Have The Cavaliers Regained Their Swagger?
November 4, 2009Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Sharks (Game #14)
November 4, 2009
Have you ever prayed for God to do something, or give you something specific in your life? Asked for a certain someone to love you? Begged for a job, promotion or opportunity? Can you think back to a time when you did, certain that what you were asking for was the best thing for you? How did that turn out? I’m guessing that many of you, like myself can answer that question in at least one circumstance by saying “I’m glad that prayer wasn’t answered the way I wanted.”
Here’s where I get to the point. The Cleveland Browns are an absolute mess. I’ve heard and read so many opinions and ideas over the last 72 hours about what it will take to fix the situation. Most of them are ridiculous. Here’s one- Bernie Kosar should be the next GM of the Cleveland Browns. Really?
Bernie Kosar is the Browns QB of my youth. I remember watching Brian Sipe, but Kosar was the man during my football formative years. I remember fondly Bernie and Webster Slaughter hooking up to beat the Three Rivers Jinx. I wept with all of Cleveland when the Kosar’s Browns came up short in the AFC Championship games. I fumed and openly rooted against the Browns against Seattle after Kosar was dropped because of ‘diminishing skills’, and yes I was thrilled for him when he won his ring with the Cowboys.
But Bernie Kosar for GM? I have nothing what-so-ever against the man, except that he is not qualified to be team’s general manager. There is more to being a GM than knowing what’s going on down on the field. There is talent evaluation. Could Kosar be a good judge of talent? Sure, maybe he could. There is also a little matter of contract negotiations and the salary cap. Now, I don’t claim to be any kind of financial genius, in fact I submit that I myself would make a terrible GM for the Browns, but do you want to give control of your team’s salary structure to a guy that went bankrupt in his personal life? There will always be a special spot in my heart for #19 because of what he did on the field. I’d rather not have that ruined because he pulled a Matt Millen. That article I referenced said Kosar basically lost his money because he picked the wrong people to get advice from. Those in charge of his books and business dealings were trusted too much. That doesn’t speak well to his ability to find the right people.
I remember when the community was fighting to have the Browns back in the league. Fans were clamoring for a rich owner that would leave the team in the hands of football people. Well, congratulations! That is exactly what you got. Al Lerner had ties to the history of the team and essentially let his front office people handle the football side. Randy is following in his father’s footsteps, albeit from a farther vantage point. So how is that going for you? I mean, we got exactly what we wanted right?
What about Phil Savage? Wasn’t he exactly what we were looking for? I know I was excited about the hire. So let’s get a little bit of a grip on ourselves before we go suggesting that Kosar should run the team. I know, most of us really didn’t want Mangini. Congratulations, maybe we called that one right, but for the most part asking the fans who they want to be the QB, GM or Head Coach is not the brightest idea. And Cleveland fans are some of the smartest football fans in the country. That doesn’t mean we always know what’s best for the team though. So let’s learn the first rule of poker– leave emotion at the door.
60 Comments
Who says Bernie wouldn’t make a good GM. He certainly seems football savy to me – light years ahead of anyone occupying the Brown’s office so far. Ozzie certainly made the transition and did so magnificently. I see absolutely no reason whatsoever that Bernie wouldn’t do the same.
I would like to see Bernie as an offensive coordinator but not as a GM. We need qualifications there.
The fans and Randy Lerner have one thing in common, neither one know what he’s doing.
When Ozzie Newsome was hired by the Ravens it wasn’t as the GM. He worked his way up the organization over time. He wasn’t handed the reigns from the beginning. And Newsome hadn’t failed in his previous business ventures quite like Kosar. According to your logic we should give Mo Clarett a shot…
I just got through reading the PD. Mangini is believed to have input into the hiring of the GM. WTF??? THIS IS NOT HOW IT’S DONE PEOPLE!!! The owner hires the President (Kosar methinks…), the president hires the GM, the GM hires the coach and together, they hire the coodinators/ancilliary personnel. That is how ALL successful franchises are run. Steelers, Red Wings, etc… UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are the employees to hire their bosses. Mangini reports to the GM PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I wish I could hire my boss…..
I’m a Cleveland Browns fan by choice, having been born and raised in Cincinnati, but having gone to university in NE Ohio.
Bernie Kosar is not a front office man. Bernie knows FOOTBALL. He knows offense, folks. I’d hire him as a QB coach for 2010, have him be involved in draft preparations with the new GM and scouting. He’s perfect for these roles. This team needs Kosar’s input, his enthusiasm. Maybe not as GM but something more than “consultant”.
Bernie Kosar did more in the NFL with less talent than anyone I have seen in the 45 years I have been a Browns fan. He was able to do that or one reason: football intelligence. Anyone who has heard him do the color on TV knows that he can disect a defense in a heartbeat. He also has to have tremendous innate intelligence. After all, he graduated from the U with a double major in finance and economics (not basket weaving and coaching football) in 3 years! How many people do you know who have done that? Anyone who understands the basics of business knows that bankruptcy is as much a business decision as it is an indicator of failure. Bernie apparently had some personal issues (a vindictive soon-to-be-ex-wife among others) that probably played into the bankruptcy significantly. Regardless, the Browns have the people in place to handle the salary cap and contract issues. I don’t think there is a person in the NFL who handles all those issues by themselves.
Does Bernie have the experience to run an organization by himself? Probably not. But he has the knowledge and instincts to learn, and he has some experience, though limited, with the Gladiators. Put someone experienced, like Accorsi, in charge of mentoring Bernie and I believe we will have someone who can take us to the promised land. I jsuggest you google Bernie Kosar to see his history. Bernie is an untapped resource that has been ignored and wasted for too long. GET HIM INVOLVED NOW!
How many other “smart” business men went bankrupt in this economy? How many Wall Street institutions needed bailout money to remain solvent?
That’s an unfair disparage of Kosar that he went bankrupt in his personal life.
So what, in this climate. It indicates nothing.
The Browns have a ex-NFL person named dawn that handles salary negotiations, salary cap etc. So this article is not well researched. Kosar is the type of straight forward person we need if not now, then down the road. His personnal finances shouldn’t be a factor. There are owners that mis-manage their finances.
Bernie Kosar’s issues are not whether he went bankrupt or not (he knows how to make money, but not how to spend it). The thought of Bernie as GM now is ridiculuos and I think he would say so. What Bernis is GREAT at is offense. He would make a really good Offensive Coordinator, or even a QB Caoch. From there, he could rise up through the ranks. And don’t sell Accorsi short btw, if between the two (Kosar and Accorsi) they could convince Lerner how it REALLY is, maybe Lerner will wise up and do something realistic..