NFL

Football News, Headlines & More from The Plain Dealer

• Cleveland Browns hire Eric Mangini as head coach
The 12th full-time Browns head coach is a former team ball boy whose second job with the franchise was fetching food for the media at lunchtime.

• Cleveland Browns tell assistant coaches to cool their heels
The current Browns assistant coaches were asked Wednesday by team President Mike Keenan to stay out of Browns headquarters in Berea for the next two days, a source told The Plain Dealer.

• Former coach Romeo Crennel probably won't take prime role with the Cleveland Browns
Fired Browns coach Romeo Crennel will probably not accept a high-profile position on Eric Mangini's staff such as defensive coordinator, sources close to the situation told The Plain Dealer on Wednesday.

• Hiring of Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini a family reunion for Cleveland Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro
Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro was asked about his brother-in-law - Eric Mangini - during an informal news conference at Progressive Field, just an hour or so before the news broke that Mangini had been hired to be the Browns head coach.

• Not everyone is sold on George Kokinis as the next GM of the Cleveland Browns
If the Browns indeed pair up new coach Eric Mangini with GM candidate George Kokinis, they will be seeking to duplicate the success the Atlanta Falcons enjoyed this year.

• Sources deny reports that demands by the New England Patriots' Scott Pioli to the Cleveland Browns were excessive
Reports that Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli turned the Browns off with his "outrageous demands" were absolutely false, multiple sources close to the situation told The Plain Dealer on Wednesday.

• Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini expected to name Brian Daboll his offensive coordinator
Browns coach Eric Mangini is expected to hire current New York Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll as his offensive coordinator, a source close to the situation told The Plain Dealer on Wednesday.

• Plain Dealer reporter Tony Grossi offers FAQ about Cleveland Browns coaching candidate Eric Mangini
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• Cleveland Browns receive permission to interview Philadelphia Eagles GM Tom Heckert
The Browns have received permission to interview Eagles General Manager Tom Heckert for their GM vacancy, a league source confirmed Tuesday night.

• Smith, Woodson, Sharpe, Randle HOF finalists
Career sacks leader and longtime Bills defensive end Bruce Smith, former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson, ex-Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe and former Vikings defensive tackle John Randle are among the 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame - and the only first-year eligible players to make the final round this year.

• Cleveland Browns must wait until Sunday to interview Baltimore Ravens exec George Kokinis
The Browns will have to wait until Sunday to interview Baltimore director of pro personnel George Kokinis for their vacant general manager job.

• Decision time again for Dungy
Indianapolis- Tony Dungy still enjoys the challenge of coaching. He just has to decide whether commuting from Indianapolis to see his wife and children in Florida is worth it.

• News Flash: Steelers' Harrison best on defense
Kent State once sent a linebacker to the Pittsburgh Steelers who epitomized everything the Steel Curtain was about.

• Weekend matchups
Saturday

• Huizenga: Parcells staying with Miami
Bill Parcells is staying with the Miami Dolphins, owner Wayne Huizenga said.

• McNabb, Eagles claw past Vikings
Minneapolis- All but forgotten as postseason contenders, Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles have a playoff win.

• Cleveland Browns receive permission to interview Baltimore Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis for GM vacancy
In the next step toward hiring Eric Mangini as their head coach, the Browns have received permission to interview his close friend, George Kokinis, the Ravens' director of pro personnel, a league source told The Plain Dealer on Sunday.

• Razing Arizona's futility
As a rule, unless one were born and raised in Arizona -- a place with a lot of sun, a lot of cactuses and a lot of Applebee's -- one feels no attachment to Arizona. Then explain this:

• Reed, Ravens pick apart Dolphins
Miami -- The Baltimore Ravens had Chad Pennington spinning, ducking, on his heels and on his back. When he did manage to get a pass away, they were often there to snatch it.

• Sproles' OT scoot gets Chargers by Colts
San Diego- Darren Sproles ran off the field clutching the game ball, leaving Peyton Manning to hang his head in frustration.

• Pioli talking, but mum on plans
The Browns are continuing their dialogue with Patriots Vice President Scott Pioli, but Pioli is weighing his options -- including staying in New England, a source close to the negotiations told The Plain Dealer.

• Cards pass first home playoff test in 62 years
Glendale, Ariz.- The Arizona Cardinals have consecutive home playoff victories - 62 years apart.

• Chargers QB faced healthy, hungry Colts defense
San Diego- Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers knew he would face a much more formidable defensive front Saturday night than he did in last year's playoff win over Indianapolis.

• Hey, Tony!
Got a Browns question? Send it in. Submit your question to cleveland.com/heytony, and Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi will choose several to answer each Sunday here in the sports section. All of Tony's answers are archived online.

• Millen: Blame me for 0-16
Fired Detroit Lions President Matt Millen, the architect of the NFL's first 0-16 team, says he's responsible for its historic encounter with failure.

• NFL Today
What: Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins.

• Sproles carries Chargers past Colts
San Diego -- Peyton Manning has his MVP award and nothing more, outdone again in January by the San Diego Chargers.

• Patriots' McDaniels, Browns' Tucker interview for top job
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker interviewed for the Browns' head coach position with owner Randy Lerner on Friday.

• Colts vs. Bolts has familiar ring
San Diego -These guys might as well be division rivals.

• Peyton named MVP, again
New York- Peyton Manning took a different approach to earning a record-tying third Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award.

• Rookie, veteran QBs lift teams from depths
Glendale, Ariz. -- One staged a remarkable one-season turnaround with a smooth, efficient rookie at the controls. The other emerged from a legacy of losing behind the ageless arm of a gunslinging veteran.