It’s just another crazy day in Berea

By TONY GROSSI

The list of strange goings-on within the Browns organization grows by the day.

BEREA — The morning after firing general manager George Kokinis, Browns owner Randy Lerner met with two fans organizing a protest of the team’s dysfunction.

So far, Lerner has declined to step forward and publicly explain recent developments that have left the future of Eric Mangini and others in the Browns’ organization in doubt.

On Tuesday, former Browns GM Ernie Accorsi said that, contrary to reports, he is not a part of Lerner’s reorganization plan, either as a full-time GM or a part-time mentor to former quarterback Bernie Kosar.

“I am not taking any GM job anywhere. Period,” said Accorsi, who retired as Giants general manager three years ago. “I am not taking any full-time job. I serve the league office as a consultant. I have consulted in various areas with four NFL clubs the past two years. I have no agreement to consult with the Browns at this time.”

It’s possible that Accorsi would lend an ear to Lerner, because Accorsi considers himself a friend to the Lerner family and he still treasures his time with the Browns.

Accorsi served as an unpaid adviser during Lerner’s last GM search in January. It was convenient because both men have residences in New York. While Accorsi spoke highly at the time of Kokinis, his top recommendation to Lerner was Dave Gettleman, pro personnel director of the New York Giants.

Lerner chose to hire Kokinis, who was the preferred choice of Mangini.

On Tuesday, Mangini sidestepped every question about the events that led to the firing of Kokinis and him being ushered out of the Browns’ facility by senior vice president Lew Merletti and a human resources director.

He said the “decision” to fire Kokinis was “difficult personally and professionally.”

“George is a friend of mine and I respect him and I wish his family well,” Mangini said. “I can tell you that for a variety of reasons, things didn’t work out. You never go into a situation like this with the intention of it not working out.

“We felt that organizationally this was the best decision in order to move forward. We have a strong structure in place on both the pro side and the college side and things will continue to operate effectively on a day-to-day basis.”

Various reports said the Browns intend to pursue the firing “for cause” so they don’t have to fulfill the obligations in Kokinis’ contract.

“For a variety of reasons, this is all that I can say at this point,” Mangini said to numerous questions.

Lerner’s public statements after the Chicago game that he will add a “credible, strong leader” to oversee the team’s football operations put the futures of several front-office personnel in question. Those include president Mike Keenan; Dawn Aponte, vice president of football administration, and David Jenkins, vice president of finance and administration.

Mangini maintained that he is open to adding someone else to the organization to oversee player acquisitions.

“My goal is to win and my goal is to improve,” he said. “There’s never opposition to someone that can help us achieve that goal.”

Earlier in the morning, Lerner met for two hours with Mike Randall and Tony Schafer, who are asking Browns fans to arrive after kickoff at the team’s next home game Nov. 16 to protest the way the team is being run. Kosar also sat in on some of the meeting.

Randall said that Lerner agreed to address their concerns about the environment at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

“I told him people shouldn’t be thrown out for excessive standing or cheering or calling a ref you-know-what. He agreed,” Randall said.

Back in the locker room, players showed up for work mostly unfazed by the drama once again swirling around the 1-7 club.

This season alone, Mangini has been fined an unprecedented $25,000 by the NFL for lying about Brett Favre’s injury last year, quarterback Brady Quinn was benched after three games following a four-month open competition, a fight broke out in the locker room when cornerback Coye Francies reacted angrily to a rookie hazing, receiver Braylon Edwards was traded to the Jets, the NFL investigated a season-ending injury to rookie running back James Davis (clearing the Browns of wrongdoing) and Kokinis was fired after nine months on the job.

“There are things that come up every day that aren’t on the agenda,” Mangini said.

“It’s a little crazy, but when things aren’t going well and you’re losing games, things are going to change. That’s the NFL,” said left tackle Joe Thomas.

Thomas was part of the 2007 one-two draft punch with Quinn, which former GM Phil Savage said would be regarded as the day the Browns got over the hump.