Cleveland Browns Drama: Insider Firing Details, Kosar, Barton Injury & More

Even though the Cleveland Browns are on their bye week, there has been more noise in the last few days than points the team has put up in the first half of the 2009 season.

ESPN insider guru, Adam Schefter, has released some details regarding the sudden firing of general manager George Kokinis saying that the Browns have been investigating Kokinis for several weeks.

Apparently Kokinis and head coach Eric Mangini, who hand picked Kokinis as the Browns GM, have had their differences in opinions for weeks now regarding the current state of the Browns and the right direction the team should be going in.

Details of these differences were not made public due to legal reasons with the firing, but Schefter also said that phone records and various paperwork were under investigation so that the Browns could fire Kokinis "with cause," which means not having to pay out the rest of his contract.

Mangini spoke to the media today and said that this was a tough decision to make since Kokinis is a long time friend, but it had to be made for the better of the franchise.

Obviously, Mangini was being vague regrading any further details and he did not answer any questions from the media regarding the matter.

Bernie Kosar and Ernie Accorsi teaming up?

Another rumor that Cleveland.com has squashed was that former Browns and Giants GM Ernie Accorsi was coming to Cleveland to be the new President and/or GM of the Browns, but Accorsi said he is not involved in any GM talks with Browns owner Randy Lerner.

Many speculate that Accorsi will still serve as a consultant to Lerner, which he has done in the past few years, and that he may help groom Bernie Kosar to be the team's new GM.

This is still at large though.

Chris Chambers to Browns?

Another bit of information that has gone almost unnoticed due to all the other drama in Cleveland is that the Chargers waived former Cleveland area high school wide receiver Chris Chambers.

With the Browns in need of a solid veteran wide receiver to help their very young receivers, Chambers may make a welcome addition to the team help help guide the group of receivers.

Chambers still has until 4 PM on Tuesday to clear waivers before another team can claim him, but unless the Buccaneers want him (since they are the only win-less team left) the Browns have a good chance to grab him up.

UPDATED 11-3-09 6:22 PM: Chambers has been claimed off of waivers by the Chiefs.

Eric Barton Injury Update

Inside linebacker Eric Barton suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday's game versus the Bears and now it appears that he injury is even worse than what was originally thought.

A spine specialist saw Barton and reported that he has a serious bulge between his C3 and C4 vertebrae and that he season may be in jeopardy.

With fellow starting inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson already out for the season, the Browns cannot afford to lose Barton too.

Outside linebacker David Bowens took over at inside linebacker on Sunday when Barton was injured and it looks like Bowens will have to remain at middle linebacker if Barton is lost for the season.

Rookie linebackers Kaluka Maiava and David Veikune will really need to step up their game if Barton is lost for 2009.

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper .)