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Browns to interview Pioli
Mangini is also on their docket
By Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff | December 31, 2008
Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli is scheduled to interview today with Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner for a position as the chief football decision-maker for the team, according to the Associated Press.
The fact that Pioli has agreed to interview indicates that he might be closer than ever to leaving the Patriots.
Pioli's name has been linked to jobs in the past - without interviewing, he was offered a position with the Seahawks in 2005 that reportedly included a five-year, $15 million contract, and he also declined to interview for the Giants general manager job in January 2007 - but he always has ended up back in New England with coach Bill Belichick.
Adding intrigue to the idea of Pioli in Cleveland is that Lerner was scheduled to interview deposed Jets coach and former Patriots defensive coordinator Eric Mangini for the Browns' head coaching position, according to the AP and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Mangini was with the Patriots and Pioli and Belichick from 2000-05, serving as defensive backs coach and then defensive coordinator his final season before defecting for New York and sparking a bitter feud.
It is believed it was Mangini who tipped off Jets security about the Patriots illegally filming signals in the 2007 season opener, spawning "Spygate."
The ramifications of the Patriots being caught with a candid camera included the league docking them a first-round pick.
Both the Herald and NFL.com reported yesterday that Pioli's first choice as Browns coach would not be Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, offensive line coach for three seasons on Belichick's staff in Cleveland, when Pioli, who started there as a pro personnel assistant in 1992, was with the Browns.
Like Pioli, Mangini began his career in Cleveland, starting as a 23-year-old public relations intern and ball boy for the Browns in 1994.
He was fired as Jets coach Monday after New York collapsed down the stretch, losing four of its last five games to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs.
Lerner also got permission from Falcons owner Arthur Blank to interview Atlanta president Rich McKay.
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