01-03-2011, 10:12 AM
Browns fire Mangini after promising start to season turns south
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81...aking_news
The Cleveland Browns fired coach Eric Mangini on Monday following back-to-back 5-11 seasons.
Mangini met with Browns president Mike Holmgren on Monday in what many anticipated would mark the end the coach's tenure in Cleveland.
It is unclear whether Holmgren will step into the role himself or hire someone else to do the job. John Fox, Jon Gruden and Marty Mornhinweg have all been mentioned as candidates.
In his final postgame press conference as coach of the Browns (5-11), Eric Mangini told reporters Sunday, "Thanks for being patient with me. I tried to be better this year."
Sunday's 41-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers dropped Mangini's record with the Browns to 10-22 in two seasons.
The Browns improved in several statistical areas in 2010, but went 2-6 following surprising upsets over the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots. They were unable to sustain the momentum, dropping their last four games, including three losses to division opponents.
Players came to Mangini's defense before and after the Pittsburgh loss.
"This is my ninth year and I've never been a part of something like this," defensive end Kenyon Coleman told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "This team is a family."
Josh Cribbs also spoke out for Mangini: "I feel like one man can only do so much," he said. "This is the biggest team sport there is. You're asking one man in two years to turn a football team that hasn't been winning into one of the greatest football teams. I mean, it takes some time.
"I believe in what (Mangini) stands for. It's hard to make a change. I'm tired of rebuilding."
Cribbs said that Mangini told the team after the loss that he loved and appreciated them.
"We went out there and played hard for him throughout the year," said Cribbs. "He was appreciative of the opportunity we gave him."
Mangini -- who started in the NFL as a 23-year-old ball boy with the Browns during Bill Belichick's tenure with the team -- was introduced as coach in January 2009. His team started 1-11 before reeling off four wins -- including a shocker over Pittsburgh -- to close the 2009 season, a surge that impressed the newly hired Holmgren enough to give Mangini a second year. On Monday, Holmgren decided against a third.
Mangini previously served as coach of the New York Jets from 2006 to 2008, where he went 23-25 and made the playoffs once in three seasons.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81...aking_news
The Cleveland Browns fired coach Eric Mangini on Monday following back-to-back 5-11 seasons.
Mangini met with Browns president Mike Holmgren on Monday in what many anticipated would mark the end the coach's tenure in Cleveland.
It is unclear whether Holmgren will step into the role himself or hire someone else to do the job. John Fox, Jon Gruden and Marty Mornhinweg have all been mentioned as candidates.
In his final postgame press conference as coach of the Browns (5-11), Eric Mangini told reporters Sunday, "Thanks for being patient with me. I tried to be better this year."
Sunday's 41-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers dropped Mangini's record with the Browns to 10-22 in two seasons.
The Browns improved in several statistical areas in 2010, but went 2-6 following surprising upsets over the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots. They were unable to sustain the momentum, dropping their last four games, including three losses to division opponents.
Players came to Mangini's defense before and after the Pittsburgh loss.
"This is my ninth year and I've never been a part of something like this," defensive end Kenyon Coleman told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "This team is a family."
Josh Cribbs also spoke out for Mangini: "I feel like one man can only do so much," he said. "This is the biggest team sport there is. You're asking one man in two years to turn a football team that hasn't been winning into one of the greatest football teams. I mean, it takes some time.
"I believe in what (Mangini) stands for. It's hard to make a change. I'm tired of rebuilding."
Cribbs said that Mangini told the team after the loss that he loved and appreciated them.
"We went out there and played hard for him throughout the year," said Cribbs. "He was appreciative of the opportunity we gave him."
Mangini -- who started in the NFL as a 23-year-old ball boy with the Browns during Bill Belichick's tenure with the team -- was introduced as coach in January 2009. His team started 1-11 before reeling off four wins -- including a shocker over Pittsburgh -- to close the 2009 season, a surge that impressed the newly hired Holmgren enough to give Mangini a second year. On Monday, Holmgren decided against a third.
Mangini previously served as coach of the New York Jets from 2006 to 2008, where he went 23-25 and made the playoffs once in three seasons.
