I was hoping to find out about the future of the coaching staff today, after his meeting with Holmgren.  I don't feel strongly either way about whether Mangini stays or goes.  I suppose I am leaning towards keeping him for another year, but what do I know.

 

I watched the entire game yesterday but did not get angry like normal.... the 4 game slide made me feel emotionally detached.  I'm sure hope will grow and I will be ready for next season (if there is one).

 

That was a real whooping yesterday.  The biggest sting came seeing the Squeelers fans waving their stupid yellow rags and hearing their chants.  That hurt a bit.

Mangini fired.

I watched the entire game yesterday but did not get angry like normal.... the 4 game slide made me feel emotionally detached. I'm sure hope will grow and I will be ready for next season (if there is one).

 

Welcome to my world!

 

And, here it is....

 

Cleveland Browns fire Eric Mangini as coach after second 5-11 season

Published: Updated: Monday, January 03, 2011, 10:10 AM

By Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer

 

BEREA, Ohio -- The Eric Mangini Era is over after two seasons of 5-11 records.

 

The Browns coach was fired this morning in a meeting with President Mike Holmgren. He had two years remaining on his contract at an average salary of about $3.9 million, according to previous reports.

 

Unlike a year ago, when Holmgren met with Mangini over a few days to decide his fate, this inquisition didn't take long.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/01/cleveland_browns_fire_eric_man.html

^ Shocked.

 

 

Not pleased.  The offense needs to change, but stability at HC would have been nice.  Mangini brought needed discipline without losing the players.  I would have given him at least another year, with a new OC and another Heckert draft.

^Agreed 327. I am not a Mangini hater but that 4 game slide at the end and the maddening inconsist play gave Holgren every excuse hhe would need to fire Mangini. 

I'm shocked as well.  It's not like the poor guy had THAT much to work with.  And the players seemed to like and respect him.  I thought for sure they'd give him another year.....

I actually feel bad for Mangini on a human level, but on a football level, he needed to go, as well as daboll.

Wow, that was fast.

Wow, that was fast.

 

I think Holmgren knew he was doing this after the Cincy game.

Wow, that was fast.

 

I think Holmgren knew he was doing this after the Cincy Jacksonville game.

 

I fixed that for you

 

Whenever Holmgren disappeared from media coverage, that's when he made his decision.

Whenever Holmgren disappeared from media coverage, that's when he made his decision.

 

And that was right around the Jacksonville game.

shocked. i never liked mediocre mangini, but he finally earned respect this year. the team played over their heads for a fun while. wasn't his fault they dont have enough talent. i take holmgren has someone in mind he thinks he can get and work with? cowher?!

Bill Cowher is never going to coach the Cleveland Browns.  I know he played here, but he built a legacy in pittsburgh. He would never throw that away by coming to Cleveland, Pittsburgh's biggest rival.

naaw i bet cowher would coach the browns, but i bet more that holmgren wants a tool so he can stealth coach from the box.

Does anyone know how Mangini came to be a ballboy for the Browns? Did he have some Cleveland connection prior to working with the Browns?

Bill Cowher is never going to coach the Cleveland Browns. I know he played here, but he built a legacy in pittsburgh. He would never throw that away by coming to Cleveland, Pittsburgh's biggest rival.

 

He started his coaching career here. He was the Browns' special teams coach in 1985-86 and secondary coach in 1987-88. I remember when Marty Schottenheimer was fired as head coach because he refused to let someone other than himself be the offensive coordinator, and there was thought that Cowher might take over as head coach but others thought he was still too young (he was only 31 or 32). Instead Cowher followed Schottenheimer to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989 as their defensive coordinator.

a little blurb from espn:

 

"Holmgren did not reveal names of any candidates and said he has not yet talked to former head coaches Jon Gruden and John Fox, two close friends."

 

 

Gruden and Fox are surely at the top of the list, I have to think.  Morningwheg (sp?) only because he is a Holmgren guy.  Reports today say that the Browns have asked for permission to speak with the Giants' DC.  I think Jim Harbough could get a peak, but is an unrealistic option.

 

I think I prefer Fox for this team with the caveat that he brings in a strong OC.

Gruden and Fox are surely at the top of the list, I have to think.  Morningwheg (sp?) only because he is a Holmgren guy.  Reports today say that the Browns have asked for permission to speak with the Giants' DC.  I think Jim Harbough could get a peak, but is an unrealistic option.

 

I think I prefer Fox for this team with the caveat that he brings in a strong OC.

 

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.  As a Panthers fan the struggles of the offense have been legendary.  Hell, Jeff Davidson (you know former Browns coach/OC when Carthon was fired) was our OC coordinator.  Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Fox is hired if he brings Davidson in.  The good thing about Fox, he likes a power running game.  Bad, his defense is typically vanilla, that could be countered by Rob Ryan though. 

Looks like Pat Shumur , OC for the Rams, will be named head coach either today or tomorrow. It's not a sexy hire, but it makes sense. He's well versed in the west coast offense, which fits Colt's strengths, he helped groom McNabb in Philly and Bradford in St. Louis. I like the idea Holmgren has set up an organizational structure. This is something that has been missing since the Browns came back. Hopefully, this will mean everybody is on the same page.

Browns have just formally announced - Shurmur is head coach. Presser is tomorrow @ 11

Now on to the free agent market and planning for the draft, if a labor stoppage doesn't fuck it up.

Sugar.... errr, I mean Kerrigan is still my guy as long as Peterson and Fairley are off the board as expected.

