Gotta like the Mike Holmgren move to Cleveland

Tuesday December 22, 2009 1:10 AM By Bob Glauber

It has been a tortured run for the Browns ever since they returned to Cleveland in 1999, and this year is no exception.

But with Mike Holmgren now aboard as the team's top football man, there is reason for optimism. Team owner Randy Lerner has taken gobs of grief for his hiring of Eric Mangini, and the ill-fated move met with disastrous results right from the start.

But Holmgren is one of the best football minds in the game, and he will undoubtedly make a difference. Not that he didn't have his own issues with personnel in Seattle, where the Seahawks eventually replaced him as general manager with Tim Ruskell.

But Seattle's Super Bowl run after the 2005 season was made largely with the players Holmgren acquired in previous years. And there's no reason to think he can't build a respectable roster in Cleveland. That might mean the Browns will dispense with acquiring any Jets' player they can get their hands on - as was the case with Mangini.

But Holmgren will no doubt add the kind of players who will begin to turn this team around. And who knows? Holmgren hasn't ruled out a return to the sidelines, although for now, the role is strictly as an executive position.

Holmgren said on his weekly radio show in Seattle last Friday that if he took the job, he'd give Mangini a chance to prove himself. He said it's not fair to fire a coach after one season, but didn't entirely rule out the possibility.

5 things you need to know about the NFL right now

Thursday December 10, 2009 1:56 PM By Chris Mascaro

1. Is Adrian Peterson tipping plays? Vikings head coach Brad Childress addressed rumors that AP has been unintentionally tipping plays at a news conference yesterday. He said that while it's possible Peterson is giving away where the play is going with his eyes, he doesn't think that is the case. However, he acknowledged he can't be sure from watching tape.

"I can see the stripe on the helmet," Childress said about watching Peterson on film. "But I would be lying to you if I said I could see the eyes."

Peterson is the third-leading rusher in the league with 1,103 yards (behind Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson). But he's struggled the last three weeks, with only 186 yards on 62 carries (3.0 yards per carry). He's also lost six fumbles, which is the league high for running backs.

2. Is Tony Romo really back to being the Cowboys' holder? Dallas kicker Nick Folk has missed five of his last seven FG attempts and has reportedly lost faith in holder/punter Mat McBriar, who accepted the blame for three of Folk's eight misses on the season.

Romo's last hold not only lost a playoff game, it sent Bill Parcells into retirement. But apparently, he's the guy that's been tapped for the job.

Said head coach Wade Phillips: “We feel like we need to do something. I just think something new for our kicker would maybe help him mentally, I guess.”

What about helping your quarterback mentally? Romo's psyche in big games hasn't been the same since that loss in Seattle. Isn't that more important to your team?

According to Romo, he's not thrilled about holding, but will do whatever his team needs.

Said Romo: "I'd prefer not to do it, I think, for obvious reasons. Pops told me one time, 'Leadership is doing what has to be done.'"

3. Thomas talks, but doesn't say much. Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton and Derrick Burgess were all sent home from Gillette Stadium yesterday because they were late for an 8 a.m. meeting. Moss didn't talk to the media during locker room availability today, but Thomas did. Here's what he had to say...

"I got sent home. That's pretty much it, for being late. I think everyone woke up to the snow yesterday. I didn't know it was going to snow. There was traffic. I can't run people over getting to work. I don't do that. I actually almost had a car accident. It is what it is. He [Bill Belichick] did what he thought was best for him. That's what he did.

"What do you do? It's not the Jetsons, I can't jump up and just fly. What the heck am I supposed to do?"

When asked if he though it was a motivational tactic on Belichick's part, Thomas responded: "Motivation is for kindergarteners. I'm not a kindergartner. Sending somebody home, that's like 'He's expelled, come back and make good grades.' Get that [expletive] out of here. That's ridiculous. Motivation?"

