I think it’s all about opportunity. You don’t become as successful as Pioli has been in New England without some ego and pride fueling your fire. And as long as Pioli is in NE, he can rack up as many Exec of the Year awards as he wants, but Belichick will get most of the credit for their success.

The two have had a great run together, but at some point you have to think that Pioli would want to run his own show and put his personal stamp on an organization. Can you imagine if he comes to Cleveland and can turn the franchise around? As fervent as the Browns fans are, and as starved as they are for winner, Pioli would be viewed like some sort of deity. That opportunity has to be enticing, not to mention the boatload of cash he will get.

Obviously I don’t know what makes Scott Pioli tick, but I would think that if Randy Lerner can make an effective appeal to ego/pride, and open up the checkbook bigtime, he can break Pioli’s East Coast bonds. Plus, in NE, when will Pioli have a chance to pick a head coach? In Cleveland he would be able to do so immediately and give someone like Kirk Ferentz or Josh McDaniels a huge break, just like Belichick helped him before. That could be another appeal.

If I were Scott Pioli, it would be hard to leave New England. But for the chance to me “the man” and have final decision-making power, I think it’s an opportunity that might be too great to pass up.

I sure as hell hope so at least.

Good points about Randy Lerner. I know he likes to stay in the background, which can have its benefits (right Jerry Jones?) if he hires the right people. But right now, with now coach and GM, it would be nice for him to say hi to the Browns fans and articulate some sort of plan. Maybe that’s just not him — but maybe it needs to be, considering he owns the team and all.

I sure hope 2009 can be legitimately called a Season of Hope. If we hire Pioli, I will be excited. If Mangini is part of the package though, while I’d be happy to eat crow about it later, I would have a real hard time being hopeful about next year.

Have I mentioned yet that I don’t like Mangini?

Good moniker for you!

Greater Cleveland is one of the nicest places to work and raise a family.

Perhaps the most affordable housing, little traffic compared to the east coast and lots of things to do in winter as well as summer. The music scene ain’t bad, either.

Plus, Randy Lerner will open up his checkbook to the new general manager and coach.

The latest hot coach candidate out there is Mike Shanahan, who unbelievably, was fired by the Denver Broncos organization.

I like a Pioli/Shanahan match up the best so far: Pioli for his personnel expertise and Shanahan, a motivator, a no-nonsense guy, also with Super Bowl experience.

The only thing is, who will introduce the Cleveland Browns new general manager and coach?

With Randy Lerner shunning any interviews with modern media equipment (video or audio), reporters and sports talk hosts have had access to Lerner by invitation only and armed with notebook and pens, only. All recording devices and cameras have been banned.

So fans read about the Lerner interview from Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer, or heard about it on sports radio shows.

The current spokesmen for the Browns happen to be none other than Brady Quinn and Joe Thomas.

These two players, albeit key players in the Browns organization, took questions from the media on the firing of both Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel, and speculated on the new candidates. (Their answers were very P.R.)

It would be absurd to consider Brett Favre the spokesman of the New York Jets regarding the firing of Eric Mangini.

If Lerner refuses to go before the cameras, how will the Cleveland Browns new hires be introduced?

Will Quinn and Thomas introduce them to the media? Will they hold their own press conferences and announce the hiring of each other? (“Here is Mike. Well, thank you Scott”).

My advice to Randy Lerner is: If you do not like to face the cameras and address the public, get over it.

This time the Browns need to get it right. Let’s start out on the right foot. Why not make a New Year’s resolution to overcome whatever fear you have of speaking in public.

And may the year 2009 rally be the Season of Hope for the Cleveland Browns.

Obviously, I was initially concerned that Pioli may be a product of the Patriots system. But as Bob pointed out above, Tom Dimitroff left New England before this season for Altanta…and he’s done pretty well.

So perhaps the post-Belichick struggles are just for coaches. We won’t know until Pioli gets out there on his own and Dimitroff proves he can build a consistent winner in Atlanta. But I’d have to say that the early returns are good.

I am also excited about the possibility of Pioli — but like you hinted at, the dynamic duo of Belichick and Pioli as worked well in New England.

But what if it is Pioli who is good because of Belichick. The Browns thought Crennel would be good because of the Belichick tree. And what about Charlie Weis, has he fallen far from the Belichick tree at Notre Dame.

There are critics who argue that without Belichick these men’s achievements are diminished.

I mean Romeo Crennel was the Patriots defensive coordinator. Yet, the Browns ended the 2008 season with one of the poorest rated defenses in the NFL.

Plus, Piolo is likely to coose Josh McDaniel as his head coach. I like the idea especially because of McDaniel’s success with quarterbacks (can you spell Brady Quinn?)

But if this took place, once again the Browns would have a first-time general manager and a first-time head coach together.

I, myself, don’t have a problem with it, but other local sports talk show hosts say two newbies will have a learning curve ahead of them, so to speak.

But no one can deny that Pioli has better people skills than Phil Savage (Ya’ think?)

And look what Baltimore has done for its rookie coach, John Harbaugh.

The problem is Browns fans want a Super Bowl win by 2010 — and I don’t even know if God Almighty and the Great Browns now in Heaven could pull it off that soon.

Cool. Good article, just wanted to point it out.

Congrats on the Deadspin link.

GREAT call. I was actually discussing that with someone last night and meant to add it. Tom Dimitroff has done an outstanding job in Atlanta, which certainly is a positive sign for Pioli’s potential.

Go get him Lerner, and let the healing begin in Cleveland…