Cleveland Browns 2011 Super Awesome In-Season Thread

• Mr Miyagi

  

  with the #6 pick in the 2011 draft...the Cleveland Browns select....... Dan Smith, TE Akron University
• OQB

  

  They are either no longer in the league, moved on from Cleveland and had a better career there, or just were complete busts and are career backups. It's funny you mention an Akron TE....haha my best friend is one of the starting TE's there....
• Mr Miyagi

  

  BRF is a TE at Akron ?
• OQB

  

  HAHA, your killing me! Rhyne Ladrach was the TE I was referring to.
• Mr Miyagi

  

  all right...... back to the break my heart Browns...................so many holes to fill, i guess you can' go wrong if we pick " best available" athlete.....I agree with all of you about a WR, I just dont see them taking one with the #6 pick.
• OQB

  

  Just a question here not saying I agree with this or want them to do this but.....Holmgren said he likes taking a QB in every draft. With the Uncertainty of McCoy, do you think they would try to get one of the top 3 QB's with that first pick.
• hoops23

  

  No^
  
  The team will draft either WR or DL with their first pick.
  
  Holmgren likes taking QB's, but it's usually a mid-round pick.
  
  This team, while looking bad today, still only needs a FEW pieces on both sides of the ball to be a legit playoff contender.
  
  With that said, there were rumors of Rob Ryan interviewing for the Carolina job, so it looks like the entire coaching staff is going to be changed.
• OQB

  

  I agree with you you Hoops, just throwing that idea out there......I am not in favor of that at all. Like you said we are just a few players away from being in the hunt.
• Mr Miyagi

  

  I like the idea of getting a pass rusher, it will make the secondary so much better. Of course I wish Mike Ditka was coaching and there was someone he really liked at 6 and traded us his entire draft !!
  If they can trade down , they take a WR. I wouldnt count out the top S,or CB if they are taking the best athlete available
• OQB

  

  You can never have enough good DB's, especially with the pass happy league the NFL has become, I would like to see us trade Rogers for a few more draft picks....he is getting old and not very productive anymore.
• OQB

  

  Does anyone know how many and what picks we have in this year's draft? Other than our first pick of course.
• Laley23

  

  Id think AJ Green or Justin Blackmon will be around with the #6 pick. I cant see 2 WR going top 5. In the same thought though, I think the Browns should nab whoever is there. Both are worthy of the high pick imo.
• IggyPride00

  

  Mangini's firing is of his own doing after that disastrous draft he over saw in 2009. With the way the NFL is now, you need 2nd round picks to make an impact on your roster. He had 3 of them and squandered them all with 2 guys who were outright bums, and only 1 who will be nothing more than serviceable over the long term. When you are a bad team that just can't happen. He set the franchise back years with that draft.
  
  Cleveland as a whole right now is in the depths of a losing football culture. How Holmgren thinks you turn that around by bringing in a guy with a lifetime record of 5-27 as the head coach is beyond me.
  
  He needs to spend whatever is necessary to bring in here an offensive minded head coach with Super Bowl jewelry on his hand (or at least an appearance there) who the players won't immediately tune out.
  
  Mangini's offenses in both NY and Cleveland were beyond God awful for the most part, and his constant "small ball" bullshit does not provide enough points to win consistently and at a high level in the NFL.
  
  Two of his main philosophies are that athleticism and offense is bad (as seen in the way he constructs his rosters), and that is just not a solid basis for the franchise to build on. I think he did a good job disciplining players, but you have to be able to do more than that if you want to be a successful NFL head coach.
• OQB

  

  I'd almost like us to pick one of the top DB's again with the #6 pick and get a Patrick Peterson (LSU), Prince Amukamara (Nebraska) or Janoris Jenkins (Florida)......then package some later round picks to get one of the WR's (Green, Blackmon, Jones) we saw how far down Dez Bryant fell last year....pick 24.
• OQB

  

  Just another question to ponder.....of the top free agents who do we go after if we even attempt to get a big name free agent?
  
  All of these guys are free agents and I wouldn't mind seeing them in a Browns uniform, but I doubt we will get any of them.
  RB-DeAngelo Williams
  RB-Ronnie Brown
  WR- Vincent Jackson
  WR- Sidney Rice
  TE- Zach Miller
  DB- Antonio Cromartie
  LB- Paul Posluszny
• Sonofanump

  Primary needs:
  WR (2)
  RT
  DE/LB
  
  Secondary needs:
  CB/S
  DE/LB
• Commander of Awesome

  

  ESPN reports mangini has been fired
• THE4RINGZ

  

  
  just a question.........if Holmgren decides to fire Mangini and wants to take on the job as Browns HC, does he have to interview a minority candidate before he hires himself ?

