http://cle.scout.com/2/914313.html

By John Taylor

Posted Oct 29, 2009


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As the Browns struggle yet again, questions are already arising about the team's new organization. Could a structural change help? We asked, he replied.

There’s been a growing crescendo in recent weeks that, with the lack of success thus far by the Mangini & Kokinis combo platter, the Browns are in need of yet another hire.

Not necessarily a new head coach, mind you – although a burgeoning segment of the fan base and media would argue that’s exactly what’s necessary – but rather the hiring of someone to oversee the whole of football operations, something that’s been sorely lacking in the organization since its re-inception back in 1999.

At no point since the team has returned have the Browns had a single football executive who oversaw all of football operations. The Browns have had an inexperienced GM and head coach working for a business executive (Dwight Clark, Chris Palmer, and Carmen Policy), a first-time NFL head coach who was also the de facto GM (Butch Davis), and two supposedly “equal partnerships” of a head coach and GM (Savage/Crennel and Mangini/Kokinis).

None of these organizations, to date, have achieved much on-field success, and with the team’s poor start this season, critics are already suggesting that the partnership between Mangini and Kokinis is not working out as hoped.

One possibility is to put an executive in charge of all of football operations, with the team’s head coach and general manager reporting to him. That executive would have bottom-line responsibility and accountability for the team’s football performance.

This role can have varying titles, like “President of Football Operations” or “Executive Vice President-Football Operations”, and has been filled elsewhere with individuals like Bill Parcells (Miami Dolphins) and Ozzie Newsome (Baltimore Ravens).

Of course, the only person with the power to make that sort of organizational change is owner Randy Lerner. And, at first blush, it seems to be an option the son of Al Lerner may consider.

In response to an email question from theOBR which asked if it made sense to consider hiring a president of football operations or an executive with similar authority, Lerner responded as follows:

“There is no question that the Browns need a credible, vocal leader that is accountable for all levels of performance. Regardless of the title, that person, whether they're in the building currently or not, is a priority.”

You can draw your own conclusions as to what Lerner means by that statement, but it certainly seems as if something could be brewing in the upper levels of Berea this offseason. And it’s something that may not sit well at all with those currently holding the reins of power with a vice-like grip.

its should all come down to one man and if lerner does not want to be that man, he should sell the team or hire that one man to oversee the organization. no people who wear multiple hats, one man we can hold responsible for the team we see on sunday. one man to let the coaches and front office do their jobs but make the hard decisions when needed. power sharing has not worked here because one guy is always going to work towards complete control and then chaos. one man randy, if that is not you please sell this team or hire that guy. btw, i am available, lol. jmho

Wow if this is true!

This could only mean Lerner is starting to get it!

Thank God. Although is it really that hard to figure this out? Did we really need to go thru 10 years of ignorance to get to this point?

one man = bernie kosar?
could he be "that guy" next sesaon a la ozzie newsome?
i'm not saying bernie will save this franchise and lead the browns to the promised land, but i really think it could be possible. nobody knows. bernie has no experience in the front office but neither did ozzie once upon a time.

quote:

Originally posted by bandit:
one man = bernie kosar?
could he be "that guy" next sesaon a la ozzie newsome?
i'm not saying bernie will save this franchise and lead the browns to the promised land, but i really think it could be possible. nobody knows. bernie has no experience in the front office but neither did ozzie once upon a time.

I hope not. The Browns need excellent experience and a huge NFL resume in this crucial position not just a homer figure head like Bernie. That would be a big gamble for Lerner. Take my word on it, Lerner isn't very good at gambling.

Yeah...just ask Dawg Gone- he has all kinds of solutions! He has offered up I think what?.....0!!!!

Maybe Shottenheimer (sp)????? I would be very happy with this....then maybe Kokinis and Mangini would be so beside themselves that they quit....aaaahhhhhh fantasy land.... I love it....

quote:

Originally posted by gabedawg:
Yeah...just ask Dawg Gone- he has all kinds of solutions! He has offered up I think what?.....0!!!!

LOL...Gabe, how about you offer up just one solution between gulps of koolaid?

I'll be waiting?

I would be happy with Marty being "In Charge".

Wouldnt it be nice if Kosar just decided that he would do it? I would love it if he would take on that sort of role...I know he is currently on staff but it would be nice to appoint him in that position wouldnt it?

quote:

Originally posted by Dawg Gone:

quote:

Originally posted by gabedawg:
Yeah...just ask Dawg Gone- he has all kinds of solutions! He has offered up I think what?.....0!!!!

LOL...Gabe, how about you offer up just one solution between gulps of koolaid?

I'll be waiting?

MY solution is already in place

I like the idea of this. A coach is very involved with the personalities of the team. He already has to make all sorts of decisions concerning schemes, lineups, and apparently who paid what for their water. The GM has to deal with the responsibility of current talent, contracts, trades, caps, etc. It would be nice to have a guy that does not carry all of those minute details but can stand back and look at the big picture and give the coach and GM the leadership they need. Someone has to steer the boat but someone else needs to stand up top and yell "iceberg ahead...adjust to port."

Both the guys mentioned above would work. Schotenheimer and Kosar are brilliant football minds. Kosar never coaching can be a good thing as he would have less tendency to want to coach from the executive chair. He know offense and he knows defense. He knows what it takes to be a winner. He was around the Browns when succesful (Threw some of those passes to Newsome.) He was around Miami with Marino and was with Dallas for a Super Bowl.

