According to Michael Smith of ESPN.com, new Browns head coach Eric Mangini will bring in Rob Ryan of the Raiders as defensive coordinator and Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator.

Ryan has been the defensive coordinator for the Raiders since 2004. He is the brother of Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and the son of legendary coach Buddy Ryan. Find more on Ryan on his wiki. Daboll has been the Jets quarterbacks coach since 2007. Prior to that, he was the wide receivers coach with New England from 2002 to 2007. Read more on Daboll.

AFC North blogger James Walker immediately has some questions for Mangini and the Browns.

Patrick McManamon of the Beacon Journal says the hiring just doesn't feel right. Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer would probably disagree.

But at least Mark Shapiro is excited.

10:15 p.m. UPDATE: According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Mangini is looking at Jets defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, defensive line coach Dan Quinn and receivers coach Noel Mazzone as other possible additions to his staff.

Even with Mangini's closeness to George Kokinis, Pro Personnel Director of the Ravens, and Tom Heckert of the Eagles coming in for an interview, Scott Pioli could still be a candidate to run the Browns' front office.

Lastly, current Browns coaches have been told to stay away from Berea.

In this humble blogger's opinion, of the current Browns coaches, the only ones who should stay are quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer and special teams coach Ted Daisher.

Mangini's top choice for GM to be interviewed, source says

That was the secondary headline in today's paper. It made me cringe, and you should too. The literal translation is that Eric Mangini, the former Jets coach and favorite for Browns owner Randy Lerner, is picking his own boss. That boss would be George Kokinis, friend of Mangini and Ravens director of pro personnel.

Pretty great deal, getting to hire your boss. Imagine the possibilities. The vacation days. The overlooked poor work.

Oddly, that is not even the strangest part of this whole situation.

If (or possibly when) this Mangini/Kokinis team comes to power in Cleveland, it will be the Browns' second try with a combination of a former Patriots defensive coordinator (Mangini) and Ravens front office member (Kokinis).

Too bad the phrase isn't "second time's a charm" because this just doesn't feel good.

There is also a big snag in this whole scenario. Kokinis can't interview until Sunday.

Still, that could leave the Lions, Broncos and Chiefs open to making personnel moves, leaving the Browns hoping Kokinis works.

Or, do the Browns go back to Scott Pioli of the Patriots now, even though he would want to bring in Kirk Ferentz of Iowa as the head coach?

This all quickly turned into a mess. Patrick McManamon has more on that mess here. Regardless, it makes me think of this photo of Randy Lerner after Butch Davis quit.

Note: Thanks to commentator Joe G. For the tip on Kokinis' interview availability. If you have any other tip and don't want to leave a comment, e-mail me at dan@ohio.com.

Allen Patrick, an undrafted rookie running back from Oklahoma, was signed to the Browns' active roster. The Browns already have three running backs in Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison and Jason Wright, but Harrison left Sunday's game against the Titans with a rib injury. I'd guess this means he won't play against the Eagles Monday.

In college, Patrick had the unenviable task of replacing Adrian Peterson and never really met expectations. He has a long injury history as well. But, maybe he'll get some playing time before the season is over. Wright has been pretty bad this year and the coaches don't seem to have faith in Harrison.

Notes…
Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald does a real good job with his stuff. Here is his latest column, which is on Lewis not living up to his big talk.

It seems the anonymity of the Internet brings out the worst in people, particularly those who like to poke fun at sports columnists. Typically, though, the columnists never address the digs and criticism. That's why I like Pat McManamon. He does. Check out his post there for some "inside baseball" stuff you may find interesting. Now if only Phil Savage was a little more like Pat…

D'Qwell Jackson has become the story of the defense this season. He leads the NFL in tackles with 130. Patrick Willis of the 49ers is second with 117. Jackson is also something of a quote machine. Here he summed up his feelings on this season:

“When I’m here, you don’t think about it. When I’m home, you do think about it,” he said Monday before the players were given the last two days off. “Because I’m one of the guys that’s going to be here, it’s definitely going to affect me in someway or another.

“A lot of guys won’t be here next year.”

Whoever could a lot of those guys be? Well, check back here sometime before Monday night's game as we'll have some speculation.

Don't forget, we'll be having another chat for this Monday's game against Philadelphia.

Beacon Journal columnist Patrick McManamon covered that question in his Sunday column. The problem begins with the question. What the team has arrived at seems to be a point of contention. Have they merely arrived as a solid football team or have they arrived as a true playoff threat?

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seems to think so. He says the Browns will win the division (do you see Bill Cowher ever saying that?). New Ravens coach John Harbaugh also raved about the Browns.

They did so with good reason. The Browns addressed their biggest needs this offseason — the defensive line and depth along the offensive line. The addition of wide receiver Donte Stallworth was also important considering neither Travis Wilson or Joshua Cribbs have had trouble at receiver.

So what level of arrival does all that put Cleveland? It's a little tough to say. The team has to figure out if cornerbacks Daven Holly or Brandon McDonald can emerge as a solid starter. Free safety Brodney Pool also needs to show he deserves to be a starter. Another solid running back could be helpful and linebacker always seems to be an issue for teams that run the 3-4 defense.

All this points toward the NFL Draft at the end of the month. Although the Browns have no first day picks and only four overall this year, it's not out of the question all these questions could be easily answered on draft day.

Be sure to check in here at the Browns Bulletin the next several days for a discussion on exactly what positions and players the Browns may be targeting in the draft.

A solid draft could mean the Browns arrive as a true playoff threat and not just a one-season wonder.