Regardless of whether the hiring of coach Eric Mangini changes the fortunes of the football team, one thing that definitely will change in Cleveland is the extent to which reporters covering the team will have access to information about it.
“This is terrible news for the Cleveland media and NFL writers overall,” a source with knowledge of Mangini’s handling of the press tells us. “Mangini is atrocious with the media – the worst – and has so many rules that make it hard to do our jobs.”
So what will happen? “Cleveland now will be another New England and Miami,” the source said.
But Browns beat writers shouldn’t feel alone. “If [Scott] Pioli goes to Kansas City,” the source said, “there will be four teams in lockdown mode with media policies similar to Cuba.”
One guy who’ll still get info is ESPN’s Michael Smith. Multiple sources told us on Wednesday that Smith is one of the only people to whom Mangini gives information.
For everyone else in Cleveland, it’ll be the cold shoulder and thigh injuries.
CLEVELAND MEDIA SOON WILL BE HAMSTRUNG
Posted by Mike Florio on January 7, 2009, 10:34 PM EST
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49 Comments 
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Latest Stories in: Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Rumor Mill, Top Stories
49 Responses to “CLEVELAND MEDIA SOON WILL BE HAMSTRUNG”
It’s OK. Randolph restricts the number of media allowed into his “press conferences”, disallows use of any recording equipment, be it audio or video, and sends 2nd year players (Quinn, Thomas) out to handle questions from the media.
They’ll get along great.
Media has it plenty easy as it is, especially in this day in age. I feel not one ounce of sympathy for them. In fact I think all 32 teams should shut out the media like Mangini does. This website has proved that hard work, innovation, among other things, that you can be resourceful, witty and provide good info to the public regardless or not if you have full locker room access or press conferences full of Mike Tice game plan revelations. Credit to this site for not giving a crap who coaches what team. And a wake up call to the media to dig in and be creative with their job.
again good call you asshead lerner. this team is so bad, needs positive pr in the worst way and they bring greta garbo in! does this idiot lerner have any clue how to build a fan base? apathy is the worst thing that can happen to a franchise and he is getting close to it.
The Browns are a joke…enough said
I’m disappointed in you, Mike: no mention of staph.
For everyone else in Cleveland, it’ll be the cold shoulder and thigh injuries.
Plaxico plays in Cleveland now??
To the ” source with knowledge ” chill. Maybe Mangini learned some lessons in New York. The media there is a little different than in Cleveland anyway. As a fan, all I care about is wins.
Scott Pioli IS going to the Chiefs, and Herm is toast.
Arrowhead is going to be ROCKING again soon!
they still have “media” in cleveland?
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, booo effing hooo
Honestly, fans could care less. Only you “media” people care because it means less breaking news stories.
Hmmmm. Sound like Nick Saban. Any chance Florio can start an
Eric Mangini to be the next Head Coach at Auburn rumor ?????
“For everyone else in Cleveland, it’ll be the cold shoulder and thigh injuries.”…and staff infections.
As long as the Browns win, who cares?
“So what will happen? “Cleveland now will be another New England and Miami,” the source said.”
So, Cleveland will start winning games but the media won’t be able to report on the head coach’s bathroom break schedule? Browns fans rejoice.
I personally like it when front offices are hush about their operations. I respect that. They should be- it’s professional. Guys like Jerrry Jones and Al Davis are stupid for being so open to the media about internal stuff.
Football teams really only owe us as fans one thing- a good product for 3 hours on sundays
Comparing a football organizations media rules to that of the tyrannical Cuban regime where people are tortured and imprisoned for speaking against the government and are not permitted to better their lives is egregious and a ridiculous comparison. We shouldn’t expect any less from ProFootballTalk or the print media because they are self-serving and sensationalize everything that they disagree with.
Not surprising considering he is a Bill Belichick disciple. Watching a Bill Belichick press conference is like watching paint dry.
New England and Miami? You mean the teams with winning records? How terrible to be like them…
Who care? In Cleveland we want to win. We don’t care if he talks and is nice to the media if we win. We all know you are a Steelers fan, we get it you hate the Browns.
Well if i’m a Browns fan and Mangini wins like Miami and New England, then I don’t give a hoot about how hard it is for the media to cover the team… Don’t go around pumpin and condonin “Cowboy Chris’” actions then complain about how hard it is for the media…
He will at least cater the press conferences. (Inside joke to when he catered a press conference the week the Jets played in Cleveland in ’06 with a note that said “I didn’t forget where I came from”).
Honestly, he might be warmer to the Cleveland media because it’s a) NOT the New York media and b) he got his start here and is familiar with them.
