The Top 10 Moments/Stories in Cleveland Sports in 2009
December 17, 2009While We’re Waiting… The Need for a GM, Cliff and the Phillies, and Chinese Investment
December 18, 2009
As the search for a “strong, credible, serious leader” commenced, fans were understandably concerned as to who exactly would have the input on the decision. Right out of the gate, head coach Eric Mangini stated that he felt that Randy Lerner would keep him involved in the future GM roll – as he was involved in the hiring of ex-GM George Kokinis.
However, the key word in Mangini’s statement was that “he felt” this would be the case. But as we have come to realize over the last couple of months, his initial feeling could not be further from the truth as Mangini has been relegated to simply coaching the football team – you know, the job he was actually brought in to do. In Wednesday’s press conference, Mangini’s platform has gone from one to full involvement in the hiring process to merely focusing on his players and letting Randy Lerner and his team do the czar searching.
“I’m really not looking to get that involved in the process,” stated Mangini. “What I’m looking to do is coach the guys. That’s what I want the guys to focus on, the coaches to focus on. It’s Kansas City for us and that’s the most important thing.”
Mangini continued with, “I haven’t been involved in czar searches before, so I don’t know what the best path is. I’m not sure what the best path is. I think the most important thing is to get the right person in place and to move forward,” he said. “Whether that’s today, whether it’s three weeks from now. Whatever point it is, the key thing is to get the right person and move forward organizationally.”
Whether it was quarterback-turned-consultant Bernie Kosar who told Lerner that he needs to do this search independent of Mangini’s thoughts, or Lerner finally wising up and making the decision on his own, it has become clear that the current head coach is only called upon when GM/President/Czar/Big Boss Man candidates want to meet with him to discuss philosophy.
Upon the firing (or releasing) of George Kokinis, Mangini said that he “feels good about the process [the Browns] have in place and the different departments [they] have in place.”
Mangini’s current opinion of needing to get the right person in place may have been forced upon him, but it is becoming more and more apparent that his 15 minutes of full control is quickly coming to an end.
27 Comments
“or Lerner finally wising up and making the decision on his own”
Funniest thing I’ve read today! 😉
I really hope he gets it right this time, but I’m from Missouri. Screw hope, I want results. I’ve learned my lesson, and will refrain from any exuberance (for anyone not named Bill Parcells) until we see positive progress.
Nice writeup btw, Scott.
See, I can live with Mangini sticking around if he truly feels this way. I wish I could believe he arrived at that point of view genuinely and organically. But, call me a cynic…
You’re a cynic.
That is all.
I remember how funny it was to hear Mangini say he was going to have a role in the hiring. Hopefully he keeps that line about how it’s important to get the right person in there and to move forward because he’ll need it in a few weeks for his farewell speech. Mangini will be a coordinator somewhere but that’s about it.
I say to speed this process up, we call Ozzie Newsome and ask him to be the GM. When he turns it down we send a contract with compensation figures to Mike Holmgren. If he doesn’t turn it down, we hire Ozzie on the spot. Either of these scenarios will bring a well-deserved Christmas to all of us.
Can I get an Amen?
P.S. I meant to say that by calling Ozzie, we will then be past The Rooney Rule situation.
Does the czar even have to be a football guy?
what is the job?
“See, I can live with Mangini sticking around if he truly feels this way.”
Really? I think his inability to evaluate and prepare a QB and poor personnel decisions (draft, weekly roster choices, coaching staff and front office) alone are reason enough to to fire him. IMO, saying the right things about a potential future boss doesn’t offset any of his many deficiencies as a coach or leader.
Cynic? Perhaps not cynical enough–it’s warranted with this guy. In spite of his failings as a coach, he’s no dummy. Self-preservation instinct is in overdrive right now. That said, I’m not convinced even a new czar fires him–I’ll be pleasantly surprised if/when they do.
@#8 Matt#2: I think there’s a consensus among everyone that the “czar” would be akin to Bill Parcells’ position in Miami–an all-powerful executive in charge of all football operations.
