Mike Holmgren is the president of the Cleveland Browns

Yay, now we can stop worrying about this. I'm just glad to stop hearing about the "Czar Search"

I'm happy,too.but I would have been happier if he decided to Coach.I just hope he has alot of influence on the coaching.He's a QB builder,since the Montana days,and I would like to know that he'll be an instumental part in that.

Go Browns!!!

I'm glad he doesnt want to coach. He proved both duties were too much for him in Seattle. Like I said I expect him to fire Mangini so he'll put some really good coaches in here who know what they're doing.

I'd rather he was just the Head Coach.He didn't stop coaching at Seattle,on there way to the SB.With Presidential authority,but guys to take care of the business end,along with the drafting/contracts,so he could stick to Coaching,which is what he's best at.He's gonna have to be a "hands on" guy,anyway,or what's the use of bringing him here?

The purpose of him coming here is to take away all decision making abilities away from Lerner. Lerner simply wants to just sign checks. He knows hes not good at making football hires or decisions. Holmgren is respected by everyone in this league, he will be able to bring in other respectable front office people and free agents, that would have never thought to come to Cleveland. Holmgren's job is to make this an actual franchise instead of the joke it has become. He will hire a GM who knows how to draft players and will get a coach who can run his system and run it well.

Just to throw out my opinion on things in a perfect world I would like to see Homgren get

GM= Tom Heckert
Coach= Jon Gruden

Tell me how to make a duck casserole,I already knew that.I'd like to see him do that,and coach.Just designate authority more than he did in Seattle.
  As for Head Coach,Tony Grossi reported the week that we had MNF,that he spoke in person to Jon Gruden,about the possibility of Coaching,to which Gruden replied that he is in a two year contract with ESPN,and there is no "out clause",so no way could he come to Cleveland even if he wanted to...Was that just hogwash,being he didn't know we would land Holgrem?I really doubt it,even though I'd like to see him here,too.

Brian Kelly said he wasn't going to leave Cincinnati for Notre Dame and he had a year or 2 left on his contract. Looks like things worked out for Notre Dame anyway. If there's anything I've learned about the finances of the sports world it is that contracts don't matter. With that being said I doubt Gruden particularly wants to come coach the Browns anyway.

Clearly we should just agree to disagree about Holmgren coaching.

I just read where Holgrem will have a hands-on relationship with the Head Coach.he'll be in charge,and have the final say,in the event that he can't convince the Head Coach what he believes is best for the team.So,he'll have time to take care of the business end,while his "mini-me" Head Coach is doing his bidding.

  I'm great with that.

 Having said that,and seeing how Mangini is willing to do anything it takes to keep his job,(and fits the "mini-me" costume)I think that he now stands a pretty decent chance of hanging around.He'll just have to conform to Holgrems platen.

  As for QB,I got the impression that Holgrem wants something more than we have,and I believe he'll try to bring Hasselback here.DA will likely go for a low pick(4th),and BQ will be our back-up.

  As for your Brian Kelly thing,that's apples and oranges.But your right,there has to be a price that the Browns and ESPN could come up with,to make it so.Would Lerner be willing?But more importantly,would Holgrem want a guy who would be more inclined to want to be left alone,making Head Coaching decisions?

Yeah its starting to feel like Mangini will stay. Thats what I hope for. The players have warmed up to him and are playing hard, the only problem I have with Mangini right now is what hes doing with the offense and that is what Holmgren wants to fix. I really hope Holmgren is starting to talk with Charlie Weiss already.

I got that feeling too. He doesnt seem to crazy about the Qbs on the roster but why would he. I'm not a fan of Hasselback he just doesnt look good anymore. Brady Quinn is going to be ridiculously cheap next year and still doesnt have a full season under his belt. I think when Holmgren watches the tape he'll see if Quinn can improve his accuracy he could be a really good QB. I'm hoping even though Holmgren isnt going to be a coach he will use the offseason to mentor Brady.

