Shaun Rogers Does a 180 on Mangini/Kokinis

Sam Greenwood / Getty Images

Well, while we wait out the Josh Cribbs saga, Browns fans should at least take the latest Shaun Rogers news as a small mental victory.  In what appeared to be destined for disaster a month or so ago, No. 92 is once again happy to be a Cleveland Brown.

Not all that long ago, Browns Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers was not a happy camper. Coming off of one his best seasons as a professional, and giving fans something to actually build off of from a comfort standpoint, Rogers had a very rough patch of bad press.  Reportedly stemming from what he perceived as a brush off at the Cleveland Sports Awards, the near-400 pound man was none too pleased with the new regime – specifically Eric Mangini.

But as it turns out, Mangini was able to rectify the situation and he and Rogers appear to be on the same page.  Rogers was presented with is award for Browns Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America and claimed that he and his new head coach have worked things out.  While there are bound to be jokes about these two “working it out over dinner” or something of the like, Rogers went on to say that last few months are now water under the (hopefully reinforced) bridge. 

He said the two men reconciled “just like two grown men do. You speak about it and go to work. I just feel comfortable being here. I’m happy I have a job.”

Asked if he got the wrong first impression of Mangini, Rogers said: “That’s in the past. I’m not really worried about impressions. I’m more interested in seeing what we’re going to work like and how we’re going to jell tomorrow.”

Since he is now happy to have a job, as if he would have had difficulty finding work within the league, I assume he will be more than happy to take his $6 million bonus that he was reportedly willing to pass up if released/traded.

We can sit here and knock Mangini or George Kokinis for a few bad PR moves that occured out of the gate, but we also have to give credit where it is due.  Whatever Mangini did to get Rogers on board was well worth it.  Sure, he may have made a mistake by not coming to Rogers sooner – as we all know that he can turn in to a malcontent at the drop of a hat.  But if this team is going to succeed on the defensive side of the ball in 2009, they have to ensure that the man in the middle is in the right frame of mind.