Is Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini to blame for his team's 0-2 start? Or is it something else? ESPN.com reporter James Walker does not put all of the blame on Mangini. Walker writes that hinging the 2010 season on questionable quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace is not Mangini's fault. It's not Mangini's fault that the front office didn't upgrade the...
Browns coach Eric ManginiIs Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini to blame for his team's 0-2 start? Or is it something else?
ESPN.com reporter James Walker does not put all of the blame on Mangini. Walker writes that hinging the 2010 season on questionable quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace is not Mangini's fault.
It's not Mangini's fault that the front office didn't upgrade the receiver position when it was clear this was the weakest area of the team.
Making Delhomme and linebacker Scott Fujita their biggest free-agent signings on offense and defense, respectively, when the Browns needed a much bigger splash in the open market to narrow the talent gap with their rivals.
But there are a few things Mangini can be blamed for. For example, his hiring and sticking with an inexperienced offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, who hasn't done anything with the Browns' offense since arriving to Cleveland.
Gutting the roster, which included several talented players, and replacing them with players with average ability.
Drafting poorly in 2009, which includes whiffing on second-round bust David Veikune and reaching too high for another second-round pick in Brian Robiskie.
Creating a stiff culture in Cleveland that, at times, is not fun or comfortable for players.
No phone call
A radio station out of Philadelphia reports that the Cleveland Browns made a phone call about the availability of Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb.
Not true "whatsoever," said a source close to the situation.
Earlier Wednesday morning, Eagles coach Andy Reid could not definitely say that Kolb would not be traded by the Oct. 19 trade deadline.
However, asked if he would listed to trade offers for the 26-year-old, Reid said, "No, I want Kevin Kolb on this football team."
Learning curve
News-Herald reporter wants to know when will the rest of the NFL coaches learn from the mistakes made by Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini?
Frantz writes how the Philadelphia Eagles have played musical quarterbacks with Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick. And even the Oakland Raiders were once focused on Jason Campbell when he signed to replace draft bust JaMarcus Russell. Now Russell is out and Bruce Gradkowski is in, at least for now.
The Carolina Panthers started Matt Moore for the first two games of the season, but now rookie Jimmy Clausen will start on Sunday.
Last year's nightmare of a quarterback derby between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn might as well have been the latest installment of the "Saw" movie franchise. It was that torturous to watch.
Not only were Anderson and Quinn equally ineffective as NFL signal-callers (Quinn is third string in Denver and Anderson is about to carry the clipboard in Arizona), but Mangini's insistence on yo-yo-ing them in and out of the huddle made the situation even more intolerable. It started in the preseason with the coach's refusal to name a starter until the coin flip before the first regular-season game, and it spiraled steadily downward from there.
Fortunately for Browns fans, Mangini seems to have learned his lesson.
Mr. Wallace
CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk writes how quarterback Seneca Wallace isn’t getting all worked up about his first career game against the Baltimore Ravens.
It's not offical yet, but Wallace will probably start on Sunday. And if he does, Wallace doesn't plan to press himself just because he's going against one of the best defenses.
Wallace fell to 0-4 in his first start in a season after replacing an injured quarterback. He is 2-1 in second starts.
“Being in the second week helps a lot,” he said. “It’s another week of work. You get in the groove of things.”