Seth Wickersham, ESPN

Michael is off the today Chris price from WEEI dot com and our NFL Sunday program is co hosting and seated alongside. There is a great peace and ESPN the magazine. I'm entitled five days in the life of Eric Mangini set wicker sham was. Granted the kind of unfettered access that my partner Michael Holley had when he wrote patriot -- about the patriots a few years ago. Seth joins is right now on the AT&T hotline find out what's possible with the nation's fastest mobile broadband network AT&T. Creeping possible -- it's -- Chris in Boston how are.

Doing great things. I was fascinated now let's start at the beginning here you pointed out the peace when you wrote it. That one of the reasons Eric Mangini allowed -- this accesses that you guys have known each other since 2001. I get the impression that you've been friendly in the past what was the beginning of the relationship with them.

Ought to have it I I wouldn't say that we've been friends I think -- he knows. I think he's better friends with other reporter the we have been friendly and I and I knew him going back to when he was with. The patriots since he was important to. Develop any a documentary based on the football camp that he had and through a mutual friend. You've reached out to -- he'd. You know wondering if if you -- did things like that and of course. I didn't really have too much but I can -- what those decisions are made. Far above my pay grade I don't even think anything ever happened with that but it I I I mean listen to -- You know get to know Eric in. You know periodically chat with them. You know and in the in the ten years since then we've you know -- the story I don't -- Look at look at the head coach in the way you that they lead within their personality and I think that. Erica -- head coach has. You know not been known as somebody who. Passes on personality I think he's been known as somebody to. Act really stiff and secretive in in the bald of the -- second so. You know what when I reached out of for the story I think that it helped that that he knew me you bet I think it you know you also doing things there that he was proud. It's east side showed weight that he is leading within his own personality.

What was the biggest surprise for used throughout this whole process.

Well it's good question I think that the biggest. The thing that surprised you the most ninth inning and talking to other coaches are currently in other people who evaluate coaches you know front office types. Is. How open Eric used to feed back I think that there is. A disease that did coaches catch. When they become head coaches where you know -- that the title they've worked their entire liked to have the title in the protected. And they sort of act very authoritative even if suggestions might come from other places I think that our tech at the break up in New England has. In terms of being open to considering ideas no matter where they come from if they're well thought out. And on. You know I think it -- when he first became a head coach with the jets he had his own way of doing things and that was based partly on the patriot way if you didn't have a lot of confidence to change it. And I think that. He's grown into the job in Cleveland despite you know -- your last year and I think it is you know. You feel more comfortable this here because of that. He's open to a lot of people eat a lot of feedback in you know he not only ousted from the assistant coaches -- got that from but the people in the building he worked very closely -- On the director of public relations in Cleveland to try to improve this press conferences and as you know visit. I don't think a lot of coaches do that -- mean a lot of coaches or listen to their yard diabetes get advice but had to answer something on a touchy topic but most of them. You know just. Hopefully that they put you know hope that they can win a couple games to buy them occurred to that they whatever the heck they want.

I do though is I read your piece I'll I'll I'll I'll give what I think is a correction. I think the problem was when he went to the jets he didn't have its own style. And even when he went to Cleveland he didn't have his own style and I think he's realizing. Slowly but surely. He's got to change that you told the story about the spring letter that he sent out the expectations letter he sent out. He copied word for word from Bill Belichick he changed -- logo from the patriots to the to the browns. But but then -- sadly what wait a minute. That's that's not even me talking. I mean he's.

Yes I mean you know I think that he. I think that it -- a -- there's a process and it came in different states I think that with the media I think it would seem to Cleveland he did try to change things. Mostly -- off the record basis with reporters did. I I think didn't go very well until later on in the season I think that he's loosened up from that point since then. -- But when eighteen to eight Cleveland you know he didn't have a lot of time between -- I mean. It's hard to beat NFL a coach and experience matters and feeling. You know can help people learn how to succeed in their next place you look at -- tech -- head. One winning season's first six years. And in between Cleveland in New England he had to wait five years to get a second chance Eric. Had another job within these. Getting fired in new York and you know I don't beat you at that time to reflect. In to prove it sort of develop his own style and I think it would seem to Cleveland he was doing a lot of the painting he did in New York I think that you beatle somewhat the same mistake I think that. Having got an endorsement from on renewing these going to be around at least this season. Probably more to improve. I think people liberated sit sit at his own touches and things in to develop its own style.

If he had to do it all over again would he have taken do you do you think you would have taken the -- step.

Yes I mean I think that. I think that there's a part of him that those that he wasn't ready for that I think there's -- part of him and I think the most coaches -- try to beat the -- that you're never really ready to be head coach in the NFL. But you know I think if you knew that you short on experience but their only 32 jobs and one of his best friend in the -- with the general manager in. I thought you had to take it.

His best friend who fired him.

Yeah yeah -- strip and its army depicted. You know I've been -- I think the older obviously than the ones who. You know decided to fire and that. -- in a -- if you know Mike can have on the consent decree with the -- Italy -- that I don't think that that Eric. You don't like and I think that Eric felt like that he didn't know a whole lot about being at an altitude relative to what he learned. When he was New York but in the same that he did some decent thing that in in New York he had to winning seasons in. You know if.

Let me ask you I I think Eric -- his defensive coordinator abilities I think Iran question -- thought it was a brilliant. Coordinator is -- good head coach.

