While We’re Waiting… Drafting LaMichael, criticizing Perez and a Bobblehead museum!
April 9, 2012Indians Weekend Wrap Up: Things Are Better Than They Seem
April 9, 2012Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk has offered up a sourced “theory” wherein Cleveland Browns team president Mike Holmgren’s remarks regarding the recent trade between the St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins is rooted in explanation to team owner Randy Lerner.
Per Florio’s theory, Holmgren was forced to backtrack and explain why he did not offer the winning bid in St. Louis’ blind auction after being ordered to acquire Robert Griffin III.
“There are reasons… …why it didn’t happen,” Holmgren said to a slew of Browns season ticket holders. “There’s a very close relationship between the people that were involved with getting the deal done and the people who eventually got it done.”
The PFT report counters its own theory by reminding all that Lerner rarely gets involved with the dynamics of the team and has essentially placed any and all responsibility in the hands of Holmgren — it was Holmgren who represented the Cleveland franchise at the latest NFL owner’s meetings as Lerner was tending to family-related obligations. Lerner’s most recent involvement with the franchise led to the firing of then general manager George Kokinis and the subsequent hire of Holmgren.
Essentially countering his counter, Florio closed with the following:
“[If] Lerner did step out of character and make his wishes known, that would help explain why Holmgren saw fit to share his belief that the Rams didn’t give the Browns a fair shot at making the trade up.”
[Related: NFL Draft: Stocks up and down for the Browns at #4]
39 Comments
Is it too late for me to catch RG3 fever?
Just reeks of Tony Grossi.
Aqua Velva and coffee breath?
C’mon now if you think about the sudden interest in trading up to #2 this possibility isn’t outside of the realm of possibilities. It wouldn’t seem to jive with Lerner’s hands-off approach however with all of the public outcries from Browns fans I could see how Lerner might all of a sudden become the owner and dictate something.
Just sign the checks and shut it Randy…
This is a shining example of what we should all be coming to understand this year. Mike Holmgren is clearly not fit for his role as president of the Browns front office. From his delayed firing of Eric Mangini, to his hasteful replacement with Pat Schurmur (Bob LaMonte agent, WCO guy).. Suspicious moves. The RG3 failure, added to the Brad Childress (Bob LaMonte agent, WCO guy) signing. There is a strong case to be made that Holmgren’s actions over the last 3 years are not part of an intelligent plan, but rather signs of incompetence. Chronologically ordered http://www.CleBrownsBlog.com/Mike-Holmgren
OMG, stop the presses, a WCO guy hires other WCO guys. Mind boggling conspiracy in progress.
Throwing money at a problem always works, woohoo.
So, this “rumor” is just second hand acknowledgement of a reporter citing an unnamed source’s theory? Weak.
Florio stinks and I don’t like him.
Holmgren: We’d like to make a run at aqcuiring Robert Griffen III.
Lerner: But why? We already have funding for stadium renovations. Do we really need more legal counsel?
Holmgren: He’s the QB from Baylor.
Lerner: Did he study law there?
Holmgren: No, he’s a football player. Damn good one. Throws footballs.
Lerner: And we need that, don’t we?
Holmgren: Like a vampire needs blood. Thing is, we’d have to outbid Dan Schneider.
Lerner: (checks his wallet) Uh oh.
Holmgren: Relax, it’ll only cost us draft picks.
Lerner: Oh good, we’ve got plenty of those.
Holmgren: More than anybody. Should be a snap. So, you’re on board with this?
Lerner: Sure, whatever you say, big Mike. Go get him.
It’s not about the WCO, and it’s not about a conspiracy. I used to think Mike Holmgren had a smart and patient plan. I was all for it. But it’s year 3 and it’s not too early to evaluate Holmgren. Let’s flip it around. You give me just one reason Holmgren should be commended for a single thing he’s done thus far. Just one single thing.
Holmgren: Well…Mr. Lerner, we got outbid…
Lerner: Damn! Alright…say it was an inside job. That’ll deflect the blame away from you and me.
H: NICE.
Florio is a moronic rumor monger who tries to pass himself off as a reporter. It’s annoying as hell.
FANTASTIC Jim Norton/Opie & Anthony reference.
As do decisions from a man who knows nothing about running a football team, woohoo
what the what?
Ori you are in constant comment on how the lack of FA moves by both the Browns and Indians handcuffs both organizations.
help me help you.
Hired Tom Heckert.
You lose.
Riiiight, because the “experts” have done so swimmingly with the Browns.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, they need to spend SMART money on players. Not just throw money around with a blindfold on. There is a difference. Over paying for Garcon is dumb. Paying something like $2M for Hillis is not.
Thanks pal, knew you had it in you. 😉
I will give you Heckert, even though he hasn’t made a good pick past the 2nd round (unless you’re counting Pinkston). He’s also hired Pat Schurmur and Brad Childress. Trump Cards.
I don’t know if this is true or not but Cleveland deserves some superstars and some winning teams. And when I say deserve I mean the fans have supported the Browns so strongly that we need something in return. I never know what to believe because the Browns have probably hidden agendas and they are giving reporters these little bites to protect themselves if RG3 turns out to he great. Now Lerner has the ability to not be wrong in any scenario. If RG3 is great they can say they went after him and if he is bad we will already be relieved we didn’t waste the picks and they will look like they made right choice. If this is true though why did Lerner hire Holmgren.
