so now....will mediocre mangini stay or go?

 

odds are typically against it, but i bet holmgren keeps him on for next year.

 

otherwise whos he going to replace him with? certainly not shanahan?

^Jon Gruden would be the logical choice given their connection and Gruden being from the Sandusky area.  However, Gruden stated on MNF last night that he will not be returning to coaching "next season"

 

Of course, plenty of coaches have given such assurances before and, when put in front of a big stack of $$, their minds seem to change rather easily.

OK, three wins in a row and I, the silent protester, has to break his silence to spur discussion??

OK, three wins in a row and I, the silent protester, has to break his silence to spur discussion??

 

It was a good game.    Nice to see a win streak.  To bad this "gel'n" didn't happen 8 games ago.

 

I think it gives the kids something to look forward to next year.

^agreed.  While certainly nice, winning now and winning when the games actually mean something, are two entirely different things

I'm enjoying the browns winning as much as anyone, but I think the reason there wasn't "gel'n" 8 games ago is because we didn't get to play KC and OAK back to back.  We still lack talent on this team in a bad way...

I'm enjoying the browns winning as much as anyone, but I think the reason there wasn't "gel'n" 8 games ago is because we didn't get to play KC and OAK back to back.  We still lack talent on this team in a bad way...

 

True, but at least we're competitive.  The line between a good team and bad team in NFL is a lot thinner than it is in the NBA, NHL or MLB.

I think we're a lot better with Jerome Harrison as our primary RB.  I've been hoping for that move for over a year now.  Too bad it took Jamal Lewis getting injured for the Browns to make that move.  Also, I'd like to see them use Brian Robiskie more.  He may not be the quickest receiver of the crew (although he's not slow by any means), but he has great hands, runs good routes, and blocks very well.

I think we're a lot better with Jerome Harrison as our primary RB.  I've been hoping for that move for over a year now.  Too bad it took Jamal Lewis getting injured for the Browns to make that move.  Also, I'd like to see them use Brian Robiskie more.  He may not be the quickest receiver of the crew (although he's not slow by any means), but he has great hands, runs good routes, and blocks very well.

 

Wasn't he hurt?

Yes, he hurt his ankle during the game.  But we really haven't used him much all season.  Hopefully he gets more into the mix next season.

Also, I'd like to see them use Brian Robiskie more. He may not be the quickest receiver of the crew (although he's not slow by any means), but he has great hands, runs good routes, and blocks very well.

 

If this was the case I think he'd be getting more PT this season... obviously there is something that he isn't getting at the pro level...

Also, I'd like to see them use Brian Robiskie more.  He may not be the quickest receiver of the crew (although he's not slow by any means), but he has great hands, runs good routes, and blocks very well.

 

If this was the case I think he'd be getting more PT this season... obviously there is something that he isn't getting at the pro level...

 

He's been out a few games, but I dont think he's tough enough.  He looks soft to me.

 

I'm mostly angry that we took two #2 recievers in the 2nd round.  Neither is a #1, and you can't play both guys in the same position at the same time... wasted pick.

I'm mostly angry that we took two #2 recievers in the 2nd round.  Neither is a #1, and you can't play both guys in the same position at the same time... wasted pick.

 

Mayor Cleveland is now Coach Mayor Cleveland.  LOL

Also, I'd like to see them use Brian Robiskie more.  He may not be the quickest receiver of the crew (although he's not slow by any means), but he has great hands, runs good routes, and blocks very well.

 

If this was the case I think he'd be getting more PT this season... obviously there is something that he isn't getting at the pro level...

 

You are probably right but coaches aren't always perfect evaluators of talent.  Case in point: using Jamal Lewis as your primary running back all year until he got hurt.  He's too old and slow to be anything but a change of pace/power running back now.

i'm not disagreeing with that statement...  I'm just saying that when you play on one of the 5 worst teams in the NFL, and are a second round pick, and can't even be on the ACTIVE ROSTER for over half the games, you aren't doing something right.

ATTENTION: we've got Pro Bowlers!  Congrats to Josh and Joe.

