Baltimore pro personnel director George Kokinis has been hired as Cleveland's general manager, reuniting him with new Browns coach and close friend Eric Mangini.

Kokinis, who began his NFL career as an intern in the Browns' operations department in 1991, was hand-picked by Mangini, who recommended him during his first interview with Browns owner Randy Lerner on Dec. 30. Mangini took over as Cleveland's coach on Jan. 7, just one week after he was fired following three seasons with the New York Jets.

Determined to match a coach and GM who can work well together after the Romeo Crennel-Phil Savage relationship failed, Lerner is teaming up a pair of friends who shared an apartment when they first broke into the league and have remained tight.

"The Browns are excited to bring George back to Cleveland where he began his NFL career," Lerner said in a team release. "He is a tireless worker that has spent his entire career evaluating talent and knows the type of player it takes to be successful in this league and in our division."

Terms of Kokinis' deal were not immediately known.

The Browns have scheduled a news conference today to introduce the 41-year-old Kokinis, who spent 13 years with the Ravens, the past six as the club's director of pro personnel.

Cleveland's GM position has been open since Lerner fired Savage after the Browns concluded a 4-12 season. The Savage-Crennel team produced a 24-40 record and no playoff appearances in four years. Lerner still owes the pair millions after signing them to contract extensions last winter.

IN THE COURTS

VICK SUES ADVISER

Imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick is suing his former financial adviser and the company she co-owns with three NFL players for at least $2 million, alleging fraud, breach of contract and negligence.

The lawsuit, which was filed Jan. 22 in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Va., seeks to recover damages related to "fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and negligence."

Vick, who in December 2007 was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for conspiring to run a dogfighting ring, made the allegations against former financial adviser Mary Roy Wong and the Omaha, Nebraska-based company Williams and Bullocks LLC. Wong manages and co-owns the company with Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Demorrio Williams, New Orleans Saints safety Josh Bullocks and Detroit Lions safety Daniel Bullocks, Josh Bullocks's twin brother.

A telephone message left at the office of Wong's attorney, James Mitchell, and an e-mail sent to his firm, Rasmussen & Mitchell, after normal office hours weren't immediately returned.