Rex's Twin Brother

First things first: If I had not been on sabbadical, I would have updated my win/loss projection to 5-11.

I can't rationally argue that Mangini should have been retained. It's not so much the losses to the Stoolers and the Ratbirds. The Browns were beat up pretty bad, these are both mature, elite teams, and McCoy is, after all, a rookie.

But the other losses were hard to take, and the buck has to stop at Mangini. While since this in Cleveland, I sort of expect Mangini to go on to win consecutive Superbowls somewhere else, I would have fired him myself. I stand self-corrected.

As for his and other coaching replacements, I like Shurmer myself. Shurmer did what he did this season with a rookie quarterback and weak talent.

But just a minute. Why not Rob Ryan? How different can he be from Rex as a Head coach, especially since he can consult with him?

I know, simpletonians will point out his defensive stats. As if he had Pittsburgh/Baltimore talent and depth on his defense? It's so convenient to ignore little things like that. Rookie safety and corner, Fujita knocked out, guys off the street starting on the line late in the season--let's not let the facts get in the way of a good lynching.

Consensus has it that Rob will probably be a head coach after next season. One reason these legitimate experts expect that is that they expect a couple more draft picks and free agents to help him get there. Duh.

Promote this tough-yet-beloved leader to head coach, and just get him two coordinators!

Ryan wasn't part of Homgren's old crew. Why is it assumed that Holmgren is a nepotist on steroids, especially when he gave Daboll and Mangini a shot? 4-3, 3-4 do you really think he cares, when this is the AFC central and most of the dominating defenses for several years have been 3-4's? Just how utterly stupid do you think Big Mike is?

Mike picks the coordinators and, along with Rex, helps the charismatic Rob Ryan along as a Head Coach. Now we've got a west coast hybrid that should help the current wide recievers and running backs. (Not that there weren't elements of the west coast with Daboll).

With an excellent support system and solid coordinators, this is the perfect environment to give Rob his head coaching start.

Sure, he makes the big decisions, but ask his players about Rob. He listens. It's not "my way or the highway", like it is with some other guys. He'd likewise let the coordinators do their jobs, and just teach, manage, and inspire. And the whole team would run through walls for him.

You'd rather watch Ryan go be a head Coach somewhere else one season later.

Whatever.