The unexpected departure of Browns general manager George Kokinis just eight games into his tenure with the club signals yet another organizational shake-up for a club that has been no stranger to tumult in Randy Lerner's tenure as owner.

Kokinis' exit on Nov. 2 came one day after Lerner, in the aftermath of the Browns' seventh loss in eight games, said that the "highest priority that I have is a strong, credible, serious leader within the building to guide decisions in a far more conspicuous, open way," according to The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.

The Browns have not said Kokinis was fired, only saying that he was "no longer actively involved with the organization," but they are widely believed to be gathering information to make a strong case that Kokinis should be terminated "with cause," which would allow them to get out of paying the balance of his contract. The Browns settled with GM Phil Savage after firing him at the end of last season less than a year after giving him a contract extension.

The way we hear it, the relationship between head coach Eric Mangini and Kokinis soured early as Mangini took the lead in personnel decisions. And indeed, Mangini's handprints have been all over the club's moves in free agency, the draft and the trade market. Mangini has twice traded with the Jets, his old club, and 10 ex-Jets are on the roster at present.

The focus now in Cleveland turns to whom Lerner hires to replace Kokinis — and whether Mangini will be the coach in 2010.

Mangini, while sharing little information about Kokinis' departure last week, did say that he expected to be "very engaged" in discussions with Lerner regarding the hiring of a football executive. Also, in an e-mail Q&A with The Plain Dealer, Lerner indicated he expected Mangini to be back with the club next season.

However, the sentiment in league circles is that Mangini's return in 2010 is no sure thing, considering the Browns' poor play, his leadership style and the major questions about the secretive, suffocating environment he has helped to create around the team and front office.

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