4. Retired RB Warrick Dunn is still a class act. Dunn, who was instrumental in getting the league involved in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, is still on a mission to help others. On Tuesday, Dunn's Homes for the Holidays program, which partners with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for single-parent families, provided a three-bedroom home in Dade City, Fla., for April Harrelson and her three sons, and another home in Plant City, Fla., for Rashawn Harris, a single dad raising a six-year old daughter named Alexia.

The homes came fully furnished, including food in the fridge and toothbrushes in the bathroom.

Said Harrelson: "I'm blessed. I feel so blessed."

5. The Browns will cover the 10-point spread tonight at home against a struggling Steelers' secondary that has allowed at least 248 passing yards in each of the last three weeks (including a 308-yard performance by the immortal Bruce Gradkowski last week).

Troy Polamalu (knee) is out for tonight's game and may be done for the season. In games he's recorded a tackle this season, the Steelers are 4-1 — they are 2-5 when he hasn't. He also has three of the team's eight interceptions despite playing in only five games. 

The Browns haven't lost by more than nine points the last three weeks.

(Glauber, T-Rock, Boone and Ed McNamara all picked the Steelers.)

Jamal Lewis' career likely over; NFL responds to rash of concussions

Thursday December 3, 2009 2:50 AM By Chris Mascaro

After being placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to a concussion suffered Sunday in Cincinnati, it is extremely likely Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis has played his last down in the NFL.

The 30-year old Lewis, who became just the fifth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season in 2003 (his 2,066 yards are second only to Eric Dickerson), had announced earlier this year that this would be his last NFL season. 

Lewis will retire as the 21st leading rusher in league history with 10,607 yards in 131 games. He had seven 1,000-yard seasons iin nine years as a pro, including the last three, but made just one Pro Bowl, in 2003.

Before the 2005 season, Lewis spent four months in prison on drug conspiracy chargers. That fall he rushed for 906 yards, which was his career low until this year.

The University of Tennessee product was the fifth overall selection in the 2000 draft, and won a Super Bowl in his rookie season with the Ravens. He played his first six seasons in Baltimore before coming to Cleveland in 2007.

An MRI earlier this week showed Lewis to have "brain abnormalities," according to a souce to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which are likely the result of excessive trauma from a blow to the head. The severity of the injury wasn't known until Wednesday evening, as coach Eric Mangini made no mention of it in his media sessions on Monday or Wednesday.

Mangini later sent out a statement saying, "After consulting with our medical team, we felt that this was in the best interests of both Jamal and [safety] Brodney [Pool, whose concussion on Sunday was the fourth of his career and also landed him on the IR] ... As I've said before, organizationally, players' health and safety are paramount in any decision we make with regards to putting them back on the field.

"Jamal has been an integral part of this team and he has exhibited a great work ethic. He worked hard, studied hard and set a good example for the younger running backs"

The news about Lewis comes in the wake of a rash of concussions — notably to Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner and DeSean Jackson — which have led to a response by the league.

Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all 32 teams on Wednesday stating that a player who suffers a concussion should not return to action if he shows certain signs or symptoms, including memory loss, failure to remember assignments or plays and persistent dizziness or headaches. (In 2007, the guideline stated a player should not return to action if he lost consciousness.)

Goodell also encourages players to be honest with medical staffs about their symptoms (Warner said he was tempted to lie about his condition to return to the field sooner). And teams were forced to find independent neurologists to be consulted on concussions.

(*My Thursday night pick: BILLS (+3) over Jets at Rogers Centre in Toronto.)

LeBron James to the Knicks? Nets? How about the Browns?

Wednesday November 18, 2009 3:33 PM By Bob Glauber

NBA superstar LeBron James, an All State wide receiver in high school, said Tuesday night that if he put in the time and effort, he could be a good football player.

Eric Mangini’s reaction: “I think he should come on down.”

Mangini called the 6-8, 260-pound James a “freak athletically,” and suggested he could be a dynamic tight end, wide receiver or outside linebacker.

The reaction inside the locker room was mixed, according to the Associated Press.

