Despite the miserable finish to yet another disappointing season for the Cleveland Browns, I would have kept Eric Mangini (at least for another year) and would most definitely have kicked Rob Ryan off the island. To say Ryan is overrated is an understatement.
If the hair-challenged defensive coordinator is interviewed for a head coaching job like many have speculated all year, could you imagine how is interview will go?
Team President: Mr. Ryan, why do think you should be the next head coach of this organization?
Ryan: ``Uhhh!!…Hmmm!!….Well!!…Let me see: ``If you overlook the fact that my defense melted like a piece of chocolate on the final game of the season, coughing up a season high 41 points to the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers at home, when the head coaches job was on the line, and forget that my defense couldn’t stop the 2-10 Buffalo Bills and 2-11 Cincinnati Bengals—then I’m your man.’’
Assuming Mike Holmgren is unable to snag either Jon Gruden or John Fox to fill the coaching vacancy, It looks as if he’ll end up ripping a page out of Bill Parcells playbook-thrilled to be back to coaching again--but will soon learn, like Parcells, he's too old for this grueling gig, and lacks the patience necessary for a five year rebuilding project. Prediction: Holmgren will pass the baton to his personally annointed successor in less than three years, leaving Browns fans back to square one: with yet another coaching change and another head coach stepping to the dais, promising to return the Browns to the glory days of yesteryear.
Raise your hand if you’ve already seen this movie?
When I think of the rashness of Holmgren's decision, dumping Mangini after only two seasons-I can't help but think of Abraham Lincoln’s maxim: ``It is best not to swap horses when crossing streams.''
-Bill Lucey
[email protected]
January 3, 2011
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