KOKINIS STILL IN CLEVELAND, NO OFFER YET

For a guy who still technically works for the Baltimore Ravens, pro personnel director George Kokinis is sure spending a lot of time in Cleveland, according to this report from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Kokinis visited the Browns for a second consecutive day Tuesday even though there were no concrete revelations that a formal offer has been made for him to become the new General Manager, according to the article. Owner Randy Lerner wasn’t present as Kokinis met with coach Eric Mangini and other Browns staffers, including team President Mike Keenan. Around the Ravens’ training complex, it’s considered only a matter of time before Kokinis takes over the Cleveland personnel department. As Plain Dealer beat writer Tony Grossi points out, if Kokinis doesn’t ultimately take the job, he’s certainly now privy to a lot of inside information about an AFC North rival. If Kokinis leaves, highly regarded assistant director of pro personnel Vince Newsome (no relation to General Manager Ozzie Newsome) is expected to succeed him in Baltimore. The article also notes that Browns national scout Daniel Jeremiah is in line to become the team’s new director of college scouting. Jeremiah, a former Appalachian State quarterback who worked in Baltimore with Kokinis before moving to Cleveland when Phil Savage took over as general manager, has a good rapport with Kokinis and is considered a sharp, up-and-coming scout in NFL circles. Meanwhile, the Browns reportedly laid off three people Tuesday, including two members of the operations department and a secretary for the coaching staff.