Eric Mangini Goes Back to His NFL Roots with the Cleveland Browns as Head Coach

After three seasons with the New York Jets as Head Coach, Eric Mangini was given the boot. But Mangini wasted no time in finding gainful employment. Just two weeks after the Jets fired him, he returns to his NFL roots as the Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Mangini began his NFL career as a ballboy for the Cleveland Browns and will now get a new start where it all began. Mangini began shagging balls for the Cleveland Brown back in 1994 when the Browns were coached by Bill Belichick. Belichick like Mangini's hustle and determination so much that he promoted him to public relations assistant and then to the scouting team. Now Mangini's NFL life comes full circle as he was introduced as the 12^th head coach of the Cleveland Browns (source: espn.com).

Browns owner Randy Lerner fired former Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns, Romeo Crennel, on December 19^th, the same day in which Eric angina was fired from the Jets. While the first chose of Lerner was former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, Lerner was described as ecstatic when he found out that Mangini was available. Since Mangini's interview with the Browns he was pegged as the front runner the entire time interviews were being conducted (source: espn.com).

Mangini now faces the task of improving a team that went just 4-12 overall and 1-7 at home. The Browns were marred by injuries to both of their first and second string quarterbacks and showed little to no flashes of brilliance for an NFL franchise that is steeped in tradition. The disappointing season followed a year when the Browns finished 10-6 and were expected to contend for at least a playoff spot this season (source: espn.com).

Cleveland Browns fans should be elated. Although Mangini's overall record with the New York Jets was 23-25 he did turn that team around from a 4-12 season before he arrived to a 10-6 season in his first year with the club and a playoff appearance. This year looked to be like a golden year for the Jets and Mangini as the club traded for quarterback Brett Favre and started the season at 8-3. But the Favre and the Jets slumped and finished the year at 9-7 and missed the playoffs. Mangini shouldered the blame and was promptly fired as soon as the season ended (source: espn.com).

While Eric Mangini is out with the Jets, the former ballboy is now back to his roots as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. How Mangini will do is anyone's guess but remember let's not forget the last member of the Jets organization that got discarded so quickly. It was quarterback Chad Pennington, who actually got to beat the Jets on the last game of the season and help the Miami Dolphins win the AFC East Title and finished second in the NFL MVP voting. The Cleveland browns fans have to be feeling pretty good right about now.