OSU QB Terrelle Pryor’s Knee Partially Torn
December 28, 2009While We’re Waiting… Harrison the Play-Maker, Pryor the Casual, and Rondon the Prospect
December 29, 2009Freshly acquired President of Football Operations Mike Holmgren is scheduled to have a conference call with the Cleveland media early this evening. While he will not be officially introduced to the city until the current NFL season is over, one can anticipate many questions being asked in regard to the future of not only head coach Eric Mangini, but the currently open position of general manager as well.
There have been several names that have been tossed out as possible future Browns GM. Our friends at The OBR has mentioned Marc Ross and David Gettleman of the New York Giants. The Green Bay Press Gazette recently touted the Packers’ John Schneider due to his longtime history with Holmgren. But one name that continues to pop up on our radar is one that has connections to the city of Cleveland in Tom Heckert.
Heckert currently serves as general manager for the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the title is a bit misleading as his current role is more of the advisory form with Andy Reid. Heckert’s main duties fall within the realm of player personnel with a large focus on scouting.
But despite his admitteldy vague role with the Eagles, the team considers Heckert to be one of the top executives in the NFL. He is currently in his eighth season with the team and has been promoted multiple times in various positions within the league. The Eagles tout Heckert’s biggest strengths pertain to the NFL Draft and the activities that lead up to said weekend. Heckert’s first draft in Philadelphia – 2002, late-round draft position – netted the team Lito Sheppart, Michael Lewis, Brian Westbrook and Sheldon Brown. When the Eagles were desiring playmakers to help quarterback Donovan McNabb, Heckert landed tight end Brent Celek (fifth round), wide receiver DeSean Jackson (second round) and running back LeSean McCoy (second round).
Not too bad.
In 2003, Heckert was appointed by the NFL to their 12-man College Advisory Committee thanks to his scouting talents. His management skill set led to Heckert being named to the General Manager’s Advisory Committee in 2008.
And what may be even more attractive to the Browns at this stage, Heckert is not from the overly lauded coaching tree of Bill Belichick. Instead, Heckert’s formative years were spent under Don Shula and Jimmy Johnson. Heckert’s father, Tom, spent 20 years in the NFL player personnel ranks with the majority of his time being spent in Miami. Tom the elder also spent time with the Browns as a scout during their run in the 1980s, so there are ties to Cleveland.
Heckert was one of the candidates for the GM position when the Browns were looking to replace Phil Savage upon his dismissal. The Eagles would not allow Heckert to interview for the vacant general manager position until they were out of the playoffs. Randy Lerner opted to hire Eric Mangini as head coach on January 7th; the Eagles season ran until January 18th. After the hiring of Mangini, Heckert was reportedly one of the few potential GM candidates that backed out. In fact, Heckert withdrew his name from the hat the day that the Mangini hiring was announced.
Heckert’s connections to the Cleveland area do not stop with his father or prior candidacy for the Browns GM role. As a child, Heckert grew up along side Tim Beckman – head coach of the Toledo Rockets football program, son of Dave Beckman who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and was also an NFL player personnel executive for the Browns. Also in Heckert’s rolodex would be former Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano, due to the connections with Dave Beckman. WFNY has been told that Heckert’s ties to the Cleveland area remain as fresh as ever, extending as far as inquiries on real estate in the Cleveland area.
A big name among the coaching ranks that is currently tied to Heckert, also through the family friend lines, is current Arizona defensive coordinator Billy Davis. Davis’ resume features many NFL teams in various positions of interest (including the 1999 Browns) – mostly all on the defensive side. However, given that the coaching “tree” is a point of interest, it’s worth noting that Davis comes from the school of Bill Cowher. When Mike Tomlin was chosen as the successor to Cowher in Pittsburgh, Davis packed his bags and went to Arizona with fellow coaches Ken Wisenhunt and Russ Grimm. Davis was linebackers coach when Kevin Greene and Lamar Lathon were first and second overall in NFL sacks (1996) and is responsible for the development of Karlos Dansby and Gerald Hayes – both players eclipsed 100 tackles in 2007 and 2008.
Like Heckert, Davis has ties to Cleveland as he grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. His father, Bill Davis Sr., was an NFL coach for 13 years including six with the Cleveland Browns as vice president of player personnel.
Putting all of these pieces together, it appears to WFNY that Heckert is a very strong candidate to replace George Kokinis as the Browns general manager of the future, and that he is willing to give Randy Lerner a second chance of sorts following last year’s canidacy-turned-“no thanks.” Given Heckert’s professional set-up with Andy Reid, the transition to Cleveland would be nearly seamless to a possible comingling with Mike Holmgren. His strengths in regard to the draft continue to be something that Lerner continues to feel would instantly help the rebuilding Browns and there is undoubtedly history with the team.