 

Cleveland Browns send Josh Cribbs and Joe Thomas to Pro Bowl

By Tony Grossi

December 29, 2009, 5:56PM

UPDATED: 8:17 p.m.

 

BEREA, Ohio -- The way the Browns' season has gone over the past three games -- all wins -- it shouldn't come as a surprise that return specialist and Wildcat runner Josh Cribbs and left tackle Joe Thomas were named to the AFC Pro Bowl team.

 

In the 13-6 win over Pittsburgh on Dec. 10, Cribbs captivated a national television audience with a 55-yard punt return to set up a field goal and also gained 44 of his 87 rushing yards on the Browns' lone touchdown drive.

 

MORE AT

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2009/12/cleveland_browns_send_josh_cri.html

Nobody will argue whether Cribbs deserved to make the PB.  But I have heard some say that JT made it on name recognition and because he has become a perennial participant.  Not sure about that.  He only allowed one sack (another occurred when the QB spun right into his man) and I believe was only called on one hold all season.  You might not hear his name much, but that is the sign of a good OL.

Dear Team: Thanks for turning one of the most horrific Browns' seasons into a reason for optimism. Thanks for the modicum of hope.

Cheers to that.  That little bit of hope is what makes the wait for next season slightly painful.  Then that hope will develop into feverish anticipation, the rumors will start churning, preseason will go really well and then we start the cycle all over again.

 

Well, I hope not.  Here's to improvement!

Called it.

Same, but when I was thinking about this thread on Sunday I could have sworn I was a bit more optimistic, but apparently not.

Called it.

 

Heh, I sorta called it.  I said if Derek Anderson was the QB, then they'd go 5-11.

During this last 4 game run, the team looked more and more like the Browns I remember from my childhood.  Hit you in your mouth defense and run down your throat offense.  Here's hoping Mangini gets one more year.

I think he should get another year as well.  I think the Browns need to stop this rebuilding every 3 years sh!t and get the team stabilized.

I said 7-9.  But i did remind someone up the thread that Jerome Harrison and josh Cribbs were two huge playmakers.  They will be the focus of the offense next year.  Im really pumped about Harrison.

Im anxious to hear peoples thoughts on Mangini.  I never hated the guy the entire year, because i thought this organization was a disaster at one point.  I am real encouraged with the way he had these guys playing at the end...and any time your best player (Cribbs) says a guys should be coach, that means something.  I say YES.

I'm not sure.  How knows what the new president will want.

I said 7-9.

 

Oh well.  Well do this again later in the year.  LOL

I don't think that Harrison is all that great. I paid good attention to him over the past few weeks and didn't come away impressed The offensive line opened up huge holes for him and he took advantage. He didn't break many tackles and he didn't display much speed. Besides the o-line, Vickers and the receivers blocked extremely well. I am extremely pleased with the offensive line play.

I don't think Harrison's great, but I think he is a big improvement over using Jamal Lewis as your primary tailback (at his current age).  He seems to have better vision and agility.  He has the ability to cut that Jamal Lewis doesn't anymore.

I've liked Mangini throughout his time here.  I really hope we keep him.  The QB situation was bungled horribly but aside from that he has not deserved all the bashing.  Gotta break eggs to make an omlette.  At this point it appears that Braylon and K2, and especially Jamal Lewis, were dragging the team down. 

It will depend on whether him and Big Mike can come to an agreement on "schemes"

 

Mangini is a ball control offense, 3-4 defense guy.  Holmgrem is a west coast offense, 4-3 defense guy.  You can't get much more conflicting than that.  So.... the question is how far will Holmgrem's "final say" authority extend onto the actual playing field.

It will depend on whether him and Big Mike can come to an agreement on "schemes"

 

Mangini is a ball control offense, 3-4 defense guy.  Holmgrem is a west coast offense, 4-3 defense guy.  You can't get much more conflicting than that.  So.... the question is how far will Holmgrem's "final say" authority extend onto the actual playing field.

Agreed.

Reghi was talking about this on KNR last night, and they brought up a good point: will Mangini's ego let him just be the coach reporting to not just Holmgren but also to whatever GM he hires? He can tell Holmgren no thanks and still walk away with the money, and then go find another team to Micro-managini (eh? eh?....meh!)

