These guys are accustomed to losses.

Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas said he hardly knew Kokinis, who was hired in January and left the club under unexplained circumstances on Monday.

"He wasn't around too much, and when he was, he was pretty quiet," Thomas said.

It's still not known if Kokinis was fired or forced out by the Browns, who are 1-7.

Browns coach Eric Mangini offered no details about the team's decision to move on without his longtime friend and handpicked GM.

"Anytime a decision like this is made it is difficult personally and professionally," Mangini said. "George is a friend of mine and I respect him and I wish his family well. I can tell you that for a variety of reasons things didn't work out. You never go into a situation like this with the intention of it not working out.

"We felt that, organizationally, this was the best decision in order to move forward."

Mangini was asked if there were legal reasons why he couldn't address Kokinis' exit.

"There's really a variety of reasons," he said, "and I'll just leave it at that."

There were reports that Kokinis was asked to resign by Browns owner Randy Lerner, who pressed the former GM and sought to dismiss him "for cause."

Citing a team source, ESPN.com reported that the team's security and legal departments were reviewing phone records to build its case against Kokinis.

The Browns denied reports that Kokinis was escorted from the building on Monday.

Lerner, was not available for comment. He did spend 2 hours meeting with two disgruntled season-ticketholders, who have been urging Cleveland fans to stay out of their seats for the Nov. 16 kickoff against Baltimore in protest of the team's futility. "Dawg Pound Mike" Randall said Lerner was open to their ideas and gave them a few of his own.

"He's trying to get the Browns on the right track," Randall said. "He wants it to happen now. He cares deeply."

In other news, ESPN reported that linebacker Eric Barton has been diagnosed with a serious neck injury suffered in Sunday's game against Chicago.

ESPN, cited a source that said that Barton was told by a spine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic that he had a bulging disc between the C3 and C4 vertebrae.

Also, the Browns released kicker Billy Cundiff, a move that indicates that kicker Phil Dawson is recovered from a calif injury.

Noteworthy

* Cincinnati released offensive guard Scott Kooistra ending his 7-year career with the Bengals. Also, Cincinnati filled out its practice squad by signing rookie offensive tackle Gerald Cadogan, a free agent from Penn State who played in one preseason game with Carolina before he was waived.

* New England defensive end Jarvis Green underwent knee surgery that is expected to sideline him for at least one game, according to Comcast SportsNet New England.

* Buffalo starting cornerback Terrence McGee had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair minor damage and expects to be out for about 2 weeks.

* Wide receiver Chris Chambers, released Monday by San Diego, was claimed on waivers by Kansas City, according to a report on ESPN.

* Washington owner Dan Snyder said the Redskins are embarrassed, frustrated and feel "sorry" for the fans that have had to watch the team stumble to a 2-5 record.

* NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he'll participate in the latest round of labor negotiations with the players' union and will be present in New York for today's talks about a new collective bargaining agreement. NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith also plans to attend.