New England Patriots
01/03/2009
The Browns' strong interest in fired Jets coach Eric Mangini could impact their search for a front-office executive, a league source with knowledge of the situation said on Thursday. The Browns interviewed Mangini on Tuesday night and were impressed with him. They interviewed Patriots Vice President Scott Pioli on Wednesday and liked him, too. But it's unknown if the two would be willing to work together after the Spygate scandal, so for the Browns, it might come to this: Do they hire the coach they love or the general manager they love? If the Browns hire Mangini, knowing there is evidence that the coach is the biggest indicator of a franchise's success, he'd probably already have his own right-hand personnel man in mind. If they hire Pioli, he'd undoubtedly be given the authority to hire his own coach. One thing is certain: The Browns want their coach and GM in complete synch this time, so they'd let each man choose his partner.
01/03/2009
New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker were interviewed by owner Randy Lerner about Cleveland's coaching vacancy on Friday. The Ohio born and bred McDaniels just completed his third season overseeing the Patriots' offense and coaching quarterbacks.
01/02/2009
As their courtship with Scott Pioli continued, the Cleveland Browns postponed an interview with Atlanta president Rich McKay and talked to New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Pioli, who has spent the past nine years helping build the Patriots into a powerhouse, met Wednesday with Browns owner Randy Lerner in New York about Cleveland's vacancy at general manager.
01/01/2009
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen will have a lengthy list of diverse coaching candidates to consider as he tries to decide who should replace Mike Shanahan as the Broncos' head coach. Another top GM candidate is Scott Pioli, New England's vice president of personnel. In addition to Schwartz and Spagnuolo, other hot assistant coaches include Josh McDaniels, the Patriots' offensive coordinator, Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett or Atlanta quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, a former Broncos backup quarterback who starred as at Grand Junction High School and the University of Oregon. If Bowlen chooses to go with an experienced head coach instead, Bill Cowher could be the top target, though he would be far more expensive to a franchise that still could be paying at least part of Shanahan's salary in coming years. Cowher has not coached since retiring from Pittsburgh nearly two years ago. He has been linked to the open New York Jets job, too, in recent days. Several top college coaches could be in the discussion, as well, including Southern California's Pete Carroll, who previously coached in the NFL in New England. One local college coach, Air Force's Troy Calhoun, shook his head no Tuesday when asked if he expected to be considered. Calhoun was a defensive and special-teams assistant under Shanahan and an assistant coach for the Texans under Gary Kubiak.
01/01/2009
Browns owner Randy Lerner interviewed Scott Pioli, New England's vice president of player personnel, on Wednesday, to be his new general manager. It is not known whether or not Lerner offered the job to Pioli, who has been Bill Belichick's right-hand man with the Patriots for the past nine years.
01/01/2009
Jerod Mayo wasted no time showing he could be an NFL star. Now he's biding his time until he becomes the leader of the Patriots' defense. In between, there's more he wants to accomplish: defensive player of the year and, more importantly, a Super Bowl championship. But he certainly appreciates winning The Associated Press 2008 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
12/31/2008
The Browns will interview fired New York Jets coach Eric Mangini and current New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo this week for their coaching vacancy, NFL sources said. The Browns also are trying to get permission to talk to some of their other candidates, including Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. It is not yet known if they will be interested in fired Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.
12/31/2008
Scott Pioli, the New England Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel, is believed to be very interested in the Browns general manager job and is expected to interview for the position soon, multiple league sources told The Plain Dealer today. The Browns have been granted permission by the Patriots to interview Pioli and could talk to him as soon as Tuesday. Pioli has also been contacted by either the Kansas City Chiefs or Detroit Lions and will interview for that job as well, a source said.
12/31/2008
Jerod Mayo firmly answered everyone who criticized the Patriots for taking him with the 10th pick in April's draft by winning The Associated Press 2008 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Mayo was a nearly unanimous choice, earning 49 of 50 votes on Wednesday from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league.
12/23/2008
While Tom Coughlin plans to be smart with his injured players in the New York Giants' regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, the Super Bowl champions are not going to change their basic goal - just win. If there is any question about that, recall the Giants' final regular-season game last season against the then-unbeaten New England Patriots.
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