I’ve been thinking about this, and the lack of data is very interesting. Maybe it means that both sides feel it’s in their best interest to stay quiet, that they both share some blame and could come out looking worse if all the cards were on the table?

I’d love to know which straw broke the camel’s back.

houckgreen>kotkunias

I don’t think Mangini wanted power or control, but was forced to take over those roles as the GM couldn’t/didn’t want to handle it.

I tend to disagree.
 

I think Mangini wanted and thought there was an opportunity for complete control there coming in and for a while after Kokinis left. I think Kokinis was upset at his lack of role and that precipitated him leaving. Kokinis was supposed to be nod-nod-wink-wink ‘GM,’ but was supposed to basically just be a ‘yes’ man for Mangini. I mean, c’mon, while I think Mangini gets a bad rap in the league about his tyrannical style, there was no doubt coming in Mangini thought he knew what to do, and could do, everything…and he was plenty happy to have it pan out that way.

Really, what head coach, except through bitter previous experience, DOESN’T think he could do both..and BETTER?

Obviously, there was some serious miscommunication of intentions there as Kokinis actually came there to be GM, and when he left I think Mangini figured it was pretty much a given he was going to remain de facto coach/GM. I think he felt like he had Lerner in his back pocket and would accept this, and this probably isn’t a stretch on his part given Lerner’s fawning over Mangini and very quick hire. I think Mangini figured, like Jerry Maguire, he ‘had him at hello’…right after the interview this was going to be the ‘Mangini show.’

Kokinis obviously shares blame in this as he sure as hell must not have much damn personality, presence, or communication skills at all if this was even a possibility of being ‘misconstrued.’ However, given what actually transpired and what we all knew of Kokinis up to that point…..is that surprising in hindsight? The guy had about as much personality and presence as my basement doorknob, and I don’t have a basement.

As the season spiraled out of control and all the proverbial shit hit the fan, and essentially when Lerner laid the smack down, actually grew a pair, and announced he was finally fed up with the bullshit he was responsible for and that they were going to hire a ‘serious, credible’ leader, Mangini knew the Napoleon act was over if he wanted to keep his coaching job..so he was forced to accept whatever his role would be. At that point it became not if he was going to be GM/coach, but if he was even going to be here at all.

To his credit, and I definitely think he deserved another shot, he accepted this role willingly (although let’s be honest, what choice did he really have, he wasn’t going anywhere else to be a head coach in the NFL for a loong time if he left). Bottom line though, I think Mangini learned a lot through all this, and I think he will become a much, much better leader and coach from all this….and in this environment. Which is good, because when he’s good the browns have a better chance to be good, which makes us all feel good.