Browns introduce Jets castoff Eric Mangini as coach

BEREA, Ohio -- Eric Mangini is starting over where he started out.

Mangini, who began his NFL career as a ballboy for the Browns, was introduced as Cleveland's 12th full-time coach on Thursday, less than two weeks after he was fired by the New York Jets.

The 37-year-old Mangini signed a four-year deal with the Browns, who are rebuilding once again following a 4-12 season that ended with the firings of coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage.

Browns owner Randy Lerner hasn't decided on a GM yet, but the frontrunner is George Kokinis, Baltimore's director of player personnel and a longtime friend of Mangini's.

Mangini began shagging balls with the Browns in 1994 under then-coach Bill Belichick, who liked the kid's work ethic and quickly promoted him to a public relations assistant before adding him to the scouting department. Now Mangini's taking over the job from Crennel, one of his best friends in the game.

"It is really special to be back here, where I got my first opportunity," Mangini said.

Mangini had a tumultuous three years in New York. When he arrived, Mangini inherited a 4-12 team and led them to 10 wins in his first season, prompting New York's tabloids to dub him "Mangenius." By the end of his run in the NFL's largest market, he was being called moody, dour and controlling.

He went 23-25 with one playoff loss in three seasons with the Jets, who started 8-3 this season but lost four of their last five games and missed the playoffs.

Mangini took the fall after the Jets finished a disastrous stretch where they lost to Denver, San Francisco and Seattle -- three non-playoff teams -- in the final month behind 39-year-old quarterback Brett Favre's injured arm and questionable play calling by his coach.

Mangini and Crennel both lost their jobs on Dec. 29, although Lerner was not aware of Mangini's dismissal when he met with the media to discuss Crennel's firing.

Rejected a few days earlier by his first choice, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, Lerner's eyes lit up when he learned Mangini was available. He wasted no time in going after him and interviewed Mangini the following night in the New York area. Lerner tabbed Mangini as his leading candidate from the outset.

"It was a long week," Mangini said. "I was very proud of the things we did in New York."

Despite the Jets' meltdown, Lerner is enamored with Mangini's potential and believes he will bring discipline to the underachieving Browns, whose disastrous season was marked by injuries, ugly losses and a 1-7 home record. Lerner believes Mangini, who will be 38 on Jan. 19, learned from his mistakes in New York.

Jets running back Leon Washington said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that he was pleased to see Mangini land another head coaching job.

"I am really happy for Coach Mangini," Washington said in the e-mail. "I learned so much from him while he had his tenure with the Jets. His hardworking, selfless and competitive approach really helped me. ... The Browns got themselves a really good coach."

Jets kicker Mike Nugent, who played at Ohio State, thinks Mangini is a perfect fit with Cleveland.

"I wish him luck for the rest of his career in football," Nugent said in an e-mail. "He will do a great job in Cleveland. Ohio has great fans who will give him nothing but their best support."

Mangini was one of four candidates interviewed by Lerner, but the only one with NFL head coaching experience -- a prerequisite for the Browns owner, who also spoke with New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.

Lerner fired Savage after a 31-0 loss at Pittsburgh in the season finale. He then interviewed Scott Pioli, New England's highly regarded director of player personnel, and had hoped to pair him with Mangini in Cleveland. The two began their pro careers together with the Browns, but their relationship may have been strained when Mangini reported the Patriots to the NFL for videotaping New York's defensive signals during a game.

During his interview, Mangini mentioned Kokinis as his preference as GM. Kokinis is expected to interview with Lerner on Sunday. The Browns also intend to interview Philadelphia GM Tom Heckert.