Eric Mangini stays with Pats

[Guest Failed Mascot]

Dolphins, Browns unable to lure away coveted assistant

 

The New England Patriots have won the three-team tug-o'-war over Eric Mangini, who was arguably the most sought-after assistant coach in the league over the past week.

 

Despite better financial offers from both the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns, Mangini will remain in New England and be promoted from secondary coach to defensive coordinator, ESPN.com has learned.

 

Mangini, 34, will replace Romeo Crennel, who, in his new role as Browns head coach, tried to hire him away from the Super Bowl champions. Mangini interviewed with the Browns on Friday and the Dolphins on Thursday.

 

Miami coach Nick Saban reportedly offered Mangini a contract worth about $800,000 per year and the Browns' proposal was in the area of $700,000 annually. Mangini's deal with the Patriots is likely to be in the $500,000-$600,000 range, but there is also a loyalty factor involved.

 

New England coach Bill Belichick brought Mangini into the NFL in 1995 as a coaching assistant with the old Cleveland Browns franchise (now the Baltimore Ravens). Mangini nearly left the Patriots last offseason, but rejected an opportunity to become the defensive coordinator in Oakland, eschewing a job that would have paid him nearly $1 million per year.

 

Instead, he signed a one-year extension with the Patriots, at a salary of $216,000. Since his contract was set to expire in two weeks, essentially making him a coaching free agent, Mangini was granted permission by the Patriots to interview in Miami and Cleveland.

 

It appeared earlier in the week that Mangini was leaning toward departing the Pats and two league sources told ESPN.com that he likely would not be back. But he rejected the Dolphins offer before leaving Miami on Thursday and, after careful deliberation, opted not to join close friend Crennel in Cleveland, either.

 

One advantage the Browns felt they had, beyond finances and Mangini's relationship with Crennel, is that Mangini is the brother-in-law of Cleveland Indians general manager Mark Shapiro. Mangini also worked in the past with Phil Savage, the Browns' new general manager.

 

Despite losing starting cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole to injuries for much of the season, Mangini cobbled together a young secondary that permitted New England to rank as the No. 17 team in the league against the pass.

 

This is huge for the Pats. They really couldn't afford to lose him with all the coaching changes. Hopefully Crennel doesn't go after Pepper Johnson now to be his new D-Coordinator.

[Precious Roy 0]

Sweet. Any buzz on who'll take over for Weis?

[Guest Failed Mascot]

early indications are the TE or O-Line coach will be promoted.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Pepper Johnson and Mangini were both great options, considering the jobs they've done. Johnson's turned a bunch of throwaway players from other teams and converted linemen into a hell of a linebacking corps. Mangini obviously for the work he did in the secondary this past year.

 

Whoever coached the O-Line or WR's will be best as offensive coordinator for the Pats.

[Cartman 0]

I'm putting my money on Scarnecchia, Assistant Head Coach/O-Line Coach right now.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I love all the overly ethnic Italian names. It fits in with being a team from New England quite well, it seems.

[Boon 0]

Bah- Italians are really only in Mass.

 

Anyway- I agree. Thank God we didn't lose another one.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I love all the overly ethnic Italian names. It fits in with being a team from New England quite well, it seems.

I thought New Jersey was all Italian, and Rhode Island to a lesser degree.

[Cartman 0]

Providence and especially North Providence are mostly Italian but other that that RI is very diverse.