CALL THEM THE CLEVELAND JETS

As new coach Eric Mangini reshapes the Cleveland Browns in his image, there’s no truth to the rumors that the former New York Jets coach wants to rename the Browns as the Cleveland Jets. That’s a small joke. Yet, based on how Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has tallied Mangini tapping into his past Jets connections during his first couple of months on the job, it sure seems that way. According to the article, Mangini has hired eight former Jets staffers and assistants as well as former Jets defensive lineman C.J. Mosley, cornerback Hank Poteat, outside linebacker David Bowens and safety Abram Elam. Elam is a restricted free agent, so the Jets have a week to decide if they want to match the offer. Plus, former Jets linebacker Eric Barton has met with the Browns and held contract discussions with team officials. He has yet to agree to terms, though Of course, signing a lot of former players is a strategy often employed by members of the Bill Belichick/Bill Parcells coaching tree.