RAVENS BLOCK KOKINIS INTERVIEW, FOR NOW

It was reported over the weekend that Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis will interview for the G.M. job with the Browns. But the Ravens have blocked the move, at least for now, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Under a new rule adopted by the NFL in October 2008, a team that is still participating in the postseason may grant permission for a non-high-level employee to be interviewed for a high-level position such as G.M. However, the team currrently employing the candidate is not required to grant such permission. The Ravens reportedly will grant permission for an interview to occur on Sunday, regardless of whether the Ravens win or lose at Tennessee on Saturday. Then there’s the bigger question of whether the Ravens can prevent Kokinis from taking the Cleveland job. Although Kokinis might be under consideration for the position of “General Manager” of the Browns, he must be offered the job of “General Manager” as defined by the league’s Anti-Tampering Policy. If he isn’t, the Ravens can block the move if he’s still under contract with the Ravens. So, in other words, the G.M. job in Cleveland must give Kokinis: "(1) the authority over all personnel decisions related to the signing of free agents, the selection of players in the College Draft, trades, terminations, and related decisions, and (2) the responsibility for coordinating other football activities with the Head Coach.” So, in other words, if former Jets coach Eric Mangini is trying to create a Belichick/Pioli vibe in Cleveland, with Mangini having final say over the roster and the draft and Kokinis being the right-hand man running the personnel side of the business, it apparently can’t -- and won’t -- happen, since the Ravens seem to be poised to prevent it. Unless, of course, Kokinis’ contract in Cleveland says he has final say but he really doesn’t. (Fins G.M. Jeff Ireland thinks that such a move would work; he’ll let us know for sure after he runs it by Parcells.)