On Sunday, Brown coach Eric Mangini will conclude his second season as head coach of the team. Whether there’s a third remains to be seen.
Mangini could find out as soon as Monday, during a meeting that he expects to have with team president Mike Holmgren.
“That’s my anticipation,’' Mangini said Friday, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
“I’m excited about the game [against the Steelers],’' Mangini said. “I feel good about a lot of things we’ve done here. I believe in it. I think this organization, this team has a really bright future and I’m excited about being a part of that.”
Mangini, who acknowledged the existence of “uncertainty” regarding his future, has had mixed results in two years with the Browns. After a disastrous 1-11 start, Mangini won four in a row to end the 2009 season. A rough beginning to the 2010 season gave way to stirring wins over the Saints and Patriots.
Still, as we pointed out in the Week 17 Monday 12-pack (it seemed fitting to make it a 12-pack, given that it’s New Year’s Eve), the decision ultimately will hinge on the true nature of the relationship between Holmgren and Mangini.