National Football League

Browns add former Eagles GM Heckert

Published Jan. 11, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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The Cleveland Browns have hired Tom Heckert as their general manager, luring him away from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Heckert had been with the Eagles since 2001, spending the past four seasons as GM. He helped build them into a perennial NFC power, but did not have complete control over roster decisions, the draft or free agency.

In Cleveland, Heckert will have final say over the Browns' 53-man roster with input from new team president Mike Holmgren.

FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer first reported Holmgren's interest in meeting with Heckert.

On a conference call Monday, Holmgren said Heckert will set up the roster, but that he will work closely with his new GM on it.

"Tom had a lot to do with the success they had in Philadelphia," said Holmgren, who touched upon a variety of Browns-related topics. "He has tremendous experience in the league."

Heckert, 42, takes over a Cleveland team that started 1-11 but won its final four games under first-year coach Eric Mangini. Last week, Holmgren decided to retain Mangini and his staff for a second season. Holmgren went into greater detail to explain why he kept Mangini.

He said he came away impressed with Cleveland's coach following two days of meetings. Holmgren praised Mangini for being a good listener and his willingness to be a "team player." Holmgren said it would have been unfair to fire Mangini after only one season.

"The team got better as the season went along," Holmgren said. "It was rough in the beginning and tough in the middle but they finished strong."

Holmgren said any thought that he brought back Mangini because he has aspirations to coach again are off base.

"The idea of this being a one-year trial was not on my mind," the 61-year-old said. "We're going to be better next year. He (Eric) is a good coach. I might be a little too old to get out there and run around."

Holmgren also expressed optimism the Browns could work out a new contract with Pro Bowl return specialist Josh Cribbs. The player and his agents said they were insulted by the team's last offer to Cribbs, who still has three years left on a six-year, $6.77 million deal.

"I'm still hopeful we can work this out," Holmgren said. "My hope is we can get this to a win-win situation. There is light at the end of the tunnel, hopefully."

Heckert, whose father, Tom, worked as a Browns scout in the 1980s, and Seattle pro personnel director Will Lewis were the only known candidates to interview for Cleveland's GM job. Holmgren said it's possible he will speak with Lewis again and would be interested in other members of Seattle's front office, which is undergoing a massive shakeup.

The Browns also announced Bryan Wiedmeier has been hired as executive vice president of business operations. He had been with the Miami Dolphins for 29 years, the last three as the club's president and chief operating officer.

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