This season will go down as one of the most miserable years in Cleveland’s history, but there has been a strong sense of unity within the Browns locker room as of late, and it could play a major role in determining the fate of Cleveland’s head coach, Eric Mangini, once the season is complete.

According to Associated Press beat writer Tom Withers, the atmosphere of togetherness fostered by Mangini when he arrived last spring has taken root in a big way with the Browns. Despite the team feeling frustrated by their lack of success in the win/loss column, they still feel a bond between each other, and have begun to take steps towards becoming a true team, as opposed to simply 53 players who happen to work in the same place.

“We all look at each other as brothers. It’s a big family oriented team and nothing is going to break that up regardless how much people try. That’s what players in our position have to do, put our backs against the wall and let’s hold each others hand and let’s get through it. That’s how families overcome things. You gotta stick together through whatever.”

– Cleveland fullback Lawrence Vickers

Obviously, owner Randy Lerner is going to take into account the Browns pitiful record this season when he starts deliberations on whether to keep Mangini in place as the head coach or move forward with someone else. But it seems as though the Browns are firmly in his corner at this point, in spite of all the negative press as of late, and firing Mangini may prove to be worse than continuing on with him in control.

Lerner is still expected to hire a new general manager at some point, and while there have been more than a few names thrown about for that job, there is little doubt that Lerner wants an experienced football mind running the show, narrowing the candidate field down significantly.

As always, we’ll keep you posted when more information breaks.

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