Mangini doesn't have any experience coaching the west coast offense,and that's the biggest hangup.That,and the fact the next GM/HC might be coming here as a team,puts Mangini at a less than 50-50 shot of hanging around.Decent chance,but hardly convincing.
   I think Mangini is an OK guy.But you have to look at his entire performance as a whole this year,and he didn't come through.Maybe Holgrem will retain him for a year,or two,through the rebuilding process.Then,I think Holgrem will either take over the HC duties himself,or will line up for a Gruden type to replace Mangini.

  As for Hasselback/Delhomme,I think they'd be mentors for BQ/whoever fits next.They might start next year,but give way to "Pickles" Claussen,or BQ,or Bradford...I'm in agreeance with dabrowns41,though,about our first pick.Unless Suh,Berry,and McLain are all gone,I think they should go there.Heck,if I was President,I'd go for Tony Pike,in the second,and have a veteran bring him along.

I don't think Pike is good enough, although I am a fan. I dont think BQ needs to spend more time learning on the bench if hes going to get better its going to be from on the field experience. I really just dont trust the QBs in this draft. If Suh, Berry, McCoy, McClain and Haden are all gone I think we still shouldnt draft Clausen we should trade down and get a Jerry Hughes/Earl Thomas type player.

I don't think Pike is good enough, although I am a fan. I dont think BQ needs to spend more time learning on the bench if hes going to get better its going to be from on the field experience. I really just dont trust the QBs in this draft. If Suh, Berry, McCoy, McClain and Haden are all gone I think we still shouldnt draft Clausen we should trade down and get a Jerry Hughes/Earl Thomas type player.

I think Pike would be excellent in the west coast set,with some mentoring.BQ is gonna have to pick up his game speed ,along with accuracy,along with losing the jitters.Is Holgrem gonna have the patience for that?Or bring in a young guy,who hasn't shown chinks in his armor?Every time we played a team with a decent-good defense,he sputtered.I just can't imagine Holgrem letting him be in charge,being the QB guru he is.He's also got to put some of the QB situation blame on Mangini,which will be a part of his being let go.I give BQ a less than 50-50 shot of being next years opening day starter.He'll get his chance to be brought along,though.
  Speaking of trading down,do you realize,if we win vs. the Jags,we could be picking 9th?
  Not just the first round,but EVERY round!I wonder how many points on that chart that shows pick value we've dropped?
  I'm so happy that we are beating teams in garbage time,...NOT!

  How freaking sad it is,to watch us win,only to lose,in reality.Winning when you're out of the playoff hunt is just as dumb as playing your stars,when you have clinched where you'll be in the playoffs.Pride,schnide!..We have Mangini,trying to save his job,desperately trying to win.And players,desperately trying to save their jobs.Because of the total ignorance of the whole organization.

  My Cleveland Browns!!!  

  Happy New Year!!!

...He's a QB builder,since the Montana days,and I would like to know that he'll be an instumental part in that.
Go Browns!!!

-realbrownsfan

I actually was up in Cleveland last week (23-29 Dec) and I got to listen to a part of the teleconference and I wish someone would have asked him if he was going to be an integral part of shaping whichever QB he chooses to run this offense rather than ask personnel-specific questions that, after like 3 even I (being a non-press person) figured out he was NOT going to answer.

RealBrownsFan I think i disagree with everything you said.1. Pike could be good but we need to much on this team to risk the pick. 2.Holmgren said when asked if he would fire Mangini after one year he said he doesnt like to make the quick hook with coaches or QB. Holmgren is known for being an incredible teacher part of this means you have to be patient, how could holmgren bring in "a young guy who hasnt shown kinks in his armor"? That person does not exist. Theres no QB in the draft or in FA that has no kinks. I think Quinn has done a good job with the gamespeed hes been running the no huddle which is very hard to do and done a decent job with it, he simply needs to be more accurate which can be worked on, Holmgren will know that being the great teacher he is. I'm not saying Quinn will for sure be the QB next year but I dont see Holmgren coming in day 1 saying lets draft a QB. 3. IMO its great that the Browns are winning right now. Do you realize we've won 3 games in a row without our biggest defensive players, a legitimate starting QB or RB, a #1 or #2 receiver, a RT, and probably the worst DB depth in the league? This draft has great talent. We could very easly (despite picking 9th) leave this draft with a starting S,CB,DL,RB, WR,TE, RT and LB. These players are finnaly starting to play like a team. Were pointing out bright spots as much as not so bright spots. In the offseason Holmgren is going get some great football men in here, do a great job with the draft and get some good FA's in here. We will be going into next year with some confidence.

