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Report: Browns fired Mangini confidant

In what may be a sign that Browns head coach Eric Mangini is losing power in Cleveland, the team has reportedly fired a close Mangini confidant whom the coach brought with him from the Jets.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns quietly dismissed Erin O’Brien, who was hired by Mangini in February.

O’Brien had been Mangini’s personal assistant in New York, and in Cleveland she was given the title of director of team operations. In March, a story on the way Mangini was shaping the franchise mentioned O’Brien as one of several people Mangini brought with him from the Jets.

And her connection to Mangini goes further back than that. A September 2007 story by Michael Silver about the then-unfolding SpyGate case
mentioned that when Mangini left the Patriots to become the head coach
of the Jets, he convinced a Patriots employee — Erin O’Brien — to
come with him. A January 2006 piece by Mike Reiss, from shortly after Mangini left the Patriots for the Jets, suggested that O’Brien would be the only Patriots employee who would follow Mangini to New York.

So why have the Browns now fired O’Brien? A Browns spokesman told the Plain Dealer that O’Brien resigned “for personal reasons.” But the paper quotes unnamed sources as saying O’Brien “had burned so many bridges that Mangini could not save her job.”

Whatever the reasons for her departure, a close Mangini confidant being forced out doesn’t look good for the coach, especially in the wake of owner Randy Lerner bringing in former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar to be “another set of eyes” on the team.

The Plain Dealer piece strongly suggests that Mangini’s job is in jeopardy, and the paper even reports that Bill Cowher is looking to return to coaching in 2010. Things aren’t looking good for Mangini.

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39 Responses to “Report: Browns fired Mangini confidant”
  1. bearsrule says: Oct 31, 2009 11:16 PM

    Chances are that she was the Queen of the Bitches, brow beating people and making enemies daily. Once Mangini’s ice starts to crack, his over arrogant and over zealous cronies can be shown the hallway out. Happens in business everyday. I’ve known and seen plenty of witches like her and it’s always good to see them get the old steel pipe right up the ass.

  2. TFBuckFutter says: Oct 31, 2009 11:18 PM

    Man. Where is the Great Gazoo supposed to get a new job in this economy?

  3. stiller43 says: Oct 31, 2009 11:20 PM

    I hope Cowher coaches the Browns. He led the Steelers (a good team) to the playoffs 4 out of his last 9 seasons with the team. I can’t wait to see how often he has success with the crap heap that is the current Browns franchise.

  4. leatherneck says: Oct 31, 2009 11:27 PM

    Just put Cribbs in at QB and the Browns will be better.

  5. GoBears84 says: Oct 31, 2009 11:51 PM

    his fat a$$ probably spilled some chili on his self on the sidelines of a game in new england, she helped him with a clorox bleach pen, and thats how the story started…

  6. JFowler says: Oct 31, 2009 11:56 PM

    Even if Lerner decided to let Mangini go at some point. Would Cowher really choose Cleveland? No doubt Lerner would give him anything he asked for, but the light has long since dimmed on the prestige of the Browns. The roster has very little talent. Surely another franchise would be more appealing.
    The fans would love it though. Hardly anyone even approved of the Mangini hire. Cowher would at least have the fans backing.

  7. Common Sense says: Nov 1, 2009 12:35 AM

    “I’m not gonna do
    what you all think I’m gonna do.
    Which is FREAK OUT!!
    Let me just say…
    …as I ease out of the office
    I helped build..
    I’m sorry, but it’s a fact that
    there’s such a thing… as manners.
    A way of treating people.
    These fish have manners.
    In fact, I’m starting a new company
    and the fish will come with me.
    Call me sentimental,
    but the fish are coming with me.
    Okay.
    If anybody else
    wants to come with me, -
    - this is a chance for something
    real, and fun, and inspiring -
    - in this godforsaken business,
    and we will do it together.
    Who’s coming with me
    Who’s coming with me?
    Who’s coming with me
    besides Flipper here?
    This is embarrassing.
    All right.
    Wendy, shall we?
    I’m three months away
    from the pay increase…
    Okay.
    - I will go with you.
    - Erin O’brien,THANK YOU!!!!
    Right now?
    Don’t do it.
    Bye.
    We’ll see you all again.
    Sleep tight.
    Let’s see how they do without us.”

  8. Living_Legend says: Nov 1, 2009 12:40 AM

    Cowher’s seat is warm in his hometown of Charlotte, Fox is cooked. Funny thing is when they do bring in the chin, they’ll still suck.

