Browns Banter: Kokinis May Have Cold Feet for Browns GM Job

Baltimore pro personnel director George Kokinis, Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner’s current top choice for general manager, may be getting cold feet.

One source told The Plain Dealer that Kokinis may be leaning toward staying in Baltimore.

Lerner was said to have scheduled an interview with Kokinis Sunday. But it was unclear whether this job interview occurs only if the Ravens were eliminated from play-off contention.

Of course, if you watched the game Saturday, you all know that Tennessee shot themselves in the foot about four times, allowing Baltimore to defeat the Titans in Nashville, 13-10. All the numbers point to a Titan win, but Baltimore’s defense showed up big time. And while the media is making a big deal about a rookie quarterback – Joe Flacco – and rookie coach – John Harbaugh – making history by winning their first two play-off games, it really was all about the defense. Can you say Ray Lewis?

George Kokinis was a frontrunner for the Browns general manager job, to replace the fired Phil Savage, because of his experience working under the traitor Ozzie Newsome. (Okay, I know, Art Modell offered the Wizard of Oz the job in Baltimore and it apparently was too good to refuse.)

The very fact that Newsome does not want to part with Kokinis, makes him even more valuable. Plus, Kokinis is a personal friend of Eric Mangini, the Browns new head coach, and the two could have worked together. This would be different than Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage, who clashed on everything from choosing players, to quarterbacks. Crennel wanted Brady Quinn after Derek Anderson proved to have the worst QB rating in the NFL. And the well-spoken and dignified Crennel certainly frowned on Savage’s explicit email after the Browns defeated Buffalo.

Now a Mangini and Kokinis marriage is in jeopardy.

Perhaps worrying that he won’t be able to coax Kokinis to come to Cleveland, Lerner has widened his GM search to include former Denver GM Ted Sundquist and Chris Polian, Colts vice president of football operations, as potential candidates, according to The Plain Dealer
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The Browns also have interviewed T.J. McCreight for the position. McCreight was player personnel director under former GM Phil Savage. (Oh, yeah. Now that would be a great hire. Someone working beneath Savage? I wonder if McCreight writes f-word emails. Think again, Mr. Lerner.)

Lerner has said in interviews that naming a general manager will take a back seat to assembling Mangini’s coaching staff. Mangini is poised to officially name Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll offensive coordinator and Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to the same post here.

However, Mangini said in his press conference that the first step would be to hire a general manager. But that was when Kokinis was considered a shoe-in.

Lerner’s very first interview was with Scott Pioli of the New England Patriots. Most Browns fans and local media voiced their preference for Pioli, but then he went West to interview in Kansas City, and when Lerner chose Mangini as head coach, Pioli’s name kind of went by the wayside. Lerner apparently did not think the gumbas could kiss and make up after Spygate. (In the spirit of full disclosure, my mother was Italian.)

Back to the play-offs.

I hate to say this, Much Needed Delusional Czech, but if it is Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh next week, I hope the Ravens lose.

But even if Baltimore blows it, will Kokinis turn his back on the City of the Dirty Birds and come to the Browns?

Only the Raven knows.

Tags: Cleveland Browns, eric mangini, george kokinis, NFL, randy lerner

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