Eric Mangini may not have to wait long to get back on the sideline.
ESPN reported yesterday that the fired Jets coach has become the leading candidate to become the next head coach of the Browns.
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Citing anonymous league and team sources, ESPN said Browns owner Randy Lerner is “fascinated” with Mangini and the two had a “compelling” interview this week.
Jets fans might find that hard to believe after watching the 37-year-old stand stoically on the sideline chomping his gum. But Lerner seems to be intrigued by Mangini, who got his coaching start in Cleveland under Bill Belichick.
His competition for the Browns job is Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo – who interviewed with the Jets yesterday and the Browns on Thursday – Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Mangini was fired by the Jets on Monday after three years on the job. He has a career record of 23-25 with one playoff loss. Mangini met with Lerner in the New York area during the middle of this week. He has not spoken with the media since his firing.
If Mangini does wind up in Cleveland, it would be interesting since he’d be replacing Romeo Crennel, another former Patriots defensive coordinator. That might be a tough sell to the Browns fans. But Lerner clearly still thinks the Belichick coaching tree will bear some fruit.
ESPN reported that if Mangini gets the job, the favorite to become the team’s general manager is Ravens pro personnel director George Kokinis. Mangini and Kokinis worked together with the Browns and Ravens.
The leading candidate for the Browns GM job was considered to be Patriots general manager Scott Pioli. But he reportedly asked for terms that Lerner is not comfortable with.
If Pioli winds up as the team’s new GM, it will be interesting to watch what happens to Mangini’s chances of becoming head coach. The two worked together in New England but it is unclear what happened to their relationship after the “Spygate” controversy of 2007, when Mangini turned the Patriots in for stealing sideline signals.
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Another sign came yesterday that Jets quarterback Brett Favre is leaning toward retirement. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, one of Favre’s media favorites, reported the 39-year-old quarterback told Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum that “it may be time to look in a different direction” when discussing Favre’s future.