Deberg_1990 |
01-05-2009 09:24 AM |
From Peter King this morning:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...rds/index.html
And Now For the Employment Gossip. It's no coincidence that every network on planet earth -- except maybe Al Jazeera -- had Eric Mangini as the Cleveland's coaching leader in the clubhouse. Either we're all being totally snowed (gee, that's never happened before), or Mangini's going to be the coach of the Browns soon. The topic to me that's as interesting as the Mangini one is what it means for New England vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who is clearly the top candidate out there to run a front office. Two weeks ago, I was sure Cleveland owner Randy Lerner was going to fire coach Romeo Crennel and thought he'd fire GM Phil Savage -- and if he did, he'd lay out the red carpet from Foxboro to Berea to make sure he stole Pioli from Bill Belichick's side. But clearly, something has happened in the last few days that I didn't expect.
First, I have to issue a major mea culpa to the radio listeners who heard me say the other day Mangini would never get the Cleveland job. Stupid me; never say never in January. I thought in midweek Mangini would never get the Cleveland job because I thought Pioli was going to be the general manager, and yes, someday the Manginis and Piolis and Belichicks will link arms and sing "Kumbaya,'' but I don't think they're all quite ready to do that right now. (At least not without metal detectors being used for their grad reunion.) My apologies for misleading you.
But it leaves me questioning Pioli's future. Could he get swept off his feet by a man he'll have much in common with, Kansas City owner Clark Hunt, when they meet this week? Will Pioli return to the safety of the dynastic womb in New England? That's something I never thought a possibility in December, but the longer it goes without him leaving the nest, the more chance there is he might stay.
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