Published: Monday, December 21, 2009
Holmgren could join Browns today
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Ted S. Warren / Associated Press
A Seahawks fan holds up a sign about former coach Mike Holmgren during Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If Mike Holmgren agrees to direct the Cleveland Browns’ football operations, perhaps as soon as today, he will immediately face a striking conundrum.
Are the Browns winning in spite of coach Eric Mangini or because of him?
Even the Browns’ locker room seems to be split on the question.
“We were in the shower kidding about it, ‘Hey, man, the system works. Full pads, Mondays, it works,’” Browns wide receiver/returner Joshua Cribbs said. “I guess it works. It’s trusting in our coaches. Let them coach and all we have to do is play.”
Asked how he felt about Holmgren, Cribbs said, “I hope that he watched this game and last week. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with that. I can’t really comment because I don’t know where the organization is headed.”
With Sunday’s 41-34 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, the Browns (3-11) won back-to-back games for only the 13th time in the 11 seasons since the franchise returned in 1999. They’ve shown marked improvement in the past four games, starting with a 38-37 loss to the Lions in Detroit on Nov. 22. They broke a 12-game losing streak to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 10.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Sunday that a “decision appears to be coming on Monday” from former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks coach Holmgren, who interviewed for two days last week with Browns owner Randy Lerner. Citing an NFL source, Mortensen reported Holmgren’s deal with the Browns was expected to be worth $50 million, perhaps for 10 years.
On Saturday, Holmgren turned down an offer from the Seahawks to become team president. The Seahawks’ statement called it a “senior leadership” position.
The Seahawks were thought to be Holmgren’s preference, especially since his daughters and grandchildren live there. Some speculated that the Seahawks’ offer was merely to placate the fans who supported Holmgren for 10 years, including the first four in the dual role of coach and general manager.
The Browns’ offer is probably more lucrative for Holmgren and probably more appealing because Holmgren would report directly to Lerner.
If Holmgren does join the Browns, ESPN’s John Clayton and Mortensen have reported that Mangini would be out. Hired on Jan. 8, Mangini received a four-year, $15.6 million contract, according to Clayton.
Mangini addressed the reports of Holmgren’s imminent arrival after the game.
“There are reports; they are what they are,” Mangini said. “I’m coaching this team, I’m proud of this team. We’re moving forward. There’s a lot of good things happening. I’m proud of what they’re doing, I’m proud of the way they’re working. That’s the only thing I’m concerned with.”
Hall of famer Jim Brown, an executive adviser to Lerner, thinks Mangini deserves to return in 2010.
“Of course, I think he deserves it,” Brown said. “I’m looking at an improved team, a lot of young people who we don’t know who are playing good football. I don’t know the politics behind the scenes. I’m not going to contradict my boss, but from my assessment, we have two games left. If we win those two games, hey ... if we lose them, things could (be) up in the air. Right now we’ve won two in a row and it’s proven there is direction.”
Quarterback Brady Quinn also seemed to have his coach’s back.
“There’s no doubt,” Quinn said. “Everyone has been playing together and trying to make this work. It’s not like we weren’t all season long, but you can really see it now, especially down the stretch, when everything is coming together.”
Kicker Phil Dawson and running back Jerome Harrison did not agree that the Browns seem to be playing to save Mangini’s job.
“The feeling is we want to win a game each and every week,” Dawson said. “For several weeks, there’s been improvement; finally it’s starting to show up with some wins. Hopefully, we can capitalize on this momentum and see how many more we can get.”
Harrison said the Browns were playing for “those other guys in the locker room.” “We’ve always been coming together,” Harrison said. “This is probably one of the best teams I’ve ever been a part of and I’ve been playing for 21 years. It’s just falling in line. Everything’s jelling and everyone’s getting on the same page. It takes time.”
Are the Browns winning in spite of coach Eric Mangini or because of him?
Even the Browns’ locker room seems to be split on the question.
“We were in the shower kidding about it, ‘Hey, man, the system works. Full pads, Mondays, it works,’” Browns wide receiver/returner Joshua Cribbs said. “I guess it works. It’s trusting in our coaches. Let them coach and all we have to do is play.”
Asked how he felt about Holmgren, Cribbs said, “I hope that he watched this game and last week. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with that. I can’t really comment because I don’t know where the organization is headed.”
With Sunday’s 41-34 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, the Browns (3-11) won back-to-back games for only the 13th time in the 11 seasons since the franchise returned in 1999. They’ve shown marked improvement in the past four games, starting with a 38-37 loss to the Lions in Detroit on Nov. 22. They broke a 12-game losing streak to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 10.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Sunday that a “decision appears to be coming on Monday” from former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks coach Holmgren, who interviewed for two days last week with Browns owner Randy Lerner. Citing an NFL source, Mortensen reported Holmgren’s deal with the Browns was expected to be worth $50 million, perhaps for 10 years.
On Saturday, Holmgren turned down an offer from the Seahawks to become team president. The Seahawks’ statement called it a “senior leadership” position.
The Seahawks were thought to be Holmgren’s preference, especially since his daughters and grandchildren live there. Some speculated that the Seahawks’ offer was merely to placate the fans who supported Holmgren for 10 years, including the first four in the dual role of coach and general manager.
The Browns’ offer is probably more lucrative for Holmgren and probably more appealing because Holmgren would report directly to Lerner.
If Holmgren does join the Browns, ESPN’s John Clayton and Mortensen have reported that Mangini would be out. Hired on Jan. 8, Mangini received a four-year, $15.6 million contract, according to Clayton.
Mangini addressed the reports of Holmgren’s imminent arrival after the game.
“There are reports; they are what they are,” Mangini said. “I’m coaching this team, I’m proud of this team. We’re moving forward. There’s a lot of good things happening. I’m proud of what they’re doing, I’m proud of the way they’re working. That’s the only thing I’m concerned with.”
Hall of famer Jim Brown, an executive adviser to Lerner, thinks Mangini deserves to return in 2010.
“Of course, I think he deserves it,” Brown said. “I’m looking at an improved team, a lot of young people who we don’t know who are playing good football. I don’t know the politics behind the scenes. I’m not going to contradict my boss, but from my assessment, we have two games left. If we win those two games, hey ... if we lose them, things could (be) up in the air. Right now we’ve won two in a row and it’s proven there is direction.”
Quarterback Brady Quinn also seemed to have his coach’s back.
“There’s no doubt,” Quinn said. “Everyone has been playing together and trying to make this work. It’s not like we weren’t all season long, but you can really see it now, especially down the stretch, when everything is coming together.”
Kicker Phil Dawson and running back Jerome Harrison did not agree that the Browns seem to be playing to save Mangini’s job.
“The feeling is we want to win a game each and every week,” Dawson said. “For several weeks, there’s been improvement; finally it’s starting to show up with some wins. Hopefully, we can capitalize on this momentum and see how many more we can get.”
Harrison said the Browns were playing for “those other guys in the locker room.” “We’ve always been coming together,” Harrison said. “This is probably one of the best teams I’ve ever been a part of and I’ve been playing for 21 years. It’s just falling in line. Everything’s jelling and everyone’s getting on the same page. It takes time.”
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