Browns Owner Randy Lerner Denies Firing GM

Browns Randy Lerner wants to make one thing clear: He didn’t fire apparently deposed GM George Kokinis. Um, sort of:

Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner, under fire after parting ways with general manager George Kokinis midway through his first season as GM, denied today that Kokinis had been fired and said he hoped to find a veteran NFL general type like Ernie Accorsi or Mike Holmgren to help shape the organization and help embattled coach Eric Mangini.

“George is no longer active within our organization, but at this time has not been fired,’’ Lerner said in a telephone interview.

This could be simple semantics because it’s widely expected the Browns will attempt to cancel the remainder of Kokinis’ five-year contract without paying him, citing "for cause’’ and contending that he wasn’t doing his job.

What happens to GMs when they’re not fired but are “no longer active” with an organization? Do they randomly show up on The Island, like in “Lost”? Is George Kokinis going to try to detonate an atom bomb to go back in time and prevent the Smoke Monster (i.e. Eric Mangini) from ever being hired? And what about Brady Quinn? Will he ever re-unite with that polar bear?

Aw, screw it. “Lost” always confuses me.