It's not clear how much longer Eric Mangini will remain the head coach in Cleveland, but if he's able to hold onto his job, it looks like he'll be getting a new, hands-on boss.
Peter King, who joined Jimmy Roberts and PFT's own Mike Florio on today's NBC Notre Dame halftime show, reported that Browns owner Randy Lerner is planning to hire a "football czar" to take a very active role in shaping the team's football operations.
King said Lerner wants a proven winner who can come in and run the franchise in a manner similar to what Bill Parcells has done for the Miami Dolphins. Parcells, of course, hired his own head coach, so that news can't sound good to Mangini.
So who might be the executive who takes over the Browns' football operations? King offered three names that Lerner would love to bring on board: Former Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi, former Packers and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and former Packers General Manager Ron Wolf.
King said the Browns' new boss would have one job: "Advise Eric Mangini to, basically, stop screwing up this organization."
That sounds like a big job. But Lerner desperately wants to clean up the mess his franchise has become.
King: Lerner wants a "football czar" in Cleveland
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 7, 2009 4:20 PM ET
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28 Comments 
Latest stories in: Cleveland Browns, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, Top Stories
Latest stories in: Cleveland Browns, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, Top Stories
Hell you could hire anyone of us here at PFT Planet and we could do a better job than Mangini.
I'd bet my left nut on it.
You mean Obama hasn't appointed one yet?
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" said the Wizard...... A Czar? Hey Lerner "Follow the Yellow Brick Road"........
Funny how people blame Mangini for how the Browns are doing but that team has sucked FOR YEARS!! They've been a crappy team before Mangini was even born!
Can we get one of those in Green Bay? Ron Wolf come back to the people that love you!!!!
This has nothing to do with the Patriots. How are you supposed to generate web hits when you don't mention the most hated team in the league? Now how will the 20 peoplein America who complain about Spygate make their "CHEETER" comments?
Oh, and remember the last coach to win a playoff game for the Browns? Yeah, it was the best coach in NFL history Bill Belichick.
Marty! Marty! Marty!
Yeah, but Mangini is fat and it's his fault my car won't start! :)
Maybe a step in the right direction.
Cleveland is an easy target for a joke, but I do feel sorry for their fans. It's not their fault that the local team is being run by a bunch of imbeciles.
WOLF PLEASE!
Holmgren as coach would be fantastic. The Browns would FOR SURE rise again.
Any of those three names sounds nice, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Former Packers and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren would be the right man for the job on a long-term rebuilding process.
Say what you want about Randy Lerner but at least he is trying. He didn't buy the team, his father Al did and then passed away which put Randy in charge and he's doing the best he can. He is still learning to be an NFL owner basically. I've heard rumors that he is looking at Mike Holmgren to come in and the "football czar" obviously this would be great. Cowher's name continues to come up, but I think he wants to coach...and I think he wants to do it in Carolina. Marty Schottenheimer is another name that comes up given his history of building teams and his history with the Browns. Any of these 3 would be outstanding if they would agree to come in and run everything. Think of those 3 Holmgren is the most likely to do it.
i am sure none of those guys want to go to cleveland so lerner will end up hiring some no name guy and it'll be like nothing really happened.
If the report above is true that Randy Lerner is planning to hire a "football czar" to take a very active role in shaping the team's football operations, and essentially advise Eric Mangini to, basically, stop screwing up this organization --- that begins to sound a bit like what some believe may be playing out in Washington, D.C.
In other words, many have speculated that the reason for why Daniel Snyder brought in "merely" as "an extra set of eyes" from a bingo parlor, and then publicly stripped Zorn of play-calling responsibilities was to emasculate Zorn so much that he'd walk on his 7 figure contract.
Well, Cleveland is struggling just as much as Washington -and the front office, media, fans and team unrest with the situation is at a fever pitch there too.
If the report above is accurate, Lerner's clearly not trying to appease Mangini by going public demanding a "football czar" to hold Mangini's hand --- and may be possibly trying to get Mangini to walk, blow the whole thing up and start over.
Not saying that's what's up, but one could argue similarities may exist.
Both the Redskins and Browns are a complete mess. Stranger things have happened.
Can't teach old dogs new tricks
Good one HughJassPhD!
Football Czar should equal General Manager.
When no other team wants Mangina and the Browns run out and to get him like a pederast running toward an elementry school you have the evidence of a complete lack of "football I.Q"
No other team would have let this guy be a DC and they jump up and down when he gets fired.
YAY!!! Lets get Mangina!!!! He is so great with the media and his players!!
He has the personality of a potato...and looks like one come to think about it.
DFS
Cleveland doesn't need a Czar they need a Wizard!
ESPN's Jeremy Green has been openly campaigning for the Browns GM position on his Football Today podcast all week. It comes across as quite pitiful and pathetic.
I'm sure the idea of hiring a failed scout who would quickly fire Mangina and hire his father, UFL coach, Coors light commercial star Dennis Green is exactly what the Browns are thinking.
Sounds like a winning combo to me, I'm sure his phone has been ringing nonstop.
The one guy for this job is obviously Matt Millen.
Football "czar?" Who are these guys, a bunch of pre-Bolshevik Russians? Nerds.
I totally agree, that Lerner needs to bring someone in from outside of the Cleveland fishbowl to assess this train wreck of a situation. They need to assess and then do the obvious: punch the clock on the Mangini regime. Lerner should bring someone in ASAP to serve as a consultant and help screen potential candidates for GM. And give it a rest with retreads and hanger-ons.
So if Holgrem is the Czar, wouldn't he just hire himself as coach?
BRING BACK ART MODELL!
"...the best coach in NFL history, Bill Belichick."
Oh, please. I think I just threw up a little bit in the back of my mouth."
Maybe you meant to say "...the coach with the least personality and warmth in NFL history, Bill Belichick."
The entire Browns debacle, as of late, goes into the "You can't polish a turd" category...
Holmgren sounds like the right guy, hopefully he will get Man stupid out of there, what ever you do dont hire Kosar, he doesnt have a clue , just like Lerner.
dont use the word Czar, it confuses conservatives