Browns’ Eric Mangini says he has not been contacted by league in injury-report investigation

Mangini: NFL hasn’t asked me about Favre injury

BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini said he has not been contacted by the NFL in its investigation about a possible injury-report cover up while he was with the New York Jets.

On Thursday, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum admitted the team should have disclosed Brett Favre’s torn biceps tendon on mandatory weekly injury reports over the final third of last season. Mangini, who was fired by New York in December, said he has always followed league rules when filling out the report.

Mangini plans to follow the same procedures with the injury report in Cleveland.

“The approach has really been consistent from my perspective,” he said. “We’re always going to try to work to follow the rules in the strictest fashion. That won’t change. I respect the rules and I’m going to follow them here.”

The league rules state that all players with significant or noteworthy injuries must be listed, even if the player takes all the reps in practice and even if the team is certain that he will play.

Despite an arm injury that required offseason surgery, Favre played in the final five games last season. He threw nine interceptions as the Jets went 1-4 down the stretch and missed the AFC playoffs.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is in the preliminary stages of its investigation regarding how the Jets handled Favre’s injury. The Jets and Mangini could face possible discipline if they are found to have violated league rules.

Mangini said he works with the team’s trainers and doctors and consults with Browns general manager George Kokinis before filling out the report.

While there appear to be gray areas in the league’s policy on reporting injuries, Mangini said he works hard at following the rules.

“There are a lot of different rules that you look at it and try to do it the right way,” he said. “That’s going to be the approach, to try to stay in context and do it the right way. If we have questions, try to ask questions.”