On Football: Browns are new laughingstock

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By Ryan O'Halloran The Washington Times

When Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner panicked this week and fired first-year general manager George Kokinis, he might have received an e-mail from Redskins owner Dan Snyder.

For once, The Danny won't be the chief pinata for Sunday's pregame shows (unless John Riggins is a guest, of course).

A guess on what the note would have said:

Hey, Randy:

Wanted to say thanks for single-handedly removing the "Most Dysfunctional Organization" tag from the Redskins for at least this week.

Even I haven't given up on a general manager eight games into his tenure or currently confront the prospect of paying three GMs next year. I'll be paying only two coaches.

Thanks again,

Dan

If there were any doubt, Lerner clinched stooge status Monday when Kokinis was escorted from the team facility in the wake of a 30-6 loss to the Bears the previous day that dropped the Browns to 1-7.

Eight games is too soon to oust the front office chief regardless of how much or how little input he had in building the roster. One draft isn't enough to determine whether Kokinis is the right guy to team with coach Eric Mangini.