NFL

BROWNS EYE MANGINI

It might not take Eric Mangini long to get back on the coaching carousel.

One day after the Jets fired Mangini, he was preparing to be interviewed for the head-coaching job of the Browns.

Browns owner Randy Lerner, who lives on Long Island, flew to the New York area yesterday and will meet with Mangini today.

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Mangini began his NFL career in Cleveland in 1994 when Bill Belichick was the Browns’ head coach.

The Browns are expected to hire Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli as their new GM, which would create an interesting dynamic with Mangini.

The two worked together in New England but last year’s “Spygate” controversy could be a point of tension between the two because Mangini blew the whistle on the Patriots’ covert taping.

The Browns fired both coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage after a 4-12 season.

Hiring the 37-year-old Mangini could lead to Crennel staying with the Browns, perhaps as their defensive coordinator. Crennel told Lerner he was open to staying, depending on who is his replacement.

Crennel and Mangini worked as defensive assistants on Belichick’s staff in New England from 2001-2004. When Crennel took the Cleveland job in 2005, Mangini replaced him as Belichick’s coordinator.

Cleveland might be a fit for Mangini because he has a history and family there. His brother-in-law is Mark Shapiro, the Indians GM.

Lerner has scheduled meetings with other coaching candidates, including Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, and New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Spagnuolo could meet with Lerner as early as today. He is also scheduled to interview with the Jets later this week.

With AP