Browns' Eric Mangini: Mirroring Bill Belichick in Second Head Coaching Job

Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini may not be friends with former mentor and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after the "Spygate" incident in 2007, but he is starting to mirror his former boss' coaching career.

Belichick's first chance at being a head coach was with the Browns from 1991-1995, and he made the playoffs once during that period in 1994.

Mangini's first chance at being a head coach was with the New York Jets from 2006-2008, and he made the playoffs once during that period in 2006.

Belichick was terminated from the Browns when they moved in 1996. He got his second chance to coach with the Patriots in 2000 and the team finished 5-11 in the first season with Belichick as coach.

In that first year under Belichick, he brought in players that fit a certain mold he was looking for and, in the second season under Belichick, they made the playoffs and won a Super Bowl in 2001.

Obviously, the Browns have a lot more to work at and more holes to fill in one year than the Patriots did in 2000 to 2001, but in Mangini's second stint as a head coach with the Browns, he also finished 5-11.

Is this coincidence?

Absolutely, but drawing a comparison like this was just too easy since Mangini was a disciple of Belichick and has the same values in players, concepts in winning, and disciplinarian approach to coaching.

Now that Mangini has help in the front office with new president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert, his job of just focusing on coaching should be even easier.

Even Belichick had help over the last decade with former front office executive Scott Pioli (now the Kansas City Chief general manager) helping Belichick run the team and assessing personnel.

Of course, Belichick has final say in everything in New England and Mangini does not have that power anymore in Cleveland, but a solid one-two punch of Holmgren and Heckert will help Mangini get the players he needs to win games in 2010.

Will the Browns be able to make the playoffs in their second year with Mangini as coach?

That's a tough call to make but, then again, look at the Jets right now. They are on the doorstep of the Super Bowl and most of their current starters are players that Mangini developed.

Mangini, who is currently on vacation at Disneyworld in Orlando, FL, was recently asked what his thoughts are on the Jets' playoff run by Gary Myers of the New York Daily News and he said, "I do take a lot of pride in how they are doing. Not just in how they are playing, but the type of people they are. That locker room is loaded with good guys. I am happy with their success. I feel I contributed to it."

The Mangini-Belichick comparison may be a little far-fetched, but you cannot deny that there may be a strong chance that the 2010 Browns may be in the playoff hunt come the end of the regular season.

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)