Boy, the hiring of Shurmur sure hasn't generated much discussion or debate! Dare I say: it's just a murmur over Shurmur?? :-D

Im happy with the hire. Nothing to be super excited with but nothing to be really upset about either. Im glad we just didn't get another recycled head coach who got fired, who has had a losing record. Time to bring in some fresh blood.

I just hope next year the Browns take one step forward next year, even if it's a baby step.

For sure. I hope they will be able to develop McCoy now that he will most likely be the starter and he will be able to get all the reps and focus this offseason.

Frowns (clevelandfrowns.com) has gone off the deep end over this whole Mangini/Shurmur thing. He used to be a pretty good read, now he is just as out there as Grossi.

 

I am indifferent to Shumur, Mangini had potential, but you can easily justify canning him.

<b>Hillis takes a different kind of trash talk</b>

 

In an interview with Dan Patrick, Hillis dropped a whopper on us after being asked if he understood the whole "novelty of being a white running back." Unfortunately, it harkens back to a week ago with all of the trash talk going on between the Patriots and New York Jets. One wonders whether there is a fine line about what is and isn't acceptable. I'm going to assume that everybody believes the following is unacceptable.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/blogs/thebuzz/2011/01/peyton_hillis_t.html

Yep, it's unacceptable. Imagine what the reaction would be in the black community if whites started ragged on black quarterbacks for being black.

Imagine if you referred to a grown man as "black boy"

^Hahahah.

 

"Hey black boy, you ain't going to throw on us today. This is ridiculous, why are you letting a WR throw a football!"

So we got a new Special Teams Coordinator.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/01/cleveland_browns_hire_former_b.html

 

 

So far im happy with all the decisions so far. Im glad we didn't go for some recycled head coach like Fox. Gruden wasn't going to happen and im glad cause I thought he was over rated, he had a lot of poor seasons including several losing seasons. Cowher would have never come here. And im glad we got a new guy. Im really happy Daboll is gone because he sucked, one of the worst in the NFL. Unfortunate Seely left but I think his replacement has a good resume. I think it was the right time for change with head coach, I didnt hate Mangini but he had his problems, including half time adjustments(partly Dabolls fault as well) but it was time for change in my opinion. Ryan was over rated too I think, he did alright, but we gave up a lot of yards, not points, but yards, which eventually can lead to points. Our defense looked terrible against Pittsburgh and Ryan doesnt know how to keep his mouth shut, like his brother.

So we did the ring of honor, now when are we going to hang up championship banners? Wasn't that the plan?

So we did the ring of honor, now when are we going to hang up championship banners? Wasn't that the plan?

 

I think they're still looking for them in the Smithsonian's catacombs....

I think its almost time to update this poll

^agreed

To what? Any suggestions?

^who should the browns draft??

How will the browns do in 2011?

^who should the browns draft??

 

Got some names of college players likely to be there when the Browns draft since we can't do fill-in-the-blank questions?

 

How will the browns do in 2011?

 

Let's save that one for summer.

How about what do you think of the offseason coaching changes?

Awesome

Great

Good

Okay

Bad

Awful

WTF

 

Or should we keep Phil Dawson?

Yes

Yes

 

;)

How about what do you think of the offseason coaching changes?

Awesome

Great

Good

Okay

Bad

Awful

WTF

 

Or should we keep Phil Dawson?

Yes

Yes

 

;)

 

Way to go QM!

^ Hey, I know my questions!

^who should the browns draft??

 

Got some names of college players likely to be there when the Browns draft since we can't do fill-in-the-blank questions?

 

There's no way to tell who will be there, especially in this draft.  But here are the consensus top prospects (probably in this order)

 

D. Bowers - DE - Clemson

N. Fairley - DT - Auburn

P. Peterson - CB - LSU

M. Dareus - DT/DE - Alabama

A.J. Green - WR - Georgia

R. Quinn - DE - UNC

P. Amukamara - CB - Nebraska

V. Miller - OLB/DE - Texas A&M

 

If we stay at #6, I would be surprised if one of those guys wasn't our pick.  However, there may be some interest for some team looking to take a QB because SF picks right behind us and may grab the top QB available.  So if another team wants to leapfrog SF, they may give us a good offer to move down. 

 

My personal favorite remains Ryan Kerrigan out of Purdue, but it looks like you can get him about 10 picks lower, so I would be in favor of trading down.

 

As you can see, this draft is ridiculously loaded with defensive lineman.

 

Our biggest need is surely WR and defensive linemen, specifically 2 gap tackles (think Warren Sapp) and edge rushing ends (think Dwight Freeney).

 

If you want to add QB's to the poll, put in B. Gibbert (Missouri) and C. Newton (Auburn).  Gibbert is the consensus top QB and Newton has the star power to go in the top 10 even though some scouts are very shaky on him.

OK kiddies, we have a new poll question up. Please note you can your vote at any time, so it will be interesting to see how the poll results change as the off-season progresses through the draft, off-season training programs, free agency, rookie camps, holdouts, etc. Then, in the middle of pre-season (if there is one!), after there has been a game or two, we can change the poll for predictions of the season.

 

OK? Have at it!

 

My vote: "Whatever....."

I'm in the "Ehhh...Whateva" Camp!  Check with me in July.

BTW, interesting draft discussion about the Browns......

 

http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2011/1/24/1953100/2011-nfl-mock-draft-cleveland-browns

 

EDIT: I change the wording in some of the poll answers to help make it easier for people to select the second-best or second-worst option to avoid extremes or too many "whatever" answers.