Schotenheimer knows how to rebuild teams. He turned Cleveland around, he turned KC around, he turnde San Diego around. But may have too much coach in him to let the coaches coach. But it worked in Miami with a coach and maybe Mangini could use a mentor?

quote:

Originally posted by gabedawg:

quote:

Originally posted by Dawg Gone:

quote:

Originally posted by gabedawg:
Yeah...just ask Dawg Gone- he has all kinds of solutions! He has offered up I think what?.....0!!!!

LOL...Gabe, how about you offer up just one solution between gulps of koolaid?

I'll be waiting?

MY solution is already in place

Oh yeah that's right. Your solution is to do nothing. *Gulp* LoL

Bill Cohwer......why wont you change your mind

I'd take Bernie before the dropped hat hit the floor! What did Ozzie know about being an 'executive'? We need someone who can evaluate talent. If that's not Bernie, I don't know who is!

i would like either ozzie or speilman to be that guy. bernie is one dimensional it seems and marty is a little long in the tooth. ozzie would be the best bet if randy gives him an upgrade in job title and speilman is pretty good as an analyst for college, not mean/harsh but constructive in his criticisms. jmho

This would never happen as long as Mangini is here. Mangini is kown across the NFL as a control freak. Thats why he was able to hire his GM instead of a GM hiring him. Mangini has the full power over this team. He makes all the moves, he enforces his "tight lip" policy and brings on the punishment if someone breaks his law.

He would never agree to having a higher power watching him or even possibly over ruling his ways, methods, or decisions. Another reason why Mangini needs to leave ASAP.

Why would he have to agree. It wouldn't be an option. We bring in a Prez...Mangini refuses to listen to or submit to authority of Prez...Prez hits Mangini with his own medicine in the form of a big fine...Mangini continues to be a problem and is fined more but it is offered that if he resigned the Browns would accept the resignation....we move on with someone smart enough to accept a prez. The coach has to answer to someone. Better that someone be a football guy than an owner unless the owner is a football guy but we have no such luxury.

If you were a control freak. On top of that you were a very private, tight lipped person who runs things only one way (your way) and you signed a 4 year contract knowing you have complete control to master your so called plan.

Would you be happy that after just 1 year you not only have a boss but a figure names, "Prez of Football Operations" that can over power your every move and disagree with the ways your doing things.

Its a recipe for disaster. The only way it works is if Lerner fires Mankok, then hires a Prez of F.O, then that football minded person hires his GM, then together they agree on a coach.

It needs to be a full "organization" and the coach manages the field play. In on the draft but not the be all, end all, but part of the all. Has to be somewhat authoritative, not tight-lipped.

Obviously the organization has some serious problems and every one of them needs to be addressed. Mangini was a part of the pinnacle of NFL success and should know what it takes, but he can't be the master of all of this. It's a team of players and team of coaches and there needs to be organizational people in the FO as well.

Bill Parcells or Ozzie Newsome would be the types of people you would like to have up there.
Only one person that I know of would be the type of person you NEED: Mike Holmgren.

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/0...ill-be-back-in-2010/

Get him, pay him, and rebuild the Browns to prominence.

I like Mike Holmgren but him and Mangini would never co-exist. You would have to choose one or the other. In which, I take Holmgren.

quote:

Originally posted by Brady10z:
I like Mike Holmgren but him and Mangini would never co-exist. You would have to choose one or the other. In which, I take Holmgren.

LOL.......until he too benched BQ. Then he would be another jerk who is ruining the Browns.

quote:

Originally posted by Versatile Dog:

quote:

Originally posted by Brady10z:
I like Mike Holmgren but him and Mangini would never co-exist. You would have to choose one or the other. In which, I take Holmgren.

LOL.......until he too benched BQ. Then he would be another jerk who is ruining the Browns.

Holmgren would probably be responsible enough to give the kid more than 2.5 games to prove his worth, before he benched him.

He's the man the Browns need and word is that Dallas would be talking with him.

Forget whom gets along with whom - we have to press for a director to oversee this madness - it can't keep going as is.

Come on RANDY, talk to MIKE - sooner than later!!!

Better do it soon! Draft is in 6 months and this current regime will yet again butcher a Browns draft!!!

Target your guy, hire him discreetly and let him begin his coaching search now. The 11 picks will be a good start for rebuild #9 since 1999!

We've got nothing now so consistency means nothing at this point! Well, consistently bad I suppose is our battle cry!

It wouldn't surprise me if Lerner asked ManKok who they would like to see brought in.

Which would accomplish zilch!!!

If you bring a football guy in i's a complete overhaul..PERIOD! It won't work! If you ask these guys who they want what was the sense of bringing someone in whom they answer to?

No ifs, ands or buts, if you bring a guy in say...Holmgren, you then need to let him pick his guys!

Mangini could be in deep doodoo.

quote:

Originally posted by Versatile Dog:

quote:

Originally posted by Brady10z:
I like Mike Holmgren but him and Mangini would never co-exist. You would have to choose one or the other. In which, I take Holmgren.

LOL.......until he too benched BQ. Then he would be another jerk who is ruining the Browns.

Hey Versatile,

Please tell us another story about how your best friends or related to the entire Browns roster and coaching staff.

Then tell us whats going to happen in the future so you can be wrong again and disappear for a few weeks....then unfortunately comeback again.