In the aftermath of the Super Bowl, there is no joy in Cleveland.
But new Browns Coach Eric Mangini has said little for fans to rejoice about, done nothing to restore hope that the 2009 Cleveland Browns will be competitive.
Mangini’s weekly “press conferences†have left a lot to be desired.
After Browns fans and sports talk show hosts were critical of Mangini white-washing over a mural of Browns Hall of Famers at the team training facility in Berea, Mangini held a meeting with the media on Thursday to clear things up.
He denied the move was used to dis Browns greats such as Jim Brown, Paul Warfield, Leroy Kelly, Otto Graham, etc., or send a message to the current players. Rather, he was simply giving the building a “new look.â€
The Browns organization plans to put the removable mural in a more prominent place for fans. That’s all.
We want the fans to appreciate the mural, too, he said.
Good answer, Eric! I wonder why it took you more than a week to address these concerns. Is it because you only just thought up the perfect answer? Whatever. He is sticking to his story.
But maybe Coach Mangini has been too busy scouting for talent – and firing the scouts that have already done the bulk of the legwork and paperwork for the upcoming football season. The latest Browns employees to get pink slips were Midwest scout Kevin Kelly and national scout Daniel Jeremiah.
Kelly, the longest-tenured scout in the organization with eight years on the job, was told at a personnel meeting this past week that his services were no longer needed, according to The Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot. The Super Scout was responsible for convincing Josh Cribbs to market himself as a returner or receiver – rather than a quarterback – Cribbs’ position at Kent State University. Kelly also pointed Cribbs in the direction of the Browns as an undrafted free agent, rather than sign with his hometown team, the Washington Redskins.
Forget about the so-called psychic scouting ability of former Browns General Manager Phil Savage. Kelly was the first to spot Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas, 2007 Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards and quarterback Brady Quinn. And over Kelly’s eight seasons with the Browns, seven of his undrafted free agents, made the roster.
Both Kelly and Jeremiah, who spent two years with the Browns, toiled and traveled endlessly this past year preparing for the NFL draft in April, compiling extensive reports on hundreds of draft-eligible players, Cabot wrote.
Does this mean Mangini can’t use the ex-scouts reports? Or did he order the men to leave their reports behind, thus having the extensive information at his fingertips for no extra dollars.
I suspect we’ll soon hear of Kelly reporting to the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaking of those pesky Ratbirds, with defensive maniac and kingpin Ray Lewis refusing to accept a “home town discountâ€, he is sure to go into free agency for the upcoming season. Browns owner Randy Lerner needs to keep his eye on this defensive stud and team leader and dangle some bling – and bucks – before him.
Mangini claims to love the Cleveland Browns, to understand the rivalry and the Browns fans — but some critics worry Mangini’s ego may get in the way of sound decision-making.
At least he probably won’t allow Braylon Edwards to run around barefoot at practice, anymore.
While NFL reports the Browns are shopping quarterback Derek Anderson, Mangini refuses to comment on any personnel changes.
I just hope Mangini likes Brady Quinn more than Brett Favre, and Quinn gets finally get his chance to lead his team down the field – and even into the long-deserted Red Zone for an offensive score.
Go, Browns!