I think so but there's no it's actually a big misconception that. Except the coordinator. Means you're gonna be a successful head -- it -- there's an entirely different skill that. That comes -- the nose and in scheming. Persistent skilled -- that it takes to be head coach when they're managing people and essentially the best. The you can view is it's hire good people to help carry out whatever -- in the you have -- you know I think the winner became head coach. The -- cleaning was among the easiest part for him because. Coming through. Bill Belichick's system you know those guys are ahead of the team Monday playing I mean -- had a scheme. And the part that not just Eric but I think other guys aren't as well developed on is. From the intra personal things you know. Doing what the media. Beating the staff -- Leading a team meeting you know Eric told me that all those things are nerve -- Because you never done before that's not just the two you know specific tactic not a politic system but I think that in politic system it's a one always. For the organization. Type of mentality in as an assistant. You know it your job the topic at the players ready it's not -- may have been totally different pieces that you do with the head coach.

What I had. Ringgit to take here on two different things what right now is his relationship like with Holmgren and what his his relationship like -- Belichick.

With all great you know I think they have a very good relationship I think that arm. Mike Holmgren like developing young coaches in you know he had a lot of successful. Or at least a lot of head coaches about it is this is staffing Green -- and I think that's. Something that you really enjoy doing in you know he didn't know Eric well in the pot use and then. You know they've gotten to know each other very fast and I think that one of the things that are doing it using Holmgren experience and he's making his decisions. -- decisions. And you know I think that that Holmgren fueled more -- beat. Because that Obama had coaches don't use a lot of the resource of the problem I think that no Bill Walsh and using different -- and he was. In a management role. He wanted to open a whole lot like some of their coaches that were underneath him and I think that that -- bothered him in it was a little ridiculous considering how good of a coaching was. With our tech -- I don't know I think that. It wouldn't surprise me if there's an iPod there and but I you know I don't think that he is close. By any means it's. You know he was when used -- working very closely with them on with the jets then and later with the patriots.

It would surprise me if there's been a -- I don't think that there's ever going to be a thought now want.

that you might be you might be right you know it's not there I simply don't know.

The it the other question look when Holmgren took over with the browns all of us kind of thought that Eric was on borrowed time I think Eric thought it was on. Borrowed time he's there -- four this year have at least for now. Does any sort of feel like you know he's he's moving deck chairs around on the Titanic because. He's got to wonder if he's going to be around here at the at the end of this whole thing.

You don't -- I think he does wonder but he did you know I think that he. Took over about -- mean that the browns. When he got there will. Have a lot of problems much more so than the jets when he took over in new York and he had to do so much of it by himself being used. Essentially that the team president in every decision. He had to deal -- and in -- so many things that he mishandling. And the -- part of coaching. -- Might have gotten a lot of the opener of their but you know you also trying to. To bring it a new mentality to a team that simply hadn't done very well and had a lot of character guys that it took -- a bit. Only four draft pick when he got there and you know it it caught on it yet and I think that. That's what changed Holmgren is mind I you know. He didn't say that to me it's a defense but I -- that I I think it's wondered what thinking about. You know hiring a different approach but there on that team caught on at the -- and went in it he talked to into the season Holmgren was really. Wary about being spun by changing -- let you know people -- what you doing in an -- took him through some of the decisions that -- made -- but you'd think they'd. She's gonna get -- two win I think that. You know that that area of the but the -- you've really got to watch is the opposite side of the ball -- they were terrible on top of last year offenses it's Mike Holmgren to be. They run a very different system than the one that. Said Mike Holmgren. And -- entire career and it. If they don't improve on offense. There will be changes I don't know what that means they're going to be different head coach but I'm certain that they'll have changed on the opposite side of the ball.

But isn't it pretty obvious too that that Eric is being asked to have a better offense. He's running his system but Holmgren is providing players who don't necessarily fit -- system.

Well I think there's. In one of the things that the Eric -- from politic with two with just the system to the -- you haven't heard a minute around. You know what each player does that I think that. You know I think he definitely feel better about a lot of the players -- offensive especially quarterback. And you know what he calico but -- I think it's it's a little bit of a mystery about it which version of take a little -- yet. And you know. -- will be an interesting test for his system into coaching ability and staffed its ability to see how they're able to you -- offensive here with. You know when you quarterback. And yeah expectations that Holmgren as being an opposite coach himself.

You say in the usage here in the story that -- foundation for running a team is based on a calculated fighter player but sometimes it's hard disk stick to the script you mentioned. Said that in connection with a time but the jets do you think he sees the end of this five year plan do you think do you think he sees you this whole thing. Come to fruition as the head coach in Cleveland.

I don't know I you know I I I think that he doesn't know immunize you know he knows that he's got improve and so. I you know I think it out and obviously you would love you but I -- to -- I think he simply doesn't know in. And his mentality isn't. What that stuff get to -- it's you know focus on the little teeny tapped. The current part of them and make sure the players do little teeny task. And sort of use. You know those as a guidebook. You simply bigger and better things and you know at the moment the bigger better thing for the browns would be you know completed eight season but the.

Well -- it was fascinating look inside and I'll always love inside stuff that's why hard knocks is must see TV for me I'm I'm guessing that Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan don't share a lot of character traits together. On the other than seismic --

But I yeah I mean you know -- They well you and -- both lost weight you know what Eric lost thirty pounds of -- I I can't remember what -- but yeah I mean their friends you know they get on well wrecked his brother upon means -- staff in. You know I I think I don't know this for a fact but I think that -- one of the reasons why Eric. You know sort of didn't do well in New York is because publicly in New York being unique guy. Who will get a few days energized in the way that Eric was his public softest would really allow that I. And I think that. Now we bid you a little bit more confidence a little more experience in Cleveland I think -- In the beginning to ease. In coaching a team that's that's more true to his personality.

we appreciate time it was a great pace thank you. Much appreciated things -- south quicker -- a piece in the ESP in the magazine five days in the life of Eric Mangini.