  9. prophet of the light says: Nov 1, 2009 12:51 AM

    Education, if you make the most of it, you study hard and do your homework and you make an effort to be smart you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Cleveland.

  10. leatherneck says: Nov 1, 2009 12:55 AM

    Cowher used to play for the Browns.

  11. TheBigOldDog says: Nov 1, 2009 12:58 AM

    The rat bastard deserves the grief he’s going through and more. Why Lerner threw himself at this ingrate – the weasel – is beyond me.

  12. JohnC says: Nov 1, 2009 1:06 AM

    Well now that Erin’s gone the Browns can finally win some games!!!!!!!!
    I could see someone like Cowher wanting the Cleveland job. If he succeeds he’ll be legendary. If he fails he could blame it on the mess that the team was he inherited.

  13. Buschman says: Nov 1, 2009 1:08 AM

    Mangini is a moron. I’m not a fan or a hater of the Browns or Jets, but everytime I ever looked at him, I saw a moron. I never understood how he got a job with the Jets. Then when Cleveland hired him, I was baffled. I can’t explain it, but just looking at Mangini makes me appreciate Andy Reid as my favorite team’s head coach.

  14. Pipes says: Nov 1, 2009 1:12 AM

    Hey stiller43, way to selectively choose an amount of seasons to judge Cowher…
    Why not say he made the playoffs 2 out of his final 3, with one Super Bowl win?
    The Chin did a lot for the franchise. No reason to bash him now.

  15. Tdk24 says: Nov 1, 2009 1:24 AM

    Probably his mistress and the browns weren’t havin it.

  16. hrmlss says: Nov 1, 2009 1:25 AM

    Was she his “in-house” girlfriend?

  17. FumbleNuts says: Nov 1, 2009 1:45 AM

    Mangini’s ho got fired? ……….. Classic!

  18. spyboots says: Nov 1, 2009 1:56 AM

    Cowher hinted some time last season that he wouldn’t coach the Browns. I think he’s waiting on the Panthers job.

  19. RVeit_83 says: Nov 1, 2009 3:23 AM

    Now I know I wasn’t the only one in the wee hours of night who read:
    Browns fire Mangini.

  20. RVeit_83 says: Nov 1, 2009 3:25 AM

    So why is a Simpsons writer talking about Patriot employee relations?

  21. RVeit_83 says: Nov 1, 2009 3:29 AM

    Also, I watch the Steeler love fest that is Bill Cowher’s commentary on the CBS pregame and would be shocked if he went in division with his return.
    I see Bill Cowher in Carolina, which is kind of a shame b/c I think John Fox is a great coach.

  22. KevinFaulk-an-a says: Nov 1, 2009 6:10 AM

    Hey Doc, why does baby Brett have razor stubble, he’s not even 2 years old? I don’t have razor stubble.
    Mr. Mangini, I don’t know. It is odd. He really doesn’t look much like you does he?
    No, he doesn’t, and all he likes to do is drive that damned Fisher-Price tractor around all day and stare at himself in the rear-view mirror.

  23. Browns_fan_in_therapy says: Nov 1, 2009 7:10 AM

    Sounds like she had some dirt on Mangini from spygate or whatever else he was doing, and he promised her a good career to keep quiet. So it’s nice to see that a woman with a big title who picks up Mangini’s dry cleaning is no longer around…
    However, if you’re going to fire any of his assistants, try the O coordinator, WR coach, QB coach, DB coach… hell, except for special teams, take your pick of any of the coaches.

  24. jvnyj says: Nov 1, 2009 7:46 AM

    as a jets fan, I think we are all too hard on Mangini. Rat? The Patriots were and always will be cheaters and he was well within his rights to protect his team and try to gain any competitive advantage possible for the Jets. Second he clearly blew up the Browns roster planning to have at least a season to rebuild before winning some games next year. So if Learner fires Mangini after one year and brings in another coach who will need next year to rebuild which in turn sets the Browns back a whole season.

  25. Upgrade_my_browns_now says: Nov 1, 2009 7:54 AM

    I would be excited if Cowher came here but I don’t think he can run the whole show and he is going to want to run the whole show. Let him go to the Panthers. My guess is he’ll struggle there as he would in Cleveland.
    As much as I hate to say it, the Steelers have a “system” in place. Something the Browns lack. We need a guy in here that implements his system and gets the players to believe in his system.
    I like Kirk Ferentz from Iowa. He would be great here in Cleveland. He was here before and coached the O-line.
    Ultimately, Lerner needs some good Football minds consulting him. BERNIE KOSAR is a football “mind”. If Lerner can get some more help here, we’ll see a whole different Browns organization in the next 5 years (transformation).