Quarterback Brady Quinn said he’d love to have James as a red zone receiver.

“That'd be great," Quinn said. "Tell him to suit up and let us know, we'll get him working. Obviously he's an incredibly talented athlete. If he wants to try to play a little bit now, we'd be more than willing to pick him up."

But Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers is skeptical.

“I have mixed emotions about that,” he said. “A great athlete? Yes. A football player? No."
Rogers then looked into TV cameras.
"Yeah LeBron, I said it," he said. "It's a punishing game. I just don't think you can step off the basketball court after not going through this year in and year out and just play football. From that standpoint, I just don't think it's possible. You have to weather and condition your body to take this punishment."

Industry source: Gruden is not coaching in 2010, and maybe not 2011 either

Monday November 16, 2009 11:32 AM By Bob Glauber

ESPN announced today that former Raiders and Bucs head coach Jon Gruden has agreed to a multi-year agreement to remain at the network.

The announcement, quite frankly, did little to convince us that Gruden would not be open to the possibility of returning to the sidelines in 2010. With potential vacancies in the NFL and the colleges (Notre Dame?) soon to open up, Gruden's name would still pop up on coaching wish lists.

But according to an industry source with knowledge of Gruden's situation, Chucky has assured ESPN that he is unconditionally committed to the network through the 2010 season. And possibly beyond. Gruden is said to be enormously happy in his role as an announcer, and wants to keep his family in the Tampa area for the foreseeable future. The source indicated that it would therefore not be surprising to see Gruden close the door on coaching in 2011 as well.

Is it a sure thing that Gruden stays out of football? Well, we've seen too many instances in the past where cocahes break television contracts - or even contracts with other sports teams - to return to the sidelines.

But in this case, the indication from the industry official was so strong about Gruden being committed to ESPN that those looking to hire a head coach next season ought to consider other alternatives before trying to pry Gruden away from his current gig.

More goings-on in Cleveland: Is GM Kokinis on the outs?

Monday November 2, 2009 7:51 PM By Bob Glauber

Very strange signals coming out of Cleveland, where varying reports suggest that newly hired general manager George Kokinis - a former Ravens' personnel executive who replaced GM Phil Savage, another former Ravens' personnel executive - has been escorted out of the team's training facility.

There'sthis ... and this ...and this.

UPDATE: Cleveland television station WKYC is reporting that Kokinis has been fired.

If Kokinis winds up getting the boot, it would be a huge blow to head coach Eric Mangini, who is off to a 1-7 start. Mangini was actually hired before Kokinis, and essentially hand-picked his friend to become the general manager. It's almost always the other way around, where a general manager hires the head coach - or at least has a major say with the owner in hiring the head coach.

But team owner Randy Lerner met with Mangini only two days before the Jets fired him, and came away so impressed that he essentially made his decision to hire Mangini at that point.

A few days ago, Mangini's personal assistant, Erin O'Brien, who had been his assistant wtih the Jets, resigned from the Browns.

The beginning of the end for the Mangini regime? 

Wouldn't be a surprise.

Especially after Lerner has turned to former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar to serve in an advisory capacity. Kosar is still an enormously popular figure in Cleveland, and he has been asked to make recommendations to the owner.

Might not be a coincidence that Kokinis could be on the way out just as Kosar is on the way in. Come to think of it, we wouldn't be completely shocked if Kosar takes over as the de factor general manager.

Browns owner responds to fans' planned protest

Friday October 30, 2009 12:41 PM By Bob Glauber

Browns owner Randy Lerner, who speaks in public about as often as the Browns win, has made an "appearance" of sorts to address the planned protest of fans attending the Nov. 16 Monday night game against the Ravens.

Lerner, who is apparently a congenial sort who has a phobia about appearing in public that is akin to a nasty case of stage fright, was contacted by the Akron Beacon-Journal for his reaction the plan for Browns fans to walk in late to the game and thus draw attention to the fans' frustration. Rather than speak in person to a reporter, he sent an e-mail to the paper.

