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Cleveland Browns name ballboyEric Mangini head coach

He replaces the recently fired Romeo Crennel. From ESPN-

Eric Mangini, who began his NFL career as a ballboy for the Browns, was introduced as Cleveland’s 12th full-time coach on Thursday, less than two weeks after he was fired by the New York Jets.

After Bill Belichick failed in Cleveland, and Romeo Crennel failed in Cleveland, what could the Browns possibly expect from Eric Mangini? The disciples of Bill Belichick haven’t exactly fared well in the NFL.

The 37-year-old Mangini signed a four-year deal with the Browns, who are rebuilding once again following a 4-12 season that ended with the firings of coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage.

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Mangini began shagging balls with the Browns in 1994 under then-coach Bill Belichick, who liked the kid’s work ethic and quickly promoted him to a public relations assistant before adding him to the scouting department. Now Mangini’s taking over the job from Crennel, one of his best friends in the game.

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Mangini had a tumultuous three years in New York. When he arrived, Mangini inherited a 4-12 team and led them to 10 wins in his first season, prompting New York’s tabloids to dub him “Mangenius.” By the end of his run in the NFL’s largest market, he was being called moody, dour and controlling.

He went 23-25 with one playoff loss in three seasons with the Jets, who started 8-3 this season but lost four of their last five games and missed the playoffs.

Bill Belichick Assistants haven’t had a exemplary record as head coaches in the NFL.
Years W-L Playoff
Romeo Crennel 4 24-40 0-0
Eric Mangini 3 23-25 0-1
Nick Saban 2 15-17 0-0
Al Groh 1 9-7 0-0
Combined win pct: .444

Mangini may have more talent(Brady Quinn) to work with in Cleveland than he did in New York and won’t have the Big Apple media circus to deal with either. Still I’m predicting the Browns to be in the market for another head coach in no more than four years.

 
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