Browns hire Eagles’ Tom Heckert as GM

CLEVELAND (AP) — He’s secured the coach, lured Philadelphia’s general manager to Cleveland and brought some stability to the wobbling Browns.

After one week, Mike Holmgren is loving his new, powerful gig.

“I’m the big boss,” he said, chuckling. “I get the say in everything.”

Holmgren continued Cleveland’s makeover on Monday by hiring Tom Heckert away from the Eagles to be the Browns’ new GM. The 42-year-old Heckert had been with the Eagles since 2001, spending the past four seasons as their top personnel executive.

Heckert helped build Philadelphia into a perennial NFC power, but did not have complete control over the team’s roster. Those decisions belonged to Eagles coach Andy Reid.

With Cleveland, Heckert will have final say over the Browns’ 53-man roster with input from Holmgren.

“He’s going to set up the 53-man roster, but I would temper that,” Holmgren said. “He and I will be on close communication with that. But that’s his responsibility.”

Heckert takes over a Cleveland team that started 1-11 but won its final four games under Mangini. Last week, Holmgren decided that one season — stormy as it was — was not enough to fairly judge Mangini or his coaching staff and chose to bring them back for a second year.

Holmgren came away impressed with Cleveland’s coach following two days of meetings. Holmgren praised Mangini for being a good listener and his willingness to be a “team player.”

“It would have been easy for me, given the responsibility I have, to come in and just kind of change everything, particularly on the coaching level,” Holmgren said. “I wanted to make sure I didn’t make a mistake. Getting to know Eric allowed me to at least feel as though we have the guy in place already.

“The team got better as the season went along. It was rough in the beginning, kind of tough in the middle and strong at the end. That says something. I liked him [Mangini]. I think he was very candid, honest. I think he was thrust in a position where he had to assume a lot more responsibility than was fair.”

Holmgren said any thought that he brought back Mangini because he has aspirations to coach again are off base.

“The idea of this being a one-year trial was not on my mind,” the 61-year-old said. “We’re going to be better next year. He is a good coach. I might be a little too old to get out there and run around.”

Holmgren also expressed optimism the team could settle its differences with Josh Cribbs, who said he was insulted by the team’s last offer, and along with agents, went public with their beef with the Browns. Cribbs has threatened to sit out next season if the Browns don’t reward him. He has three years left on a six-year, $6.77 million deal.