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January 3, 2011While We’re Waiting… Coaching Candidates and Hall of Fame Votes
January 4, 2011
“I can get real excited about finding the right, young guy and letting him run with the ball.” – Mike Holmgren
There was plenty of talk throughout Mike Holmgren’s meeting with the media today, but the above statement is the one that I would use to describe it if I had to choose one quote.
Mike Holmgren will not say that he will “never” coach again, because he just doesn’t want to make a promise he can’t keep. Simultaneously, as I told you here earlier in the season, I just don’t think Holmgren was making ovations toward the sidelines.
“I was hired to be the President of the Cleveland Browns,” said Holmgren.
However, Holmgren refuses to let himself lie and say he will never ever coach again. He did say that he “probably” would never coach again, but he can’t figure out why he would ever limit himself by saying it. When asked about other rumors that would have Holmgren leave Cleveland to be a head coach, he was more definitive, saying “No. I’m not going to do that.”
So put all those stories about San Francisco to rest.
As for Eric Mangini, Holmgren thanked Mangini and his family for all they have done. He then stated that they will be looking for a new head coach immediately. The assistants have not been fired, and will meet with Holmgren next Monday to discuss their futures. Ultimately the results on the field, while improved, were not good enough for Holmgren, who said “I try not to base my decision on one game, but on the body of work. I have high expectations and I am not going to settle.”
That being said, Holmgren was sensitive to fans who might be thinking “Here we go again” on a total rebuild. Holmgren stated clearly that he understands that feeling and understands where it comes from. He then stated that despite the difficult year, he didn’t feel that this season under Eric Mangini was wasted. Holmgren seemed to be saying that the Browns aren’t without a foundation even as they look to replace another head coach.
“Other than the game yesterday, we were competitive in every ballgame… I don’t think you could have said that a year ago… I think my expectations for the team and for the year were higher. I’ve already told you what I think of the guy. This is a great game, but a tough business.”
So the search will start. It will be operated by Holmgren and Heckert as point men. They take no short amount of responsibility in this process. When asked how important this move is in the scheme of the Cleveland Browns’ history, Holmgren was blunt.
“It’s huge,” Holmgren stated. “I don’t want to do this again. I think historically when you look at teams that don’t have to (find coaches) this much, they’ve been successful.”
Terry Pluto asked Holmgren how he would sell the Browns, and Holmgren seemed to want to teach Clevelanders something about our inferiority complex.
“You guys have been here a long time,” Holmgren said. “You’ve lived through the really tough things. You have a tendency to view things differently than I do. This is one of the great jobs in the country. If you are a football coach, that’s what you want to be.”
Holmgren indicated that he would use the same techniques to bring people to Berea that he used to bring Tom Heckert, for example.
So, that’s it. We don’t know who the next coach of the Browns will be. I am reasonably confident that Mike Holmgren will not be the coach unless it is some sort of last resort. The Browns will reportedly cast a wide net and not limit themselves in any way in finding the next football coach for the Cleveland Browns. And hopefully Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and the Browns come up with the right “young guy” who can run with the ball for the long haul.
69 Comments
Where does Mangini go from here? He’s got two years left on his contract, right? How does that work? Is he owed that no matter what or is the deal nul-and-void if he takes another job?
Another random note: Crazy how poor the hc track record is for Belichick acolytes – Romeo, Eric, Josh, Charlie…
The browns are “only” 3-4 players away. I would say a RT, a starting WR, a DL, and possibly another LB (switch to 43 and depends on how the OLBs like roth and bernard switch). The browns have decent depth. I really believe with the switch of coaching staffs and another off-season like the last the browns will be fighting with the ravens and steelers at the top of the north.
It is such a pleasure to see our team being represented by such an intelligent, candid, relaxed, confident, non-paranoid person like Holmgren. I hope he’s here for a long time.
It appears we have scheduled our first interview with Perry Farewell aka Rooney Rule token interview.