Lerner wrote, ''On the grounds of frustration and irritation with performance, then that's the medicine I [we] are going to take, and I accept that. The goal this year was to rebuild the culture at the Browns. We felt at the end of last year that we lacked any overall philosophy, approach or direction regarding recruiting, drafting, coaching, preparation or training. As a result, each season was feeling like starting over and 4-12 following 10-6 felt painfully not all that surprising.

''It's been way too long since the Browns have had anything to feel good about or invest in, and it's clear that the doubt and negativity are taking on a life of their own.

''What I can say is that we, and I, have remained open to new and fresh ideas and thinking and people with passion for the Browns and football experience getting involved and with hope and luck and support, making a difference. We won't become entrenched or stubborn and despite my allergy to be more conspicuous, I do remain eager to seek help and guidance from any and all corners.''

Wow, where do we begin.

Lerner just completely trashed former general manager Phil Savage and former head coach Romeo Crennel, who only two years ago were handsomely rewarded with contract extensions after a 10-6 season in 2007.

Next he said he remains "open to new and fresh ideas and thinking and people with passion for the Browns." Which doesn't explain why he considered it "new and fresh" to decide last January, just two days after Eric Mangini was fired by the Jets that Mangini was just what the Browns needed for a fresh start. If anything, the franchise smells just as bad as it ever did; the team is 1-6 and going nowhere, and Mangini has alienated a large portion of his current roster. 

Not only that, but he traded away the fifth overall pick to the Jets for a bunch of journeymen players. In exchange, the Jets selected quarterback Mark Sanchez, who has won four of his first seven starts.

Not only that, but he traded away former Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards, who has quickly turned into Sanchez's go-to receiver.

Not only that, but he traded away former first-round tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.

Not only that, but he has benched former first-round quarterback Brady Quinn.

Not only that ... oh, you get the picture.

Browns fans to stage walkout ... sorta

Thursday October 29, 2009 3:32 PM By Bob Glauber

Two Browns fans are mad as hell and aren't going to take it any more.

They're hoping to make a statement in the wake of last Sunday's 31-3 home loss to the Packers. The plan is to have as many Browns fans as possible walk in late to the Nov. 16 home game against the Ravens, according to the Associated Press.

They're hoping that keeping as many seats empty for the start of the Monday night game will send a loud and clear message to team owner Randy Lerner that they want to see better from the team.

The Browns are 1-6 this season under first-year coach Eric Mangini and 55-113 since 1999.

Wonder if Mr. Boland will be partaking in the festivities that night. Newsday's Yankees beat writer will be done covering the world series by then, and perhaps he can take the Solara to Cleveland and send a message to the owner of his beloved Brownies.

Bernie Kosar to the rescue in Cleveland?

Sunday October 18, 2009 9:57 AM By Bob Glauber

Forrmer Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, who helped the team to some of their most successful seasons in the 1980s, has joined the team as a consultant to team owner Randy Lerner, according to Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

According to Grossi, Kosar and Lerner reached agreement on the deal last week. Lerner has tried to bring Kosar into the organization the last several years, but Kosar, who lives in Florida, has declined to relocate. It's uncertain how much time he will spend with the Browns, but Grossi cites a league source who said that he will serve as "another set of eyes" for the team owner.

Head coach Eric Mangini has gotten off to a brutal start with the team, both on and off the field. The Browns are 1-4, and Mangini has alienated many players with his dictatorial approach.

Kosar, 45, has gone through a highly publicized divorce and filed personal bankruptcy. He served as president of the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators before the team folded after one season.

"I want to make sure it's comfortable as a fit and make sure I can help," Kosar told Grossi. "I want to be sensitive to all the time and work the coaches put into the job. They've been great to me."

Kosar does not have a history with Mangini, who joined the old Browns as a ballboy and then PR intern in 1994 -- the season after Kosar was released.