Pike excels in the vertical passing game. He'd be ideal for an Air Coryell style offense. His accuracy on crossing patterns and passing in the middle of the field is questionable.

I also think Pike will be available in round 4. I don't think he's that great. I'd rather have John Skelton-Fordham, if we are taking projects.    

gobrown216;By chinks in his armor,I mean a player that has been given an opportunity to play at the pro level,and shown sometimes disabling weaknesses.Before stating the facts,I want everyone to know that I feel BQ spent too much time on the sideline in the last few years,and he could still progress with his accuracy,and reading Ds,and game speed.There were games where the O-line was crushed,and BQ gets a free pass,there.But I also saw him make some bad dedcisions,be innacurate,or be inconsistently accurate,and at times,play less than he's capable.Underachieving.
That's why his QB rating for the season was 67.2.(29th)He only threw for 134 yds. a game.He threw 8TDs,and 7 picks.Holgrem might just decide to bring in college kid,who is accurate,and is close to ready to play the west coast style.Like a Tony Pike.
      There is also the distinct possibility that Holgrem will try to draft Sam Bradford,with all his accuracy,and bring in a vet(Hasselback) to bring him along.
    If not,is Holgrem gonna be OK with BQ being the frontrunner for the QB spot?As much as he emphasizes the QB?I think BQ will be around,being his contract is only 700k for the next two seasons,but I think Holgrem will bring in a veteran,and BQ will have to show,in practice,early on(and we all know BQ hasn't been at the top of his game,especially with accuracy,during practice,which is how DA hung around)that he's the better choice,or he'll be our back-up.Holgrem did say at the news conference,that there are certain things he did before,that he wishes he wouldn't have waited for.Like replacing a failing QB,or coach.
  As for winning 3 games in a row,we beat the Steelers.Our Super Bowl.Fantastic.Also fantastically cold and bitter weather,and the Steelers playing at their worst.Next,KC.Without Cribbs,we likely lose.Next,the Frye led Raiders,who would rather hurt our players,than force us to punt.Remember,all three wins were after we were out of contention.Real confidence boosters,eh?How about our QB ranking those three games?48.1 vs.PITT,27.7vs.KC,and (DA)90.6
  I like Tony Pike over Skelton.I don't think Pike will last until our fourth,but likely our third pick.
   Skelton is day two material.Skelton is a project,much moreso than Pike,IMHO.
  Good news for Berry fans!Eric has been named as the Browns first round choice in the newest Walter Football mock draft.

Go Browns!!!

Pike had one above average season, and one great season. He plays in a below average conference and really showed last night with a 3.8 YPA and 3 garbage time TD's against Florida.

Skelton has been more productive, is tougher, has better intangibles, and can make most of the NFL throws, and could be as high as a 2nd rounder (I'm thinking 3rd).

Pike will be around a 4th-5th round pick. His arm isn't the strongest, and his accuracy for a horizontal passing attack is questionable. Pike is a big project.

But I've only been watching Pike for 2 seasons, so I wouldn't know. ;)

Obviously Brady Quinn has not proved he could be a starter in this league, but he has only 13 games under his belt. I think hes shown a lot of poor accuracy but then a lot of really nice accurate passes. He's shown intelligence at the LOS and leadership in the huddle. The fact of the matter is were a team that needs help at basically every position. Brady Quinn hasnt even had a full season under his belt yet or a preseason to get all the first string reps. IMO we should use this draft to address our many other needs instead of taking a QB that is far from a lock.