[Bobbuttons]

I don't see how, at this point, Holmgren could fire Mangini. First, Holmgren has said in the past that it's unfair to fire a coach after just one season. Second, while this team was beyond lethargic the first 2 months of the season, they've played much better and much more like a team the last 6 weeks. They've been in every game. They've cut down on stupid turnovers. They've established a running game the last month. They don't commit many penalties. They've actually become more disciplined than I expected this season.

Players that had been in the doghouse at times throughout the season are finally starting to get it. Jerome Harrison couldn't even get on the dressed list for quite a few games then suddenly he's shattering team rushing records. Eric Wright has one of his best games. Brandon McDonald, benched to start the game, comes back late and gets a huge interception. Mike Adams, who has looked horrible at times this season and gave up a big pass play last week, had a sack and a crucial pass deflection during the Browns goal line stand in the 4th.

This team is not a good team. Not even close. But it has gotten better. It's gotten better even when it by all rights shouldn't have, even when a number of their top players from previous years have been traded or placed on IR. The castoffs from other teams that have been signed as last resorts for an injury riddled Browns team have performed far better than anyone could have imagined. Mike Furrey has made key plays as a receiver and as a defensive back. Michael Gaines made a big catch yesterday. Matt Roth has been a beast on defense. It's amazing to me that this team has been able to compete like they have without leading rusher from last year, their top 3 receivers from last year, their leader on the defensive line, their leader in tackles, etc. This team could have just given up and gone through the motions. Hell, the Colts were undefeated and did just that. But the Browns have not.

Mangini naysayers can criticize him all they want, but coaching has to be at least partly responsible for this team starting to actually look like an NFL team again. I'm not the biggest Mangini fan, I thought it was asanine of him to drag out the Anderson/Quinn issue as long as he did this season. But this team is night and day what it was a couple of months ago. That's got to account for something.