Cleveland Browns: Will Jim Zorn Be Wearing Orange and Brown in 2011? (Part 1)

The Cleveland Browns are sitting in third place in the AFC North with a record of 5-8 in this 2010 NFL season.

Head coach Eric Mangini has faced tremendous odds in his two seasons with Cleveland, and after looking like he would easily get another shot at coaching next season, he loses a game the team should have won against a Buffalo Bills team that had a worse record.

The decision by Browns president Mike Holmgren to stick with Mangini for another year is solely up to him once this season ends, but another coach who is and has been on the hot seat is offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. 

The second-year play caller has had more bad games than good games, but then you could always make the argument that the lack of talent has also hurt in Daboll's ability to be consistent at his job.

Regardless of who stays and who goes, one name that is slowly being rumored (ESPN source) to be on his way to Cleveland, after this season ends, is former head coach and current Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn.

Zorn was most recently the head coach of the Washington Redskins, before current coach Mike Shanahan took over, and many would say Zorn did an admirable job in Washington while having to face tough odds with an owner (Dan Snyder) who likes to pull rank and make too many trades and high-priced free agent signings that doomed Zorn's chances.

This may just be rumor right now, but this rumor needs to be explored since Zorn has ties to Holmgren from their days with the Seattle Seahawks, when Zorn was the quarterbacks coach from 2001-2007.

During that time, Zorn worked with Matt Hasselbeck and turned him into a three-time Pro Bowler in that span.

Working with a very promising young quarterback like Colt McCoy and reunited with Holmgren could really intrigue Zorn, even though he is currently working another up-and-coming young quarterback in Joe Flacco in Baltimore.

A former quarterback himself, Zorn knows the position and what it takes to play at the NFL level and he could really help McCoy grow and develop, especially if the Browns move away from veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme after this season due to his inability to protect the ball and his inconsistent play.

You might be thinking how Zorn would fit in with Cleveland, if he was brought on board, and that is an easy guess.

He would probably be the Browns' new offensive coordinator.

Think back to before the 2010 NFL season started and when Holmgren was hired, there were rumors circulating that Holmgren might bring Zorn to Cleveland if he moved on from Mangini.

With the Browns paying too many past employees who were fired and if the Browns continue to keep Mangini on board for 2011 to see what he can do, then do not doubt that Zorn could be brought on as the offensive coordinator to replace Daboll and he could eventually succeed Mangini in 2012 if Mangini cannot get the team to perform better and possibly into playoff contention in 2011.

All of this is really speculation, but it should also give Browns fans something to think about regarding the Browns beyond this season too.

This is part 1 of a three-part series and you can read part 2 by clicking here and you can read part 3 by clicking here.

(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: A Cleveland Browns Source)