BEREA — Out with the new, in with the old.

The Browns ousted first-year general manager George Kokinis on Monday after eight games. WKYC-TV reported former Browns general manager and longtime NFL executive Ernie Accorsi will be brought in to mentor former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar in hopes that he’ll become the next general manager.

Accorsi was Cleveland’s general manager from 1985-92, the last sustained success for a once-proud franchise that is 1-7 and has played one playoff game since 1994. He helped draft Kosar in the supplemental draft in 1985.

Lerner is close with Accorsi, who endorsed the hiring of coach Eric Mangini and Kokinis in January. Kosar was recently added as a consultant by Lerner.

Kokinis, who was rarely heard from after being hired two weeks after Mangini, was ousted Monday afternoon. ESPN.com reported Kokinis refused to resign when pressed by Lerner, who persisted in seeking a dismissal “for cause,” citing Kokinis for failing to meet the standards of his contract. ESPN.com, citing a team source, reported the team’s security and legal department were reviewing phone records to build its case against Kokinis.

“George Kokinis is no longer actively involved with the organization,” the Browns said in the only statement they released late Monday night. “In response to rumors and reports that Kokinis was escorted out of the building today, the Browns deny those reports. In the interest of protecting the parties involved we will withhold further comment.”

Accorsi, whose role may be as a consultant, retired as Giants general manager following the 2006 season and might not want to take on a full-time role as GM or president.

Kokinis watched the 30-6 loss to the Bears on Sunday from the second row of the Soldier Field press box. He was hired with 18 years of front office experience, including the last six as director of pro personnel for the Baltimore Ravens. He began his NFL scouting career with the Browns from 1991-95.

When he was hired Jan. 23, Kokinis said he had final say over the 53-man roster — he said he wouldn’t have taken the job otherwise — but his influence on the team was never seen. He talked to the media only a handful of times in more than nine months on the job and hadn’t held a news conference since the draft in April. He was stuck in the background as Mangini traded away former Pro Bowlers Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards.

When Lerner hired Mangini on Jan. 8, he gave him authority over the football operations and took his advice in bringing in Kokinis. Lerner considered hiring someone to oversee the entire football side of the organization, but decided against it.

He’s recently changed his mind, and Kokinis could’ve been collateral damage. Lerner watched the loss Sunday from the tunnel outside the locker room and said afterward he was “sick about” the season.

“I’m not considering a change at head coach,” he said Monday in an e-mail. “I do have as a top priority a person that can provide leadership and clarity regarding decisions and direction.

“I don’t have a timetable at this point but do feel that to stay focused on moving forward, a strong football person will be crucial.”

That could be Accorsi or Kosar, and such a hire would seem to usurp Mangini’s power and change the person to whom he reports. It’s Lerner now.

“The objective is the same for both of us,” Mangini said of Lerner. “It’s to improve from the football perspective and to improve from the organizational perspective and you analyze every opportunity to do that. If you can add quality people that can help you get better, then you do that.”

Kokinis is the second Mangini confidant to be fired in the last week. Erin O’Brien, who followed from the Jets, was dismissed last week as director of team operations.

Despite the nearly constant chaos, 1-7 record, two straight lopsided losses, 31st-ranked offense and 32nd-ranked defense, Mangini was defiant during his afternoon news conference as he maintained the team is headed in the right direction. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it doesn’t apply here.

“I believe in the things that we’re doing and I understand it doesn’t happen overnight,” he said.

Mangini said he talked to Lerner by phone Monday and that the conversation had the same tone as their normal discussions. He was asked if he felt Lerner has his back.

“I never got a feeling otherwise in all my conversations with Randy,” he said. “This is a process. We talked about that quite a bit. There’s things that go along with that and that doesn’t mean we’re not looking to win every game, it doesn’t mean we’re not looking to improve each week. On the contrary, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

“Randy and I share the same vision. I’ve always had really good conversations with him and always will.”

Mangini said he wouldn’t fire embattled offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

Daboll, who followed from New York, is calling plays for the first time, and hasn’t had much success. The offense has scored five touchdowns in eight games, is tied for 30th in scoring (9.8 points) and is last in passing yards (121.5) and yards per play (3.8).

“Obviously there’s things from a play-calling perspective, from a scheme perspective, from a coaching perspective that we can improve, but that goes hand in hand with execution and individual performances as well,” Mangini said.

He pointed to quarterbacks coach Carl Smith’s time as coordinator with the Saints from 1986-96 as a resource that can be exploited. He also defended the choice of Daboll over Smith as coordinator.

“I’ve known Brian for a long time. He’s very smart, I like the systems he’s worked in, both in New England and New York,” Mangini said. “I think we share the same vision offensively and I think Carl’s a great complement to that.”

Players were scarce in the locker room Monday after watching film. Those that ventured in during the 45 minutes open to reporters acknowledged the ugliness of the season but supported Mangini.

“It’s worse than anybody expected,” said linebacker David Bowens, who played for Mangini with the Jets. “We don’t play to lose. We prepare to win. We work hard.

“I agree that he’s the guy that can do it and people just have to understand what it takes.”

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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