with the Oilers, Chargers and Giants. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards twice.
Brown coached running backs at Rutgers in 2008. He also coached running backs for the New York Giants in training camp in 2005, and then worked with the Green Bay Packers (2006) and Carolina Panthers (2007) as part of the NFL's Minority Coaching Fellowship program.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--S Mike Adams is versatile enough to play nickel back or safety. He's a player the Browns might re-sign at the right price, but General Manager George Kokinis and Coach Eric Mangini are mum on their player evaluation.
--CB Travis Daniels made one tackle in 2008 and will not be re-signed.
--LB Andra Davis has been a starter since 2003, but the Browns want to upgrade their linebackers and are unlikely to re-sign him.
--TE Darnell Dinkins might be resigned as a backup because Steve Heiden is recovering from major knee surgery and Martin Rucker is unproven.
--OL Lennie Friedman missed all of 2008 with a shoulder injury, lost weight during his recovery and is unlikely to be re-signed.
--LB Kris Griffin has a long injury history and won't be back.
--CB Daven Holly is worth re-signing if the price is right. He is coming off major knee surgery and doesn't have much bargaining leverage.
--S Sean Jones has to be a priority to re-sign. He would get more recognition if he did not play in the same division as Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu.
--LB Willie McGinest is expected to retire.
--OL Seth McKinney is valuable as a backup but will not be re-signed unless the Browns get him for a bargain.
--LB Shantee Orr made four tackles from scrimmage and six on special teams. He will not be back.
--RB Jason Wright carried the ball only 23 times in 2008. He won't be back.
--OL Scott Young is unlikely to be back.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: Unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: None.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: None.
PLAYERS LOST
--CB Terry Cousin (released).
--P Mike Dragosavich (released).
--QB Bruce Gradkowski (released).
--QB Ken Dorsey (released).
--LB Antwan Peek (released/failed physical).
--PK Jason Reda (released).
--OT Eric Young (failed physical).