He's the Mangini!

To the surprise of none, Eric Mangini is the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, and I think it's a good choice. He becomes the Browns' first coach with previous NFL head coach experience since Terry Robiskie, who hardly counts because of the interim label; before that, you have to go all the way back to Nick Skorich, who coached the Eagles from 1961-63 before taking the helm in Cleveland from 1971-74. So the year I was born was the last year an experienced coach started the season as the Browns' coach. And look how big I've gotten! (I know you can't see me through the computer, but trust me, I'm a decent-sized fellow.)

For them what's curious, Skorich took over a team that had gone 7-7 in 1970 and led them to the playoffs in his first two years in Cleveland, but never won a playoff game with the Browns. That's interesting, but not particularly relevant; I just thought I'd mention it.

Mangini was born the same year I was, which makes me shake my head a little, but if the Constitution says you can be President at age 35, the Browns can certainly afford to hire a man who's about to turn 38 to be their coach. He went 23-25 in three seasons with the Jets, with one good year (2006, when they went 10-6), one bad year (2007, 4-12), and one mediocre year (2008, 9-7 after starting 8-3). It's hard to evaluate coaches, but give me a guy who's had some success as a head coach over a guy who's never done the job before any day. We Browns fans all know how successful a coach can be in his second job. And Mangini has Cleveland ties, having served as a ball boy for the Browns during the Belichick era. Yeah, that still counts.

Eric Mangini (I assume you'll read this), welcome back to Cleveland. We're excited to have you on board. (That's right, I presume to speak for all Browns fans. If you disagree, that's what the comment option is for.)