New England Browns?

December 30, 2008   ·   Paul Raymond   ·   Jump to comments

Could the Cleveland Browns be trying a new approach to player personnel moves and style of coaching? Well not really a new approach, it would be an approach perfected by the New England Patriots. But for the Browns to try something that could be successful then it is new. Yes, I know they had Romeo Crennel as their head coach but I think if anything Crennel showed he’s not ready for the top spot and is better suited to be a defensive coordinator. So how are the Cleveland Browns going to become a copy cat version of the New England Patriots? Let’s look.

Alright first everyone knows Bill Belichick runs the show in New England, he’s the genius on the field and plays a big part in player personnel decisions, but the real brain trust of the operation is Executive Vice President Scott Pioli. He’s got the final say on all the moves and you know what he’s the one who makes the dollars and cents work. While Pioli was a Pro Personnel Assistant in Cleveland back in the mid-1990s with Bill, he really honed his craft in New England. And is now easily one of the top execs in the league when it comes to player decisions.

It’s widely believed that Pioli is the front runner for the Browns front office job, he’s even got an official interview Wednesday afternoon. I expect him to quickly be hired after that. Who knows maybe even that same day. Regardless he’s going to be running the show in Cleveland and you know he’ll bring the New England style of moves with him. So watch the Browns start emphasizing cost efficient veterans on the free agent market and avoiding those high priced cry baby stars. Also look for the Browns to slowly start finding some diamonds in the rough in the late rounds of the NFL Draft.

When it comes to the head coaching position thou things are more up in the air. The Browns have received permission to talk to numerous coordinators around the league. The most notable is New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, other names include Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Tennessee Titans dc Jim Schwartz, Baltimore Ravens dc Rex Ryan and Dallas Cowboys oc Jason Garrett. All impressive names but there is one marquee name now in the mix. Former New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini.

In three seasons with the Jets, Mangini compiled a 23-25 record, with really only one dismal season of 4-12 in 2007. They may have failed to reach the playoffs in 2008, but the team did go 9-7. The Mangenius is going to be a hot commodity this offseason and the Browns are going to try and strike before the competition really gets involved. Browns owner Randy Lerner has already set up an interview with Mangini. Coincidentally this is also scheduled for Wednesday. Why do I have a feeling part of these interviews will involve a sit down between Mangini and Pioli. The main question being can you two co-exist?

Remember Mangini is a Belichick disciple. He perfected his trade in New England too, just like Pioli. While the two coaches offensive philosophies differ the defensive strategies are insanely similar. The two have had their well publicized falling out, even leading to something called “Spygate”. Who will ever forget that? That incident really caused a huge wedge between Mangini and the Belichick/Pioli combo. The big question is going to be if Pioli is hired can he and Mangini co-exist. I think they can, without a doubt. Mangini was always touted as a young Belichick and you know what, that means he must have the fire Bill has. So basically that means he wants to win. After years of working with Scott in New England, he knows he is a winner and I believe he would jump at the chance to work with him if they can make things work in Cleveland.

Another wild card here is Romeo Crennel, yes the just fired head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Crennel and Mangini were very close when they worked together. Mangini was an assistant on the defensive coaching staff that Crennel led in Foxboro. Would he ask Romeo to be his defensive coordinator? Would the Browns ownership be willing to bring him back on staff? The answer to both is yes. Lerner and Crennel ended things on good terms, and Romeo even offered to come back on the defensive side if the right situation presented itself.

All of this could lead to another great rivalry in the AFC. Look at the storylines. Belichick a former Cleveland Browns coach. Mangini a former Belichick coordinator, turned rival as head coach of the New York Jets, leaves the Jets and takes over the Browns job. The second head coaching job he’d have that his former mentor once held. Pioli shifts to Cleveland takes over player personnel decisions, do any Patriots players follow? Doubt it at first, but hey you never know.

I haven’t peaked in to next year’s divisional matchups yet but if these signings with Mangini and Pioli happen then the NFL HAS TO put a Patriots / Browns game on the schedule. It’s a MUST!

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