  You must follow LeCharles Bentley on Twitter
• shook_17

  

  glad mangini is out. he just doesn't have the qualities for a great head coach. great guy but not a great head coach. the dudes set for the next two years if he doesn't find a job. 3.9 mill. so don't feel bad for him. i did read on the plain dealer i wanna say that holmgren would try and retain rob ryan and seely the special teams coordinator.. lemme see if i can find it
• like_that

  

  I will never feel bad for a HC getting fired. As you said shook, most are rich when they get fired, will continue to get paid with or without a job, and can easily find another job. ESPN was talking about the families being affected and shit. GTFO. "Oh no we have to move!" That's about as adverse as it gets for them.
• shook_17

  

  http://blog.cleveland.com/browns_impact/print.html?entry=/2011/01/cleveland_browns_fire_eric_man.html
  
  Cleveland Browns fire Eric Mangini as coach after second 5-11 season
  Published: Monday, January 03, 2011, 10:04 AM Updated: Monday, January 03, 2011, 10:08 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.
  
  Two NFL sources speculated that Holmgren himself would take over as coach, returning to the sideline for the first time since he left as Seattle coach following the 2008 season. It's possible that he would seek to retain defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and special teams coordinator Brad Seely.
  
  Holmgren took a one-year sabbatical from coaching in 2009 and then was lured to the executive suite as Browns president on Jan. 5, 2010. Prior to formally accepting the job, Holmgren said in a radio interview that coaching the team was an option welcomed by owner Randy Lerner if Holmgren so desired.
  
  Holmgren opted not to coach in 2010, instead focusing on rebuilding the Browns' football and business operations. He reduced Mangini's authority but brought him back to coach despite well-known differences in football philosophy. Those differences -- most notably on offense -- widened in the one year they worked together. While Holmgren acknowledged "his way" wasn't the only way to win, he often winced at and privately criticized the Mangini offense coordinated by Brian Daboll.
  
  "This decision was not easy for me, and it was one into which I put a great deal of thought," said Holmgren. "Although we have made improvements this season, my responsibility is to ensure that we establish a program that will allow this team to compete at a championship level. That will continue to be our goal in everything we do. I want to thank Eric for all of his contributions to the Cleveland Browns, and wish him and his family the best of luck in the future."
  
  
  "The experience coaching the Cleveland Browns the past two years has been tremendous," Mangini said. "I appreciate the opportunity that the Lerner family gave me. I have a deep respect for the players that I have coached the past two years and how they have made a profound difference in changing the culture - a tougher, smarter, more competitive, selfless team that never gave up. Our goal was to build a team for long term success. The core characteristics we were dedicated to, I believe, will help achieve that goal, and have provided a strong identity for this football team and have helped to create a positive foundation upon which the organization can continue to build.
  
  
  "I feel strongly that the Cleveland Browns are headed in a very positive direction and greatly value the commitment and exceptional efforts of the coaches, players and everyone in the building that I’ve worked with in trying to help achieve our goals. My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed living in the Cleveland community and appreciate the support and passion of the fans. I know Mike and Tom are also dedicated to building a championship caliber organization and wish them nothing but success."
  
  
  Holmgren tried to mentor Mangini and also offered the guidance of senior advisor Gil Haskell, his long-time offensive coordinator in Green Bay and Seattle, as a resource for Daboll. But Daboll at times seemed put off by the presence of Haskell, according to a team source. And the offensive product didn't improve. Holmgren was particularly critical of the passing game in his only public comments all season in November.
  
  When Mangini failed to improve on his 2009 record, falling to 5-11 again with four season-ending losses, Holmgren decided to make a change. The emergence of rookie Colt McCoy as a potential franchise quarterback influenced Holmgren to consider the job himself.
  
  If he moves to the sideline, Holmgren would install the West Coast-style offense he learned under Bill Walsh and employed in Green Bay to take the Packers to the playoffs six times in seven seasons as coach in the 1990s. They reached the Super Bowl following the 1996 and 1997 seasons, winning one of them against the Bill Parcells' New England Patriots. Holmgren moved on to Seattle for 10 seasons and took the Seahawks to the Super Bowl following the 2005 season. They lost to Pittsburgh.
  