You know….I can understand the media being irritated about having to deal with obstacles they haven’t had to deal with before….but at the same time, shouldn’t they accept some of the responsibility in the creation of that environment? I mean, if there weren’t so many reporters stirring up shit and creating drama, things probably would go back to the old ways.
Since when has ANY news from the Browns’ locker room been GOOD??? A blessing in disguise.
That’s exactly what this team needs. Maybe now there will be a few less malcontents running around the locker room crying to reporters.
This also means less tripe from Mary Kay Cabot & Tony Grossi which can only be a good thing.
He may be the toughest for the regular media, but he’s got nothin on Tomlin at Christmas-time.
Maybe the media silence will force that two bit hack Tony Grossi to retire and Art Modell can finally get his due in Canton
You media guys exemplify courage and your willingness to face such challenges is an inspiration to us all.
Instead of thigh injuries, maybe Mangini can now just list every Brown as Questionable with a staph infection.
if we win on the field i don’t care aboot the media.
Aww Florio is losing his sources in Cleveland (aka: the newspaper).
good most the media hates the fans anyhow…. so screw them…. just win baby
since when did the media’s access to the team become a concern in Cleveland? i think the concern has mainly been that my father hasnt even seen a browns championship. or that each year 8 players contract a near-fatal infection. screw the media – win some games.
If only you’d given MDS a few more free Sprint phones, he could impersonate Michael Smith and get Browns info.
I’m in your head Florio!
The sports media have a pretty sweet gig.
Now they have to work HARD to get a story. Boo Hoo!
Florio, you may work long hours doing what you do, but your basic sports reporter spends a few hours hanging around a football facility, an hour making a few phone calls, and an hour writing a story. That is about a six-hour work day during peak season.
What do they do in the offseason? About 1/4 of that!
What you meant to write was, “Cleveland Media Will Soon Have to Work.”
“media policies similar to Cuba”
The people at CNN are mighty happy to hear that.
No one cares about the media anyway. They are a bunch of selt rightous pompass jackasses anyway who think way too much of themselves. After this last election I have lost any and all respect for anyone who whores themselves out and works for the media. The media is part of the problem.
Hell, the media is atrocious with the media.
The real sportswriters are, sadly, long gone.
I could care less about the print media. The trend the past several years has been they they are trying to make the news in many cases, not just report it like their job description says (like that asshole in Detroit). They’re all miserable anyway in the Internet age as they are starting to realize that most locals don’t need them. The way that BB and especially Parcells handles the media is priceless…they won’t kowtow to them and the media turds hate it. Who says that it’s in the coaches job description to kiss the media’s asses anyway?
another poor choice at head coach for a city that cannot get out of it’s own way. 9-20, worst record ever in post season play. Don’t worry. In that division, Clowns won’t see post season for quite some time.
To compare Mangini in ANY way to Belichick , Parcells or Sparano is absurd…
Mangini has ‘ridden ‘ his association with them as far as he could…but really should have stayed as their ball boy
Right, Mangini hates the Cleveland media so much that every time the Jets played Cleveland, he bought all the media members lunch with a note attached that said “I will never forget where I came from.” Sounds a lot like Fidel Castro to me.
Don’t be shocked in 5 years if the Print media is looking for a 10 billion dollar bailout.
Screw them, I am no Mangini fan but his job is to win, not give writers stories.
I’m convinced this is why Belichick gets portrayed in the media the way he does… The media bitches and whines that Belichick makes them, you know, do work.
So we are supposed to feel sorry for the Rob Parker’s of the world?
Nope, not gonna happen.
the old line media (which is completely taken over by leftists and losing money) is already asking for bailouts. soviet union era pravda, anyone?
watch who they trumpet as great and good, and go the other way.
face it florio… do you really want to be a “made member” of the media… like ROB PARKER?
The media seems to really be complaining about the lack of leaks and discipline from those in the organization to not give them sound bites.
The NFL has imposed access for the media. Mike Reiss doesn’t seem to have a problem with access to the Patriots. Sure he can’t get detailed information about injuries, but he can cover the team, and does very well.
The fact is, why would anyone disclose anything about injuries. You have some coaches who announce what happened to their players immediately after the game. Then you have Peyton Manning say he loves to know who is hurt where so he can try to exploit them. There’s no incentive to announce your CB has a high ankle sprain a week before the next game. Keep your opponents guessing and preparing for all possibilities.
So what will happen? “Cleveland now will be another New England and Miami,” the source said.
And Browns fans will have a problem with this why?
line them up on Sunday…let them play…get a final score
repeat..
who really cares ? all you get is a canned PR/PC response anyway…
& the media will probably blow that out of all proportion..
line them up on sunday…let them play…get final score
repeat…
a good formula to weed out BS…