Unfortunately for Eric Mangini, Heckert’s refusal to interview last year following the head coach’s hiring coupled with his connections to other potential head coaching candidates does not appear to bode well for a second year with the team. Whether a possible replacement would be Davis or a coach of Holmgren’s choosing, Heckert’s flat out reluctance to even interview for a job that would work along side Mangini speaks volumes. Similar to last season, the Eagles would need to have their season completed prior to an official interview with the Browns for any vacant positions. While Holmgren will be addressing the media today, fans should hold out any hopes of further team clarification on the future until the 2009 NFL season has concluded.
32 Comments
Not to be a downer or anything, but I always read articles about coaches and players ties to Cleveland, and how that could influence them into returning to the city. I grew up in Cleveland, and couldn’t wait to get away. I guess it’s a little different when the draw is a multimillion dollar coaching gig, but still, Cleveland doesn’t exactly have the appeal of a lot of other cities. Also, if Heckert is GM of the Eagles already, isn’t it a bit of a lateral move to be GM of the Browns? I don’t understand the motivation he’d have of leaving a situation with Andy Reid that works well for him and produces a winner to try and achieve the same relationship with Holmgren in Cleveland. He wouldn’t necessarily have any more power than in Philly because Mike will always be above him.
Anbody know where you can listen to the confrence call?
Is this going to be broadcast on 850?
Brenda just said they would have highlights from it after it is over, so im assuming they will not play it live
Tron, I agree about the “ties to Cleveland” bit. There are a lot of coaches in the league with ties to Cleveland. I can’t see that it would have (or has had) a major effect on whether someone would want to take a GM/coaching job here. I see it more as a perk. If someone likes the terms of the deal and the situation, it’s a bonus if they have history here, too.
From the article, I don’t care if he’s not from the Belichick tree, can we stop floating first time head coaching candidates? This year hasn’t been great, sure, but I’ll take Mangini’s year over Crennel’s four any day from the standpoint of building a team that can be a consistent contender (down the line).
http://www.espncleveland.com/ listen to regi. Its going on right now.
“Heckert’s flat out reluctance to even interview for a job that would work along side Mangini speaks volumes.”
Does it? Does correlation equal causation now, or do you have a source that connects the two in the way you suggest here? Is it Florio?
WTAM played the whole thing. If you heard it, you’ve gotta be happy. Holmgren was great.
Pete: Actually, I do have a source and he has not steered me wrong in the past. But thank you for questioning my thought process.
Gotta partially agree with Frowns on that point. Is it because it was Mangini, or because the GM had no power to do anything whatsoever and Mangini was basically the hiring process?
Anytime, bud. Questioning thought processes is what friends are for.
So you’re saying that your statement about what speaks volumes and the accompanying implication that Heckert didn’t want to come here because he thinks Mangini is incompetent or some kind of jerk and not for any of a number of other possible reasons comes from an anonymous tipster who won’t go on record?
I think that’s kind of important, either way.
I do ask why Heckert would want to leave Philly, to start a new project. He seems like he is just what we need in one of the top drafters in the league, and us having 11 picks (plus possibilities to trade down) would probably draw interest. If it is true that Heckert won’t be a GM as Mangini coach, then o well for Mangini. I would rather us use 11 picks to the best of their capabilities.
I’m not saying that Mangini is incompetent or some kind of jerk, or any of the negative connotations that youre implying I’m saying. In fact, I asked my source point blank if there was any specific details regarding the two in the past that he knew of and he could not indicate anything specific. What I do know is that the quote I was given in regard to working with Mangini (which was given last year, therefore could have been on impulse) was not exactly site friendly.
And, Pete, you can call my source an “anonymous tipster” all you want, but he is someone that I have known for over five years and talk to on a day to day basis. Your term is akin to old school media’s negative connotation to what we do here daily.
In regard to why Heckert would leave Philly, I am not positive. What I do know is that his name has now been thrown into the potential GM ring twice – there must be some sort of reasoning behind that. Jay Glazer also mentioned this weekend that Heckert is one of the potential Browns GMs. Perhaps there will be some language involved in the next GM’s contract that would ultimately give more control than Heckert currently has in Philadelphia, regardless of current title. I think it has become evident that not all GMs have the same responsibilities…
And as I stated, the two sides are not allowed to discuss such details until after the season is complete.
Give the guy a break Frownie. Not everyone can make something up and then cite themselves as a source to “confirm” their opinions. You’ve corned that market on your site.
“Not everyone can make something up and then cite themselves as a source to “confirm” their opinions. You’ve corned (sic) that market on your site.
So it’s come down to straight hatin’? Since when do opinions need to be confirmed? If one were to get their opinions confirmed, it would be done by whom exactly?
I confirm opinions. My methods are very similar to Robert DeNiro’s in “Meet the Parents”.
I just want a winning season, and for the Browns to be back to where they belong. At the top of the NFL
It’s not that you yourself are saying that “Mangini is incompetent or some kind of jerk,” it’s that you’re strongly suggesting that Heckert didn’t take the Browns job for those reasons, whether you meant to suggest that or not. You can’t deny that. You even strengthen the suggestion in your last comment by saying that “the quote [you were] given in regard to working with Mangini . . . was not exactly site friendly.”
Not site friendly!? Mangini must be a REAL jerk!
How could it be interpreted as anything else?