  26. HBOilers24 says: Nov 1, 2009 8:44 AM

    yea i also read “Browns fire Mangini”. i almost had a great start to the day….

  27. GoBrowns19 says: Nov 1, 2009 8:45 AM

    Well, at least that’s something that seems somewhat positive, maybe. Possibly. I bet somehow it’s a bad thing though. Or nothing. Who cares, with or without that bitch on wheels we will lose to the average Bears today 38-3.

  28. GRpatriot says: Nov 1, 2009 8:52 AM

    Let’s see Mangini or McDaniels………
    One did it correctly and the other did everything possible to blow up the franchise that gave him his start….
    McDaniels Bronco’s are 6-0 and have beat some good teams in the process!
    Mangini, well 1-6…….Didn’t learn anything from BB…Is a fat rat, bullied his players into a long bus ride to work Ratboy’s Football Camp….all voluntary of course…was pimped into burning all bridges in New England….
    Cleveland, wake up and fire this imitation head coach, before he sets the franchise back another 10 years!!!

  29. SteelerStylee says: Nov 1, 2009 8:54 AM

    Cowher has said he won’t coach the Browns, presumably out of respect for the Steelers fans and organization. P’burgh has fond memories of the Cowher era and neither party wants to muck it up like Favre has. The sense in P’burgh is that much of the Browns’ woes have to do with money stingy management. The Browns are Cleveland’s Pittsburgh Pirates. Devoted fan base with Scrooge owners.

  30. SteelerStylee says: Nov 1, 2009 8:55 AM

    Cowher has said he won’t coach the Browns, presumably out of respect for the Steelers fans and organization. P’burgh has fond memories of the Cowher era and neither party wants to muck it up like Favre has. The sense in P’burgh is that much of the Browns’ woes have to do with money stingy management. The Browns are Cleveland’s Pittsburgh Pirates. Devoted fan base with Scrooge owners.

  31. PackerBacker1980 says: Nov 1, 2009 9:11 AM

    you are next Mangini..

  32. comment_submission_error says: Nov 1, 2009 10:15 AM

    Mangini has had two chances to prove he’s not head coach material, and he’s succeeded.

  33. Brewster says: Nov 1, 2009 10:23 AM

    “owner Randy Lerner bringing in former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar to be “another set of eyes” on the team.
    ___________
    This is all you need to read in this article to know that Mangini is done in Cleveland. When an owner or CEO/President, etc brings in a consulting firm or another set of eyes to look at his business it means he’s already decided that current operations aren’t functioning properly and change is required. The question is what do we do and how do we do it.
    Lerner has now sent two signals Mangini’s way that he’s toast, the firing of O’Brien and the hiring of Kosar. The question is is Kokinis toast also?

  34. Edgecrusher says: Nov 1, 2009 10:24 AM

    Any other Browns fans have a proble with A FORMER SECRETARY BEING DIRECTOR OF TEAM OPERATIONS. I love my team, but at this point Browns=Fail.

  35. JJMADDOG says: Nov 1, 2009 11:02 AM

    Word has it she sat on staff…. ba da bump
    But seriously If Kosar is being asked to “evaluate” the Mangini regime, I don’t suppose Kosar would draw on his fond memories of his final days in Cleveland under the Belichik regime.
    Doesn’t sound too good for Mangini’s future.

  36. danmateus75 says: Nov 1, 2009 11:16 AM

    This is the karma that comes back to bite the rat in the ass. When you rat out the man who gave you everything this is what happens.

  37. Dawgpound2009 says: Nov 1, 2009 2:49 PM

    Penguini needs to pack up his igloo and waddle his way back to the north pole.

  38. prophet of the light says: Nov 1, 2009 3:50 PM

    That’s what you get for being a dumb b****.
    And by dumb b****, I mean Mangini.

  39. Dawgpound2009 says: Nov 1, 2009 6:36 PM

    Way to go Penguini- it took a 24 point deficit, five turnovers and a 10.5 quarterback rating from DA to put Brady Quinn in with 2:00 minutes left in the game that was a blow out lol

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