Wednesday Morning Links

There are some new developments in the Browns’ search for a new head coach and general manager, and to be honest, they are pretty promising.  Enjoy the linkitude for this morning:

• The Browns have received permission to interview Eagles GM Tom Heckert.  He has more experience than the other general manager candidates, and has been linked to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, a name that Browns fans have not scorned quite as much as Eric Mangini. Considered “one of the NFL’s best executives,” Heckert has some ties to Cleveland; his father was a scout for the Browns in the 1980s.  What does this do to the supposed Mangini – Kokinis tandem?
• Is Mike Mularkey a name to remember in this coaching search?
• How the Eric Mangini era in New York came to an end (a great way to feel uneasy about the Browns’ top candidate).
• Brandon McDonald is determined to become a better player and, after that horrendous Broncos game, I could see the improvement.  After all, he did score the only Browns touchdown in their last six games.  Oh, and by the way, he’s only 23.
• Aaron Calafato says that the coaching search is like dating, which is a good point.  Randy Lerner might want to read the last two paragraphs as well.
• Would Marty Schottenheimer consider becoming the next head coach of the Browns (again) if someone would just simply call him?
• Scott Pioli is just running his options at this point, but it looks more and more like he is becoming an afterthought as a possible candidate for the GM position.