Breaking: Browns Reach Agreement with Eric Mangini to be Head Coach

Breaking news from the Cleveland Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio: Eric Mangini will be the Browns next head coach, replacing Romeo Cennel who was fired on Dec. 29 after a disappointing 4-12 season.

The official announcement will be made Thursday morning from Berea when Mangini will be introduced to the media, according to a report from WKNR AM 850.

The announcement comes on the heels of a rumor that Lerner was actually waiting until Monday to name his new head coach. That’s when former Denver Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan, would be available.

The Broncos were one game away from a play-off berth, and the firing of Shanahan was viewed a surprise to national sportscasters and most of the sports-covering press.

Mark “Munch” Bishop of WKNR reported after today’s announcement that Lerner had been advised to wait until Shanahan returned from a two-week family vacation — and to sit down and talk with Shanahan before committing to Mangini.

Apparently, Lerner, for whatever reason, decided to go with Mangini who actually started his career in Cleveland as an assistant under Bill Belichick.

Although the New York Jets at one point were 8-3 for the season, they ended their run at 9-7 and failed to make the play-offs.

Allegedly, Mangini did not like the acquisition of former Packer great Brett Favre to the Jets team last year. He managed to reign Favre in, but after about six games, Farve who was older than Coach Mangini ,took more control which some critics say, led to Favre’s typical gunslinger play — exciting and risky, and in the end the interceptions killed Farve’s chance to make the play-offs as a Jet, and Mangini took the fall for the disappointing season.

“Lerner simply fell in love with Eric Mangini during his first interview,” according to a news report from Daryl Ryder, WKNR beat reporter. “My only problem is, Randy Lerner was in such a hurry to get this done.”

Mangini is said to be recruiting assistant coaches from the Jets organization.

Mangini’s direct supervisor, the Browns general manager and perhaps team president, have not been chosen, although Lerner is said to be waiting for permission from the Baltimore Ravens to interview Kokinis, who worked under Browns great receiver and Ravens general manager, Ozzie Newsome, thought by many to be a recruiting genius.

Baltimore will play Tennessee on Saturday. If the Ravens lose the game, Lerner would be free to speak with Kokinis.

One can only hope Lerner was not in a hurry to get the Browns business out of the way to jet off to England to see his Astin-Villa futbol (soccer) team play. (Lerner bought the soccer team after the Browns were willed to him after the death of his father, Al Lerner, the original team owner of the 1999 Browns.

Phil Savage, the Browns fired general manager, also came from the Baltimore organization.

Tune in to Midwestsportsfans.com tomorrow to find out more details following the press conference.

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