Axing Mangini should top Holmgren’s to-do list

6. Silence Jim Brown
Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown works as a member of the team's senior management. As a result, the things that Brown often says about the team carry extra weight than if he were simply a former Browns player with no other connection to the team.

Several weeks ago, Brown blabbed about a supposed interview between Holmgren and Lerner, a disclosure that could have killed Lerner's efforts to land Holmgren.

So one of Holmgren's first challenges will be to find a way to ensure that Brown won't say or do anything to affect the team's strategic interests moving forward.

The best-case scenario would be to sever ties with Brown. Since such a move likely wouldn't be the best way for Holmgren to endear himself to the locals, Holmgren should put Brown on a one-strike arrangement.

7. Dump Bernie Kosar
Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar is being groomed for some sort of a role with the organization.

And one of Holmgren's first items of business should be to do to Kosar what Bill Belichick did to him back in the 1990s: say goodbye.

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Kosar has no experience as a scout or personnel executive, and the handling of his personal finances inspires zero confidence regarding his ability to participate in the running of a football team.

Sending Kosar on his way would also help Holmgren send a clear message that, while former players who made key contributions to the franchise will be respected and, from time to time, honored, the fact that they once wore an orange helmet gives them no inherent ability or authority to participate in the current management of the franchise.

8. Hire a general manager
At some point, Holmgren will need to delegate key functions that routinely fall under the jurisdiction of a general manager, such as preparing for free agency and the draft, negotiating contracts and engineering trades. In order to avoid creating the appearance that he's spreading himself too thin, Holmgren should also give that person the GM title, even if Holmgren retains the final say over all personnel moves.

Of course, if Holmgren retains final say, it might be difficult to hire someone away from another team. Under league rules, a front-office executive still under contract with another team may be blocked from taking a GM position elsewhere, unless the job entails control of the roster.

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Holmgren could give the GM final say in his contract, while still preserving the ability to tell the GM how to use it. Then again, that could backfire if the GM thinks his contract means what it says.

9. Settle the Kokinis claim
Former GM George Kokinis has sued the team for the balance of his contract. Kokinis contends that he was fired after clashing with Mangini regarding the extent of Kokinis' authority.

This appears to be a losing battle for the Browns. Even if it isn't, it's impossible to engineer a fresh start if the team is still worrying about stuff that happened before Holmgren arrived. So Holmgren should advise Lerner to get that claim settled ASAP.

10. Tell Randy Lerner to have no communication with the media
Holmgren also should advise the owner to have no discussions or other communications with folks who cover football for a living. Most owners cultivate a sense of privacy and distance, and Lerner seems to prefer both.

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