The mural is dead! Long live the mural!

Reporters incuriously noted the mural of past Browns Hall of Famers as they filed in on draft days past. It was just beyond a door close to the old media parking lot. But it was hard to focus on because richer entertainment awaited as the Browns announced Gerard Warren or William Green as picks, when they traded down for Craig Powell, and when the middle rounds became known as the Dwight Clark Comedy Tour.

But now it's gone, at least for now. It's not quite like religious zealots whitewashing church walls during the Reformation because it can simply be peeled off, like a decal.

"It's not like we're just throwing up drapes," said Mangini, noting that all building changes are designed as little victory incubators, labs where triumph grows, like stuff in a petri dish.

Hey, if the new coach wants expanded meeting rooms, which is the latest rumor, what's the harm? Other than, you know, spending money on home improvement after the layoff of 15 employees, some with wives and kids and college tuitions.

Mangini said he was respectful of Browns' history, so removing the mural wasn't a twisted take on the old saw that goes, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

The logical conclusion of that would be to slap some paint on everything of significance, including the 1964 NFL Championship trophy that is placed in the lobby, in the hope of championship repetition.

Part of the thrust of Wednesday's news conference was that the mural will be back, in new, more visible digs in the same lobby. "Next to Jim Brown's shoes," Mangini said.

There is an obvious line about filling the shoes of those past Browns. Since their return, the new Browns have made precious little history that anyone wants to remember, so leaning on the past is less a crutch than an unavoidable option for a team with such impoverishment of pride as was seen last season.

Anyway, Muralgate, once it was defused by (take your choice) convincing explanation / shameless revisionism, should be over now. Still, the removal recalled the Art Modell years, when division titles and Pro Bowlers during his ownership era were saluted, while reminders of players in the years when Paul Brown was coach were nowhere to be found in the Berea headquarters.

Other aspects of the past arose with Mangini's version of what really happened at the recent Cleveland Sports Awards banquet, when he walked right past Shaun Rogers, all 6-4, 360 pounds of Pro Bowl nose tackle, and said nothing. "I didn't see him. Two destroyers missing each other," Mangini said.

This recalled the state of ambulatory oblivion Bill Belichick could effortlessly attain when he was coach.

Belichick also spent money merrily. He immediately found the practice field unsatisfactory, so a new one was installed, at significant cost.

Since none of the Browns' 16 Hall of Famers is going to block or tackle soon, Mangini's thoughts on the current roster, while guarded, were interesting. He praised Rogers, D'Qwell Jackson, Jamal Lewis, Joe Thomas and Josh Cribbs. Lewis was the only skill position player he mentioned.

It sounds like a coach who isn't rushing to judgment. Rushing to interior decoration, maybe.

To reach Bill Livingston: blivingston@plaind.com, 216-999-4672

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