Basically, somebody with documented football organizational know-how to run the show and make people accountable in the owner’s absence.
The question is, IMO, whether or not Lerner does it right thsi time. Three times now he’s had opportunities reorganize the franchise and set up a functional hierarchy (hiring Cromeo & Savage, the Todd Collins/Savage turf war, and the Mangini & Kokinis hiring.) But if you look at what’s happened over that time, Randy’s solution has been to make people less accountable, where he’s not in the building but everyone’s reporting directly to him. If we get a true Parcells-style czar, who truly has control over all football operations with both the GM and HC trees reporting to him and not to Lerner, he’ll at least be starting down the right path. Then the question becomes a matter of whether or not the “czar” is the right guy for the job.
milton
thanks
is there a guy who makes sure they’re running a business?
@bomber –> AMEN!!
@#11 Matt#2 – well, they do have a President in place–Mike Keenan, who is responsible for business affairs. He just doesn’t show his head above ground but once or twice a year.
As far as the business side goes, my understanding is that the Browns do very well… though of course no numbers are made public. But I’m pretty sure they’re considered a well-run club on the business side.
@jimkanicki – I think it’s a rather brilliant plan as well. Seriously, why would we not? it’s a win-win.
Can we stop using the term czar? It was used incorrectly when it was coined as a generic government appointed position and it continues to be used incorrectly in all other type of bastardizations. It’s slang and it’s non-definitive.
@bomberDawg, jimkanicki: Rooney Rule requires a face-to-face full interview. Window dressing or phone interview charades would be considered noncompliance.
As for Ozzie… didn’t we try to interview him the last go-round? I thought he made it pretty clear he’s never leaving that position in BAL. At least not voluntarily.
I should reiterate, milton. I mean I can handle him sticking around as coach ONLY. My stance for a few weeks is I’m ok with Mangini as coach as long as someone replaces Mangini the personnel guy. It would be assumed that the VP of Football Operations (*cough*czar*cough*) would hire a GM to run the personnel department, not Mangini. I apologize that I had that mentally implied but didn’t state it here.
we want bernie!
This whole situation is bi-czar. There are so many czar-nerios that could happen. It’s true that Mangini has ran things like he’s Julius Ce-Czar, but if he’s just the coach, and nothing but the coach I think he’d do a good job. I’m not being czar-castic at all. I feel Holmgren would be the instant peoploe please-czar, and he’d get the job done.He’s still fairly young for a front office position. It’s not like he’s a gee-czar. I think all this speculation is nothing but a tea-czar to us fans. I just hope it ends quickly.
And if the Browns are looking for a “Czar”, is Mike Fratello available?
@ Milton
I wonder if they’re considered well run on the business side of things because us fans buy tickets no matter what…
Gotcha, DP. I guess Mangini as coach is better than Mangini as personnel “czar”/club mouthpiece… but I don’t share your confidence in his coaching ability, though: he’d still be assembling the coaching staff (looking at you, Daboll), and I question his evaluation of the players on his roster (two things in particular stand out to me: the unbelievable mishandling of the QB position, and Jamal Lewis having to get concussed before Mangini would bench him.)
Do you think–assuming the rumors are true that Lerner has Holmren in the range of $8-$10 million per–that Holmgren hires a GM? Or just becomes a Super-GM? That’s a tidy sum to be paid in addition to a GM’s salary, and it makes me wonder.
@milton, jimkanicki
Agreed, and yes we did. Fly the man to Cleveland (not that he would)…just looking for a way to have this done before Christmas and before Seattle wises up.
How about William Hung? She-bangs, she-bangs…
@ello: Absolutely. =-)
There’s many other things, though. Corporate sponsorship, luxury box leases, marketing deals like the Ohio Lottery thing… let me say this: they *have been* known around the league as a well-run business operation, I’m assuming that they still are in 2009.
Jay – Fantastic. You win.
@Jay- Big Dog post bud.
I like that Jay used ‘Czar’ in ‘Caesar’. That’s like double your Julius.
i was waiting for Frowns to come in and spin this, but it never happened.