Eric Mangini keeps his job in Cleveland

Eric Mangini pulled off his biggest win yet.

Mangini will return for a second season as Cleveland’s coach, a surprising personal victory after a four-game winning streak by the Browns that may have saved his job. New team President Mike Holmgren decided Thursday to retain Mangini, whose job seemed to be slipping away after the Browns started 1-11.

Mangini’s staff has been asked to return as well.

Holmgren spent the last two days in meetings with Mangini, who was fired after last season by the New York Jets and had a turbulent first year in Cleveland.

“I was able to gain some tremendous insight into his thought process and philosophies, and came away from our meetings very impressed,” Holmgren said in a statement. “In my opinion, Eric has gained the respect and admiration of players, coaches and others in the organization, and with him continuing to lead the team I feel that we are headed in the right direction.

“Working together, our goal is to build on the strong tradition of this franchise and help get the Browns back to the playoffs.”

Mangini felt confident all along that he would be back despite signs that the team was planning to go in another direction. Browns owner Randy Lerner did not attend any of the club’s final three games, and there were reports that Holmgren was already lining up possible replacements.

Instead, Holmgren elected continuity over a swift coaching purge and decided one year was not a fair barometer to judge Mangini, Cleveland’s fourth coach since 1999.

Injury updates

New England defensive linemen Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren fully participated in practice for the second straight day Thursday in preparation for Sunday’s wild-card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. . . . Starting cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie returned to practice for the Arizona Cardinals, but wide receiver Anquan Boldin remained sidelined because of a sprained left ankle. . . . Dallas Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware missed practice because of a sore back, but he is expected to play against Philadelphia on Saturday. . . . Indianapolis Colts Coach Jim Caldwell plans to use kicker Matt Stover during the playoffs instead of four-time Super Bowl winner Adam Vinatieri, who has not fully recovered from midseason surgery on his kicking knee.

Etc.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer has been reassured by Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson that he has no intention of entertaining offers to relocate the team to Los Angeles. . . . Players on the two Super Bowl teams who miss the Pro Bowl this year will get paid a full share. Fifty-seven Pro Bowl players are participating in the playoffs, including nine for Minnesota, the most of any team. The Pro Bowl is being played before the Super Bowl for the first time. Both games will be at Dolphin Stadium in Miami -- the Pro Bowl on Jan. 31, the Super Bowl on Feb. 7.