When James Brown said that he was sitting down with Browns coach Eric Mangini for an interview during The NFL Today, I scrambled to find my grunt-to-English dictionary to decipher what the normally closed-mouthed coach had to say for himself.
Turns out that it wasn't necessary as Mangini offered long, thoughtful answers to Brown's questions, including one about how he's holding up under so much criticism.
"I have no problem with criticism. I think where I get disappointed is when the attacks become personal."
Mangini repeated his regret over the play call that led to Josh Cribbs's injury on Monday night, but said that he doesn't like the idea of taking a knee in that situation. He denied reports that said running back James Davis injured his shoulder when he was pitted in a drill with a teammate wearing pads when Davis was unprotected. He also disputed running back Jamal Lewis's notion that the team was overworked in practice by saying that the two hours they spend on the field were industry standard.
Brown also asked Mangini about the $1700 fine for taking a $3 water bottle from a hotel minibar. Mangini admitted that it happened, but said that all the facts hadn't been reported.
"With that particular example that wasn't the first time that had happened. It wasn't the first incident related to the player. If I was looking at that from the outside, I'd probably think this was petty."
Mangini closed by addressing the discussion about his future and the mounting frustration among Browns fans about his brief tenure as the team's coach.
"I understand their frustration. We're committed to doing everything possible to give them what they deserve, which is a winner. ...We share that vision. There's going to be criticism, there's going to be people who don't believe but if you keep changing based on that then you don't believe in anything."
Back in the CBS studio, Bill Cowher applauded Mangini for sitting down for the interview but said that he needs to be more flexible if he hopes to succeed in the long run. Cowher suggested that he needs to do a better job of understanding the culture of the team he's working for and that he needs to do a better job of being accountable when his way doesn't lead to successful outcomes.
Mangini: I have no problem with criticism
Posted by Josh Alper on November 22, 2009 1:03 PM ET
He should have said "I live on criticism. I eat criticism for breakfast. And bacon too. By the pound. I live on criticism and bacon."
"I have no problem with criticism. I think where I get disappointed is when the attacks become personal."
Then do something about the buttertits, handsome.
mANGINA says "I understand your frustration. I'm committed to doing everything possible to give you what you deserve, which is a craptastic team full of asshats who actually lose to the Lions."
"Cowher suggested that he needs to do a better job of understanding the culture of the team he's working for"
The culture of the team is losing and ruining coaching careers. It's doesnt need additional understanding, It needs to be changed, destroyed, rubbed out and replaced with a totally different culture.
These players dont need to be understood.
They need someone to kick them in the ass and to force them to play to their potential.
Browns players suck.
It's not all Mangini's fault, some but not all.
Fire your coach every other year and you will always be losers.
I could not care less about a millionaire player who is too cheap, lazy, full of himself (whatever the reason is) to pay his drink bill and gets fined $1700.00 by his coach.
Why do people get upset about this???
Do you think you are going to fine this anonymous ex-wide out 3rd pick in the NFL Draft who has 17 mill in his bank account, $25.00, and think he is going to give a crap.
Dont worry, I dont think this anonymous players children will be starving this winter, because of Mangini's extreme harsh fines.
I would bet that same water bottle player also turned the Browns in for not playing in pads during extra time drill with Jamie Davis! You know the one the
anonymous ex-wide out 3rd pick in the NFL Draft who has 17 mill in his bank account, $25.00, and think he is going to give a crap, player.
Aceman, you are so right. These millionaire prima donnas need their ass kicked!
Just because they're freaks of nature, these are the same guys that got coddled all through school, given full-ride scholarships while smoking weed and driving around with guns, sign multi-million dollar contracts, murder people, and produce many unclaimed babies that the tax payers pay for.
Meanwhile, we working dogs have to live on the edge wondering if our $10.00 an hour job will still be here next week, or move overseas somewhere. Our only hope to improve our lives is to enlist in the military and go through 6 years of sh*t so that we can get the GI Bill, psycho treatments from the V.A., and maybe a gov't job with some benefits.
And these SoB's complain about practicing a game for 2 hrs a day??? Man, what is wrong with this picture?!!