Browns camp has a different feel about it this season, and it all starts at the top.
Eric Mangini, pictured with rookie defensive back Joe Haden, says he will continue to set high standards when it comes to avoiding penalties caused by mental mistakes.Browns Training Camp, Year II under Eric Mangini . . .
Once in a while, you see a Browns player running laps around the practice field.
There was another $1,700 fine . . . $1,760 to be exact, as rookie T.J. Ward had his cell phone ring during a team meeting.
As usual, Eric Mangini brings up false starts and other penalties a few times each week in a press conference. "We are not going to TRY to do these things right," said the Browns coach. "We WILL do it right."
He meant using the proper alignments, moving on the correct snap count.
"We are a lot better than last year (at this time)," said Mangini. "But we have to avoid self-inflicted wounds. I have very high expectations in this area."
For too long, I heard some Browns coaches (Butch Davis) excuse off-sides and other lame-brained penalties, while others (Romeo Crennel) just seemed to ignore them. Change was needed.
New team president Mike Holmgren still can't figure out how the Browns won games when they had 33 total completions.
In the five victories, they were 33-of-81 passing for a total of 386 yards and one touchdown.
No team wants to play that way, but the Browns showed what discipline can do. That was especially true in the final four games, all victories, none in good weather. The Browns played smarter, tougher and with fewer mistakes than their opponents.
In those five victories, the Browns were penalized 21 times for 183 yards. The opponents? Try 42 times for 220 yards. The Browns had the third-fewest penalties in the NFL at 77, down from 100 in 2008.
Holmgren is counting on a better passing attack this season -- hard to imagine it continuing to decline, since it was the worst in the NFL a year ago. But he also sees something else is obvious to man who spent most of his life at practice with a whistle around his neck.
"Think back to a year ago," Holmgren said, meaning all the turmoil of 2009. "Has Eric changed that much, or have the players?"
Obviously, the players know more of what to expect. They also know Mangini is backed by a strong and experienced front office in general manager Tom Heckert and Holmgren. More veterans with a sense of leadership and discipline have been imported, while the likes of Braylon Edwards, Jamal Lewis and some other gripers are gone.
Would Holmgren have fined Ward for the cell phone incident?
"Probably," he said. "That's on the list of fines from the league (that can be implemented). Once in a while, I'd let a player go, but then tell him if it happens again -- it will cost him three times as much. But I fined guys. I told them that they work hard to earn their money, and I don't want to take it. But I will."
Mangini is pushing Ward hard because he seems prepared to start the second-rounder at safety. He also loves Ward as a player, consistently praising his attitude and tackling ability.
This is not a repeat of Edwards and the $1,701 fine for not paying for the bottled water at a hotel. Of course, that was about Edwards' 12th violation of rules.
"Eric is a very smart guy who has a philosophy that he believes in and he implements it," said Holmgren. "I like how he talks to the players. He is very articulate, he makes the expectations very clear."
Holmgren said he still wishes his coach "would loosen up a bit." Well, Mike, you should have seen him a year ago. The Eric Mangini of 2010 seems like Jim Carrey compared to the 2009 model.
Holmgren is 62, and a future Hall of Fame coach who led his teams to the playoffs 12 times in 17 seasons. Mangini is 39, entering his fifth season (second with the Browns) with a 28-36 record.
Having Holmgren behind him has made Mangini more relaxed. The two men talk after most practices, Mangini usually initiating the meetings by informally showing up in Holmgren's office.
"As a coach, you can learn and get smarter," said Holmgren. "That happens to all of us."
After taking over the Browns following the 5-11 season, Holmgren went into his meetings with Mangini thinking that he may have to change coaches -- but changed his mind.
"I think this system can work, because we can take care of a lot of things for Eric, and let him do what he does best -- which is just coach," said Holmgren. "And he can be a very good coach."