@52 I think the Browns need more then that namely 2 WRs, another RB (besides Hardesty), 2 LB and another young secondary player. In addition tto a RT and DL. I wholeheartedly agree about the switch to the 4-3. I’ve seen enough of the 3-4 to last for a long time.
@MattyFos – fair points. I think Kellen lost alot of his athleticism, but I won’t argue his routes or his hands. I was making more of a economic cost evaluation. I think we are better off today because of that trade.
as for the camps. I think you are right, sadly. there’s a small minority that are in the liked-Mangini, but trust-Holmgren faction though.
@54 – Perry Fewell is more than a ‘token’ interview. He’s built a good resume and he deserves a shot. I think he’s got a better chance at Carolina than here, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a chance.
(now Ray Sherman in Dallas, yeah that smells of ‘token’ interview. And Ray seems like a good coach and it’s a shame)
@mgbode – Good observation on the Fewell vs Sherman interviews.
NJ: Mangini gets paid by the Browns no matter what. If he takes another job whatever he makes in that job gets deducted from what the Browns owe him for the next two years. He’s guaranteed that money because he has a contract.
Where we all so lucky in our jobs.
Nice digging DP! I can’t believe I actually said that!
Can’t believe the Browns are going to interview the guy from Jane’s Addiction.
What a great move today by Mike. Mangini was awful and that is not my opinion … it was spoken loudly by his own players, who knowing his job was on the line the last four games, decided not to show up and laid down. Discipline? Ha! Mangini only talked it. He clearly had little ability to motivate his players to play their guts out and WIN on the field. Bottom line … bottom feeder coach at 10-22. Good riddance!
@Voodoo- 2 WRs? MoMass and Robo are good as 2 and 3, then Cribbs/Moore/Mitchel can round it out. They need 1 great WR to jump forward on offense. Larry Fitz (if for some reason he chooses to come here) or AJ Green would be my top choices. I will say the same for RB… Hillis and Hardesty (healthy) will provide a good 1-2 and Bell finally showed some ability in the last game. probably more realistic a 5th or later round pick will be the 3rd back.
As for LB, Fujita-Gocong-Roth would be my starters with Bowens and Trusnik back-ups. Going to the DL Roger-Rubin-Scheifering can rotate DTs, top 3 round draft pick at DE along with Bernard, Coleman and Smith (last 2 depending on health… but we may need 2 more DEs or at least a FA+high pick). Then lastly the secondary, Ward and Piscitelli would be my starters at S, Adams the backup/4th CB again. Haden-Brown starting and I would resign Wright (depending on cost). Hes still good even if he had a down year.
switched topics from post… sorry about that.
@60 – Dave Navarro would be a shoo-in for OC. Eric Avery is screwed, though. #duffman
I hate Jane’s Addiction.
We need 3 head coaches.
A former HC with an offensive mindset for OC Mornigwhig
A former HC with a defensive mindset for DC
And a young HC we can build around. (Maybe the guy from Oregon?)
Call me crazy but it seems like the people that were for Mangini only seem to give the reason of consistency or that he didn’t get enough time.
Does anyone actually have a reason they wanted Mangini to stay because of something he did right?
@ Chris in 13:
Yes, Holmgren said that, and with a straight face. Coaches are by nature competitive creatures with huge egos. Holmgren knows that the man who brings the Lombardi to Cleveland after our decade of disasters and decades of broken dreams will be lionized like no person in NFL history, including Vince himself. That is what Holmgren will be selling. Not just the chance to coach and win, but the chance to make History.
I think it will be an easy sale.
RE: Holmgren vs. Mangini “camps”
Up until the last months, I was in both camps. I thought that Holmgren made for a good figurehead/PR guy, Heckert was going to be the competent GM to bring in the talent, and Mangini was going to be the field general to lead us forward. This was all shattered by the revelation that the real “leader” is Holmgren’s agent, Lamonte, and that he was ultimately going to steer the direction for the organization.
Looks like many more years in the basement for us Browns fans.
@68: Remember, the “Lamonte Revelation” comes from the same sources that said Holmgren was coaching and Colt was going to get cut.