  Holmgren has always called the offensive plays as head coach. Haskell could serve again as his offensive coordinator. A source said that Holmgren would have an interest in adding UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow, with whom he once worked at Brigham Young University. Another possibility is Miami Dolphins receivers coach Karl Dorrell, said the source.
  
  Mangini's .312 win percentage (10-22) ranked 11th among the 12 full-time coaches in Browns history. Only Chris Palmer, the first coach of their expansion era, did worse (5-27, .156). Mangini's immediate predecessor, Romeo Crennel, had a .375 mark (24-40) in four seasons.
  
  Mangin's separate 5-11 seasons came about in different ways. In his first year, the Browns were a franchise-worst 1-11 before winning their last four games. That winning streak earned Mangini a second season.
  
  Amid higher expectations boosted by several player acquisitions and a solid draft orchestrated by new General Manager Tom Heckert, the Browns proceeded to lose their first three games in 2010. They were 1-5 when they embarked on successive monumental upset wins over defending champion New Orleans (30-17) and future No. 1 AFC seed New England (34-14).
  
  The season turned in an overtime loss to the New York Jets. The Browns lost three key players to injury in the game and had possession of the ball in the final minute of overtime with the score tied, 20-20. Instead of maintaining possession and settling for a tie, the Browns tried to move from their 2-yard line and wound up punting with less than a minute to go. The Jets won when Santonio Holmes scored a 36-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left in overtime.
  
  That loss started a 2-6 tailspin. Included in that run was a 24-20 loss at Jacksonville despite seven defensive takeaways, a 13-6 loss to 2-10 Buffalo, and a 19-17 loss to 2-11 Cincinnati. In all, the Browns had seven losses by seven points or less.
  
  Mangini was a surprise choice of Lerner when he was hired 11 days after being fired as coach of the New York Jets following the 2008 season. Mangini was 23-26 in three years with the Jets. His overall mark as a head coach was 33-48 (.407.)
  
  After he concluded his second season with a 41-9 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday, Mangini declined to say his plans if he were fired.
  
  "I think that I just look at things and evaluate things," he said. "You learn from your mistakes, you learn from just the process. I feel lucky for the opportunity to continue to grow in this role and in this job and I think that will continue. In terms of what could happen, we'll have to see, but I am really happy with the things that I've been able to learn."
• Commander of Awesome

  

  like_that;622882 wrote:I will never feel bad for a HC getting fired. As you said shook, most are rich when they get fired, will continue to get paid with or without a job, and can easily find another job. ESPN was talking about the families being affected and shit. GTFO. "Oh no we have to move!" That's about as adverse as it gets for them.

  
  Yeah military families really feel for the Manginis and them having to move.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reports that Holmgren and the Browns have interest in Jon Gruden, but lack some of the offensive personnel Gruden desires, according to league sources.
  
  Gruden loves owner Randy Lerner and Holmgren, but the job may not be a perfect fit in Gruden's mind.
  
  Several league executives told La Canfora that John Fox will replace Mangini, with Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy joining him as offensive coordinator.
• OhioStatePride2003

  I've said all year that it wasn't necessarily Mangini's fault that we sucked as bad as we did. Our defense was legit in my opinion, and kept us in almost every game (outside of yesterday's bull shit performance). If we would've had anything that resembled an offense this year, we could've finished with at least 8 wins. I personally would like to see our Brownies go defense with our first pick. I think that if we can pick up a few playmakers on the defensive side of the ball in that draft or via free agency, then we can at least remain competitive in our games next year. I agree 150% that we need a WR and RT in the draft, but I'd love to see us use our first couple picks on the defensive side of the ball. I think that this year's draft is somewhat deep in regards to WRs, and you can always - always - find serviceable offensive lineman in the later rounds of the draft.
  
  However, I think it's hard to draft when you've no idea who your head coach, or offensive/defensive coordinators are going to be. I also wonder how much the potential of a lockout will affect who wants to jump into a coaching position, and who wants to wait to see what happens. I think the potential to grab a guy like Gruden is there, considering his history with Holmgren, but I think there is also a great potential that the lockout affects who's available to us. Just my opinion however.
• OneBuckeye

  

  Cleveland gets a 6th round pick this year from the Broncos for Quinn. Other than that they should have their normal pick in every round.