Is Holmgren going to hire a GM?  I thought he was going to be the GM, at least as it comes to player/personnel decisions.  He might hire someone to head up the non-football operations part of the organization, but I doubt he is going to bring in another white collar to interact with whatever coach he decides to go with.

He had a press conference last week that KNR broadcast, right after he officially took the job. Someone asked him if he was going to sign a GM and he said yes. Holmgren is going to be team President. He wouldn't specify who he had in mind because league rules prohibited it during the regular season.

7-9 was the winner of the poll, but 5-11 is a lot closer to that mark than 1-15.  At the beginning of December, I was afraid that's where we were heading!

 

I'm definitely optimistic for next year!  :-)

I said 4-12...I guess they exceeded my expectations!

I said 4-12 as well. I had a bet with a co-worker after the first 4 games that Mangini was out before the end of the season. Then I doubled down at the half way point in saying that they'd replace him with Rob Ryan as interim coach. I almost thought I had it when they fired Kokinis. Oh well. C'est la guerre. Jokes on him....I'm taking him to Skyline both times!

 

 

I said 4-12 as well. I had a bet with a co-worker after the first 4 games that Mangini was out before the end of the season. Then I doubled down at the half way point in saying that they'd replace him with Rob Ryan as interim coach. I almost thought I had it when they fired Kokinis. Oh well. C'est la guerre. Jokes on him....I'm taking him to Skyline both times!

 

 

 

Haha, gross!  :-P

i called it --- that wasn't hard this year.

 

i wish it was the other way around and we were still in it!

no decision after the big pow wow today, it will be made by the end of the week:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2010/01/eric_mangini.html

 

i think holmgren should keep him on unless cowher or maybe gruden wants to coach.

Both Holmgren and "Mangenius" are disciplinarians...and this is what the team needs. Now if they can coexist... I say keep him...give him a chance. Remember, he inherited a total mess.

I would like to see him stick around.  I like that he pruned the dead weight, stacked the draft and cleared some salary space.  Being one of the least penalized teams in the league was refreshing... I always think back to Duane Rudd!

 

I was surprised at how much critisim he got for fining B. Edwards $1,701 for not paying for a 3 dollar bottle of water.  I like the message that was sent.  Where was the critisim for Edwards?  He can pay a truck load for premium liquor partying with Donte Stallworth but can't shell out 3 dollars for his water?  Good grief!

My initial criticism of him centered around the fact that the team's ineffectiveness seemed to stem from his inability to connect / motivate the players. Now I'm beginning to wonder if there were a few malcontents making a lot of noise. As much as I hate to say it (and I hate it, trust me), I wouldn't throw my tv out the window if he's given another year, just to see how it pans out.

I always think back to Duane Rudd!

 

Ughhh.... I was at that game.

I always think back to Duane Rudd!

 

Ughhh.... I was at that game.

 

I know right!  I bet he thinks back to that each time he thinks about his $600K in back child support!

I think Holmgren is waiting out the good feelings from the past few weeks so that Browns fans can make a more sober judgement about the team. 

 

At least that is happening to me.  I think Mangini, if all things were the same, would be a good coach for the Browns, and I was proud of the way they played the last 4 games.  I actually expected victory in the last game.

 

That said, Holmgren was brought in not only to win games, but to build a solid, respectable NFL franchise.  He is going to need his guys in position to make that happen.  Maybe Mangini is willing to be a subordinate, but if he is not, he won't want to be part of the newest edidtion of the Browns.

 

I think Mangini proved himself as a good NFL coach this year.  It just may be that his carreer will not be in Cleveland.

I would love to know if "the talk" is going to be a two way street. If anybody can say to Mangini," Look you can't do it all, just coach and let me and the organization handle the rest." it would Holmgren after his stint as GM and coach in Seattle.

 

I know that Mangini is a control freak (most headcoaches are)but I wonder if his desire to control everything in Cleveland partially came from having Brett Farve rammed down his throat with the Jets. I know that he agreed but when your GM and owner say we are getting Brett Favre, what are you going to do?