Browns players were given a stern warning: turnovers and penalties will lead to benching.
Eric Mangini said his patience is wearing thin. "If it becomes a pattern, then we can't play the people who create turnovers or penalties because it hurts our chances," he said Monday.BEREA, Ohio -- Eric Mangini issued a stern warning Monday to his players: Turn the ball over or commit costly penalties and you'll be watching from the sidelines.
"Whether it's turnovers or penalties, if it becomes a pattern, then we can't play the people who create turnovers or penalties because it hurts our chances," said Mangini.
The Browns had two turnovers -- a Seneca Wallace interception and Jerome Harrison fumble -- that cost them 10 points, and nine penalties that led to the 16-14 loss to the Chiefs.
"I don't really see it as me benching anybody," said Mangini. "I see it as either hold onto ball and get carries or you don't hold onto the ball and you don't get carries. And I'm not limiting it to the running backs. This isn't just about Jerome [Harrison], let me make that clear.
"The same thing with penalties. Either you stay onsides or you don't. If you jump offsides on third down, then we're not going to play you on third down. That's it. We'll put somebody else in and if they beat us on the play, they beat us on the play. If that person's maybe not exactly who we'd want on that play, it's going to be better than giving away a first down. We've got to do it. There's no alternative."
If Mangini yanked everyone who was making mistakes these days, he'd have to start calling up practice squad players and scouring the waiver wire. But based on fumbles by Peyton Hillis and Harrison over the past two games, one thing he could do is give some carries to James Davis.
"It depends on the week of practice and things like that," said Mangini. "But I have confidence in James. And I'm not lacking confidence in Jerome or Peyton. Make sure that's clear."
Davis said he'll be ready if his number is called Sunday in Baltimore.
"If my opportunity comes, I'll try to make the most of it," he said. "When the coach calls on you, you better be ready to make a big play."
While everyone on the team insists that Harrison was down when Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel stripped him of the ball on the Browns' second drive, Mangini said it shouldn't have come to that. The Browns challenged, but the fumble held. The Chiefs converted it into a field goal. Harrison was so frustrated after the game he wouldn't talk.
"Whether you agree with it or disagree with it, whether you think his arm was down or not, if you put it into someone else's hands to make that decision, then you live with the results," said Mangini. "The ball shouldn't be on the ground."
Hillis, who fumbled in Tampa and false-started in the third quarter against the Chiefs, understands Mangini's warning.
"I don't expect anything less," said Hillis. "If you turn over the ball over, you should probably get less reps until you hang onto the ball. Those mistakes lead to losses. We could just as easily be 2-0."
As for Wallace's interception, which was returned or a touchdown, Mangini attributed it to the offense still jelling.
"This was Seneca's first start in a while," said Mangini. "Even though we have veteran guys at a lot of spots, this is a group playing together for the first two times."
Mangini also lamented the lack of deep completions. Mohamed Massaquoi, who had only one catch for nine yards, missed two, one when he couldn't keep both feet inbounds and one when the ball came out on a late third down play when he hit the ground. The Browns were forced to punt and never got the ball back.
"The receivers are running the right routes," said Mangini. "There's been chances both ways -- times they've been open and haven't gotten the ball, and times where we've gotten the ball but haven't been able to keep our feet in. So I'm looking for them to continue to improve."
Explained Massaqoi: "I watched both of them. The sideline one, I'm just still trying to get used to being more aware of the sideline, trying harder. The other one, when he landed on top, the ball squirted out. It's one of those things. It wasn't a matter of not catching the ball."
Mangini attributed the anemic running game -- 73 yards and a 2.8 average -- to a missed read here, a missed block there.
"I want to be able to run the ball well," he said. "I want to be able to run the ball consistently and I want to be able to run the ball well against any front that we face, in any weather conditions we're in."
He did blame the coaching staff for one mistake: not using the wildcat more. Josh Cribbs took one direct snap and ran for a yard. But he caught the 65-yard TD pass from Wallace and was the only one to manage a big play.
"I would have used it more yesterday," said Mangini. "With him, they may load box, they may do a lot of different things, but he's got a chance on any play."