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What they're saying: Mornhinweg an option in Cleveland?

    by Sheil Kapadia
    Published 

Time to get caught up on some links from around the Web:

To be filed in the "Looking way ahead" category: Could Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg be a candidate for the Cleveland Browns' head coaching job?

Yes, the Browns currently have a coach in Eric Mangini.

But they could make a change after the season once Mike Holmgren is running the show.

Writes SI.com's Peter King:

Eric Mangini has gotten votes of confidence from a few players recently, and the team showed a lot of fight in victories over Pittsburgh and Kansas City. It's hard for me to imagine Holmgren keeping Mangini because I think he prefers someone who coaches the West Coast scheme he believes in (Marty Mornhinweg perhaps). But we'll see when he puts Mangini under his microscope after the New Year.

King is not the only one who has mentioned the possibility. ESPN's Chris Mortensen brought Mornhinweg's name up earlier this week on TV.

Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press Gazette says several sources who know Holmgren don't consider Mornhinweg a likely candidate.

Mornhinweg spent a pair of seasons as head coach of the Detroit Lions in 2001-2002, tallying a record of 5-27.

Meanwhile, Don Banks of SI.com has the Eagles fifth in his power rankings:

In case you've lost track, the Eagles are the obvious team of the decade in the NFC. And it's not even close. Philly will make its eighth playoff trip of the 2000s this season, and the Eagles lead all clubs in their conference in wins (102-55-1), division titles (five, with a shot at a sixth), playoff wins (10), winning seasons (eight), and trips to the NFC title game (five). The only downside is that Philadelphia is still chasing what division rivals in Dallas, New York and Washington all have in multiples: A Super Bowl ring.

King has the Eagles sixth in his power rankings, behind the Cowboys:

Tough call, Dallas leapfrogging Philly. But it comes down to Dallas' 20-16 head-to-head win six weeks ago and the quality of Dallas' win Saturday night. Still, Philly has a fighting chance to beat the Vikings for the second seed in the NFC playoffs.

ESPN.com has the Eagles fifth:

All of a sudden, the Eagles have a chance to steal a playoff bye week away from the Vikings.

CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco has the Eagles fifth:

They have a chance to actually end up with the second seed now. That could be huge. The pass offense is really clicking.

FoxSports.com's Adam Schein predicts a Saints-Eagles NFC championship. He makes the case for and against the Birds. Here is the case against:

If Philly doesn't get a bye, it's tough to win three games in the playoffs. LeSean McCoy hasn't run the ball in the tournament. Sean McDermott hasn't called plays in the playoffs. I don't love the linebackers. And the pressure seems to weigh on the Eagles as the games get bigger in the postseason.

Have a link I missed? E-mail me.