I know that, and doesn't appear to have been abused yet, but you know evetually some dumbass with money is going to get that and abuse it.

Not really, if any of us were to abuse the privilege we would lose them. About the only time I'll do anything is if someone is pissing all over the board, or threatening to in this case. This dipshit had a history of doing the same damn thing in the past, that's what he lost his thread starting ability for.

Did you give him all three infractions yourself or did you have help?

I did all three, I wasn't going to do anything other than report the post until he got smart with me. It has to be a pretty extreme situation before I'll do anything. The only other time I've taken any action was with a couple of Marlboro Chief's aliases.

I'd have helped if I'd known we could do that.

I didn't know it right away either, it wasn't until after one night when Marlboro Chief was able to litter the board with gay porn because there wasn't a mod around that I found out I could have stopped him.

I think we were all wrong about the NFL policy. I was under impression they could interview them during the bye week at least but the NFL has confirmed that club execs can't be interviewed at all until their teams season is over

There must be a loophole somewhere, as Spagnoulo, Schwartz, and Rex Ryan have all had interviews set up for this week.

They changed the policy for coaches but not execs. Why they didn't include execs I have no idea.

FYI

They never did.

This question came up years ago and I provided both a link and phone number to the NFL offices (when we had to give up picks for Herm.)

There was a TEMPORARY ban on trading coaches for picks while the NFL/OWNERS evaluated the situation after the Gruden trade/raping of Oaktown.

Temporary.

As I understand it you can now trade for coaches and the FO personel were never subject to the temporary ban and never had to be compensated for.

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Cleveland Browns like Eric Mangini, Scott Pioli, too. Can...
 

Cleveland Browns like Eric Mangini, Scott Pioli, too. Can they get them both?

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 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. Pioli and Mangini were once close, but it is unknown exactly where they stand after the yearlong controversy over the Patriots' taping of the Jets' defensive signals.

Pioli left his meeting with the Browns still intent on going through with his scheduled interview with the Kansas City Chiefs. A source told The Plain Dealer on Thursday that the two sides parted ways with no timeframe for a decision from Pioli. The source said a report in the Boston Herald that the Browns gave him a deadline of Thursday was untrue.

The Browns were scheduled to interview Falcons President Rich McKay on Thursday, but the interview was postponed because McKay wanted to focus on Atlanta's playoff game Saturday in Phoenix against the Cardinals, a source said. Foxsports.com's Jay Glazer also reported Thursday that McKay and the Browns talked but "McKay informed them he is happy where he is and did not want to interview for the job or consider it until after the rest of the candidates had run their course in Cleveland."

Perhaps McKay sensed the Browns were going in a different direction, and that direction would be either Pioli or Mangini.

The Browns continue to interview other head coaching candidates, but it could be difficult for any of them to trump Mangini. They interviewed Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Thursday and will meet with Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on Saturday. They've also received permission to interview Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and will interview Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker over the next couple of days.

Tucker also will interview for the Jets' head coach vacancy, profootballtalk.com reported Thursday.

If none of those candidates outshine Mangini, the Browns - who want to act fast - could offer Mangini a contract soon.

But the Browns also were of the mind that things could change quickly and that Pioli could be ready to leave New England. A source said Pioli had things to work out before making up his mind on what he wanted to do.

Spagnuolo also interviewed with the Lions on Thursday and will meet with the Jets on Saturday. He's believed to be the Jets' No. 1 candidate. McDaniels also is being wooed by the Broncos, ESPN.com reported.

The Browns are still interested in talking to fired Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, but he is not expected to be a top candidate.

Meanwhile, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who would reportedly be on Pioli's short list of candidates, said Thursday after the Outback Bowl: "Scott's a great friend of mine and I think it's a mutual thing. I think it's presumptuous to think anybody knows what he's doing right now. He and I haven't talked in three weeks. We've both been doing our jobs. I've got a great job at Iowa. I've said that many, many times. The people are fantastic and I just feel very fortunate."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

The biggest negative about Pioli at this point is the strong potential that he may hire the likes of Ferentz or Mangini if he's hired as a GM.

