honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 5, 2009

Mangini starting off slowly

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Eric Mangini

spacer spacer

BEREA, Ohio — His sweatshirt sleeves were hiked up past his elbows, reflecting a man digging into his work. He's been living in a condominium less than 200 yards from his office, making for a walkable commute through the snow. And except for a dinner with his predecessor, his social life has been nonexistent.

"I haven't been out much," Eric Mangini said with a shrug.

For now, rebuilding the Browns is a 24/7 gig.

Less than a month since taking over as Cleveland's coach, Mangini, fired after three seasons with the New York Jets, offered a progress report yesterday but provided few details about his plans to awaken this slumbering, bumbling franchise. Mangini announced he hired former San Francisco assistant George Warhop as his offensive line coach and said he has "four or five" spots on his staff to fill.

Mangini was cordial, if not revealing, during a 45-minute news conference in which he addressed topics ranging from getting the Browns up to speed with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers to his football philosophies as well as his early impressions on quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

For now, Mangini isn't tipping his hand on his preference at QB. Anderson, a Pro Bowl selection in 2007, was benched midway through last season by coach Romeo Crennel in favor of Quinn, who made three starts before undergoing season-ending finger surgery. Mangini said new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has met with both players but that the evaluations are ongoing.

Mangini was asked if it's possible he will keep both Quinn and Anderson, who is due a $5 million roster bonus next month.

"I don't really have it defined in terms of which way it has to go," he said. "I think I'm open to all different possibilities, and not just at that position."

RAIDERS

Tom Cable is aware of the stiff challenges he is assuming by staying with the Oakland Raiders.

Owner Al Davis formally introduced Cable as his fifth head coach since 2003 yesterday in a news conference lacking the theatric vitriol of last year's appearance by Davis, when he promoted Cable and fired Lane Kiffin four weeks into the season.

The Raiders also announced the hiring of several assistant coaches, nearly completing Cable's overhauled coaching staff. Ted Tollner was named the passing game coordinator, and veteran NFL assistant John Marshall will be Cable's defensive coordinator.

REDSKINS

The Washington Redskins signed kicker Dave Rayner yesterday, giving incumbent Shaun Suisham a possible competitor during training camp.

Rayner has played for five teams in four seasons since being picked by Indianapolis in the sixth round of the 2005 draft out of Michigan State. Last season, he spent two games on Cincinnati's roster while regular kicker Shayne Graham was injured. Rayner made his only field-goal attempt with the Bengals, a 26-yarder.

Suisham started well last year but struggled late in the season. He made 26 of 36 attempts, the worst accuracy rate among kickers with more than 10 attempts.

The Redskins also signed running back-kick returner Dominique Dorsey, who spent the past three years in the CFL. He was chosen the league's most outstanding special teams player in 2008.