Shaun Rogers Feels Disrespected by Mangini – So Much So That He Wants Out of Cleveland?
Thanks to the good folks over at Cleveland Frowns for the tip that Browns DT Shaun Rogers is so miffed at the new Eric Mangini-George Kokinis regime (Mankok, as it is now more commonly referred) that he wants to be granted a release from the franchise.
According to Adam Schefter of NFL.com, the burly defensive lineman, who was one of the lone bright spots for the Browns last season, is miffed at what he perceives to be multiple instances of disrespect on the part of Mangini. Per the report, Rogers is due a $6 million option-bonus payment next month but would rather be released by the Browns than collect the balance of the $15 million in guaranteed money on his contract.
The source of Rogers’ discontent is apparently two separate instances in which he and Mangini were in the same room, but Mangini did not talk to him. One occurred in the Browns’ training room and the other occurred at a public charity function attended by both men. Mangini has said, at least regarding the “green room incident” at the charity function, that he did not realize Rogers was even there.
More from Schefter:
Cleveland has no intention of getting rid of Rogers. It wants him back as the productive team member he was last season, when he was selected to the Pro Bowl. Browns coach Eric Mangini, according to those within the Cleveland organization, is still optimistic that he can change Rogers’ mind once the two men speak. Mangini is said to have recently reached out to Rogers. Those who know Rogers say his mind will not be changed.
But Mangini has had success in these types of settings. When he arrived in New York as the Jets’ coach in 2006, wide receiver Laveranues Coles was, at best, a skeptic, but Mangini eventually won him over.
Honestly, this sounds to me like much ado about nothing in the long run. While Schefter does point out that “some believe there are other reasons driving Rogers’ desire to leave the Browns,” there are two primary reasons why this will get patched up and be a non-story come the start of 2009 training camp:
- Rogers has a lot of money on the line. For $15 million guaranteed something tells me he will be able to swallow his pride in the long-run.
- Eric Mangini needs Shaun Rogers to be a motivated and productive member of the defense for the Browns to experience any success in 2009 and beyond. He mended fences with Coles in New York and I’m sure he will do whatever is necessary to mend the currently broken fence with Shaun Rogers.
Considering the dearth of big, agile defensive lineman in this year’s draft, and the fact that Albert Haynesworth already appears like a done deal to Washington, it seems to me like the urgency to patch things up falls more on the side of Mangini.
Let’s he hope he does so, and quickly. Shaun Rogers is a physical, athletic, and apparently sensitive guy; but we absolulutely need him happy, motivated, and being his big beastly self in the trenches next year.
Tags: Cleveland Browns, eric mangini, NFL, nfl offseason, shaun rogers
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Definitely seems agent-based. This is the problem with a team that wont talk to the media – we don’t know what’s true and what isn’t. Thus, the national media can spin whatever they like.
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JRod Reply:
February 25th, 2009 at 11:38 am
@Scott, very true. I’m just really hoping that cooler and more humble heads prevail here and we can put this behind us quickly. Shaun Rogers is, without question, the most irreplaceable player on the roster. If Mangini needs to eat some humble pie and grovel to make Rogers happy, do it. When he’s terrorizing opposing D’s again next year, it will be well worth it.
Without Rogers, I’m not sure how we’d stop anyone.
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