And from the same site.

Scribbles in my Browns notebook
by Terry Pluto, Plain Dealer Columnist
Friday January 02, 2009, 12:15 AM

Don't be surprised if Eric Mangini becomes a major figure as the Browns look for both a coach and a general manager. The former New York Jets coach met with the Browns on Tuesday, and they came away impressed. The Browns want a different-type coach from Romeo Crennel, with more emphasis on discipline and organization, and they think Mangini could be the guy.

The Browns prefer not to hire a rookie coach. They have done a ton of research and believe a coach in Mangini's position -- having spent a few years with one team, then fired -- often is much better the second time around. Tony Dungy (fired by Tampa Bay, Super Bowl in Indianapolis) and Bill Belichick (fired by Art Modell, Super Bowls in New England) are two recent examples. Mangini spent three years as the Jets' coach: 10-6, 4-12 and 9-7. He will be 38 on Jan. 19.

Based on their research, the Browns believe a new coach's most important hires are the offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, offensive line and defensive back coaches. The research also shows rookie head coaches often swing and miss in two of those key four hires -- whereas experienced head coaches have more success building a staff that works well together.

Yes, the Browns will talk to some assistants who have not been head coaches before, but it does not seem to be the direction that they want to go now.

Looking back to 2005, Randy Lerner was a rookie owner who hired a rookie GM in Phil Savage and a rookie head coach in Crennel. The two coordinators -- Todd Grantham and Maurice Carthon -- also were rookies. The Browns don't want to get through all that again.

The Browns are not sure where they stand with New England Vice President Scott Pioli. Kansas City is also courting him and it would not be a shock if he decided to stay in New England for another season. Like Bill Cowher, he can go on the market after the 2009 season and still be a hot item. I sense the Browns would love to put together Pioli and Mangini. Supposedly, the two with Belichick roots still get along despite Mangini turning in Belichick on the Spygate charges.

Leadership, communication skills and creating an identity for the team remain on the top of the list as the Browns interview coaches and executives. After firing Crennel and Savage, they targeted these three experienced football men: Mike Holmgren, Cowher and Pioli. Holmgren and Cowher say they will sit out 2009. They did interview Pioli, but realize they have to find other candidates. When Mangini was fired Monday, the Browns were immediately intrigued because they like his leadership skills.

What about the Jets' collapse? Mangini had them off to an 8-3 start, then they lost four of five to miss the playoffs. There were problems, but the biggest was the arm injury to Brett Favre. In the 8-3 start, Favre had 20 TD passes and 13 interceptions. In the 1-4 decline, it was two TDs and nine interceptions as Favre was playing with a torn bicep.

Quarterbacks can make or break coaches. Derek Anderson's hot start saved Crennel's job in 2007 and helped the coach to a contract extension. The Jets thought Favre had a better chance of staying healthy than Chad Pennington, whom they cut. Pennington went to Miami, didn't get hurt and made team president Bill Parcells look like a genius as he had 19 TDs compared with seven interceptions.

If the Browns do hire Mangini, they must pair him with a GM who is committed to the coach. Part of the Browns' problem in 2008 was a huge split between the front office and coaching staff over several players. That led to finger pointing from both directions. The Browns see how the Indians and Cavaliers stay not just on the same page, but even in the same sentences when their GMs and head coach/manager appear in public.

As for Mike Shanahan, the Browns might talk to him. But the former Denver coach has won only one playoff game since 1999, and is .500 over the past three seasons. As of now, he does not appear to be at the top of the list. Nor is Marty Schottenheimer in the current picture. Everything is subject to change, but Mangini is in the center of conversation right now.

I like Pioli, but I've said it before, he's a better fit in Cleveland.

I also tend to think De Costa and Polian have better draft records.