So the only question is, who’s the source? We know there’s no shortage of people who will dump on Mangini. We also know that there’s many of these folks are not credible sources for Mangini analysis, even the ones who aren’t anonymous.
I get that an anonymous source is better than no source, but blog or newspaper or ESPN, a source that will go on the record is by nature more credible than an anonymous source. It has absolutely nothing to do with old v. new media. I just wanted to know if your source for this particular claim that I find to be particularly questionable was in fact from an anonymous (and thus, by nature, less credible) source. You confirmed it. I appreciate that, as well as the great majority of the work you put in here. You know I feel strongly about this particular issue, so it was especially important for me to check.
Thanks.
I mean, couldnt Heckert simply have seen how Mangini would ultimately have final say since he was hired first? Call it whatever you want, but he wasnt the only one to tell Lerner no thanks after the GM lost the choice to select his own coach. Especially with Heckert, who has the same thing with a successful Philly team, I would not see why he would want to work under Mangini (last year).
The bottom line is this: (IMHO) I think Mangini deserves another year in Cleveland. For most of the season, he had to be the face of the franchise, with Mr. Lerner hanging out in Europe, and Kokinis being relieved of his duties. But if we could land a GM like Heckert, I’d be all for saying adios to Mangini if that’s what it took to get him here. Heckert has built an annual contender in Philly, and ultimately, that’s the goal here.
bobby: I think that’s probably close to the truth.
Jay: I think you’re overestimating the importance of a GM, and underestimating the importance of a coach. Those Eagles players turn out well because they are in a good system. Much like the Steelers turn undrafted players into superstars, and much like (hopefully) Mangini is winning here now with a ragtag bunch.
Scott: I just want to make clear that I don’t disbelieve that someone told you this about Heckert and Mangini. There are plenty who have helped to create the perception that Mangini is a jerk or in over his head, some credible than others. It’s not out of bounds for you to report it, but I don’t have to believe it, just like I don’t believe Mike Lombardi when he says the same thing. When the source is anonymous, I’m inclined to believe it even less. That’s all.
+1 @ Jay.. my thoughts exactly. Mangini, by all rights, *should* get atleast another year. BUT if we have to cut him loose to get Heckert and a HC Id say do it.
Frowns: How can one overestimate the importance of a GM? You can have the best coach in the universe, but if the GM doesn’t bring in the talent via draft, trade, and free agency, then the team will not contend. (see: Cleveland 1999-present)
I totally agree with you on the premise the players HAVE to be in a good system, from front office down. But it will all start (in Cleveland) with the team the GM, and President, build.
***anonymous source = Denny
I kid. It’s a slow, boring day at work, so unles it picks up, WFNY is in for a treat from me today.
How can one overestimate the importance of a GM? One just can. I think the coach is more important and the GM less important than you’re making each out to be, and I think the Browns late season run tends to prove that, as does the Steelers routine success in turning late round picks into stars.
Frowns is only interested in the facts that help his case for keeping Mangini. Of course the GM isn’t important – because Mangini isn’t the GM. How about we also compare the Browns “historic” 3 game winning streak to the “routine success” of the Steelers…who have won 2 Super Bowls in the last 5 years. Good comparison.
You keep shooting yourself in the foot, Frowns. You point at the Steelers as an example – you know what? Those two Super Bowls in 5 years did NOT have the same coach. The coaching staff changed. The head coach and a decent number of assistants changed. You know what didn’t? Ownership and the GM. I’m not 100% on the comment that sparked this in the article, but you’re just wrong on the GM thing, and your example actually proves the opposite of your point.
Let’s look at the recent, consistently successful teams. I’d say the Eagles, Patriots, Steelers, Colts, Ravens, and Chargers fit that over the past few years/decade or so.
HC and ownership are constant on the Patriots.
GM, HC, and ownership are constant on Philly.
GM and ownership are constant on the Steelers.
GM and ownership are constant on the Chargers.
GM and ownership are constant on the Colts (new GM is still with the Colts and now president of the team, his son is now the GM).
GM and ownership are constant on the Ravens.
So, Frowns, it looks like you’re wrong. All the consistently good, winning teams in the past few years have had the same GM and ownership, even as the coaches have changed.
With the amount of late round picks we have this year, we could completely change the face of our team with Heckert. If those late round picks for the Eagles speak volumes if he really was the guy who found those guys.
[…] more than a week ago, we discussed the possibility of current Philadelphia Eagles general manager Tommy Heckert being a possibility for the vacant position in Cleveland. At that point, it was under the assumption that the Browns […]
[…] NFL playoffs are over for his team. As a reminder, WFNY was one of the first on the Heckert beat two weeks ago when Scott reported that he was coming to town for an interview with recently hired Mike […]
[…] curious as to why Tom Heckert turned down his job offer last year prior to the Eric Mangini hiring will finally get their answer today as Heckert takes the […]
[…] about Brady Quinn’s house being on the market before anyone else. Scott had info about the Browns’ interest in Tom Heckert before anyone else. We had the story about LeBron’s second MVP award and where/when he would […]