Anytime.
Additionally, a roster in need of ‘everything’ per Scouts Inc – see latest WFNY post – is not my idea of a GM’s job well done
So when the experts don’t work lets let someone who knows nothing make the decisions?
I agree with the first part pf your comment. I’m all for patience, but what has Mike Holmgren done to earn our continued patience. I do not see progress. Look around the league, Cleveland’s front office is a laughing stock.
But in the 1st two rounds he’s also picked Joe Haden, TJ Ward, Phil Taylor, Jabaal Sheard, and Montario Hardesty. 4 out of 5 are starters (I count Taylor since we run the 4-3).
I’m not saying Heckert is the end all be all of GM’s, but when was the last time we had a GM here in Cleveland that even made competent 1st round selections, let alone 2nd round (need I point you to the Robo/MoMass debacle of ’09).
A roster in need of everything due to previous GM’s mismanagement.
Tommy boy is in charge of completely rebuilding this team from the ground up.
He was given Joe Thomas and the aging defense constructed by Eric Mangini.
I’d say he’s done a bang up job thus far of drafing solid starters and keeping cap fliexibility while keeping his core “his guys” in tact.
Nope, not the game you asked to play sir.
You said “give me just one reason Holmgren should be commended for a single thing he’s done thus far. Just one single thing.”
I gave you one single thing.
again, you lose.
This “Drafts guys who start” argument with Heckert is laughable. Of course they should start! The team is horrific.
Heckert gets a C- from me right now (and I’m in a pretty good mood right now so I won’t drop it down to a D+ for the Hardesty debacle).
Joe Haden, Phil Taylor, TJ Ward and Jabaal Sheard would be starting on any other NFL team in need of those positions.
Good thing your “grade” means nothing in terms of the actual NFL and its talent evaluation.
I think Holmgren is terrible in the front office. Where did I say I liked Holmgren. The only thing that Holmgren has done was hire Shurmur which was a joke, draft Colt McCoy who has a weak arm, and get Childress to come who is not as good as people think running an offense. I’m just confused on why he hired him to begin with. I thought hiring Holmgren was going to get a Gruden to come here to coach or something big like that but obviously I was way off on Holmgren’s influence over the league.
Despite my apologist nature I really do have reservations about Holmgren, specifically moving so slowly on moves like firing Mangini, when he said one mistake he made in Seattle was moving too slowly on similar moves. That being said, I believe there is so much more to this organization being broken. Do you remember the Dawn Aponte, Mangini, Kokinis mess. Where the salary cap expert was abruptly fired for reasons unknown to us. Or John Collins and Phil Savage getting into a pissing match that caused Collins to move elsewhere in Lerners buisness? Holmgren has been charged with fixing the entire organization, which I take to mean restructing everything from the secretary pool to the guy who organizes travel. And that is before he tackles the monumental job of fixing a crappy team. I’m just saying I think when we say rebuilding and just look at the garbage on the field we are being too narrow minded. And again, I’m not saying Holmgren is doing a masterful job at this, just that his plate has more on it than most anyone give shim credit for.
I love Sheard and I like Haden. I was expecting Haden to take a slightly bigger step last forward last season, though. I don’t have enough on Ward and I don’t know what to think of Taylor.
I know it’s tough for Lerner but what makes me question him is I don’t think he treats being an owner in the nfl the way it should be treated. It’s such a privilege to represent such a great fan base in an area where people know a lot about football. Everything Lerner does with the Browns seems like such a burden to him and there is no excitement or pride and no desire to want to win a championship. I just don’t think he is that competitive of a person and unfortunately had everything handed to him so he just goes about knowing the fans will show up no matter how he runs it so he will just milk this until the nfl decides to do something because they are running one of their franchises in such disarray. His full name is Randolf so I can picture him acting like those 2 old guys from the movie “Trading Places” with Eddie Murphy.
I can agree that both Ward and Taylor are far from being “star” players.
Both seem to pass the “eye test” so far and would be starting on other NFL teams.
In regards to Haden I expected a big year from him last season as well.
I think the lack of a hard nose safety hurt Joe in that he was basically responsible for each team’s number one with very little help over the top.
I agree, I hear people tell us how he cares, and wants the Browns to win badly. But if you can’t go to the owners meetings??? Not because there is any particular information he could gleam from them. But he has to know his fanbase feels he is detached and uninteresed in the team. His reaction to this is to blow off a chance to prove his dedication. He and Larry Dolan are alot alike in the sense that they are so rich they have no concept of what life is like for the people that generate their profit, they just assume we exist to make their life easier.
Dolan refuses to spend the money out of his own pocket for a hitter equivalent to what a middle class person spends for a season ticket, because on some level he feels entitled to “more”.
Lerner refuses to do anything but the most base gestures to show his fanbase he cares because nothing more has ever been asked of him.
What team has had a better draft than us over the past two years? Keep in mind we traded down last year to supplant this years draft.
Every team will have hits and misses. The fact that you can give Heckert a C- shows that you expect perfection, in which case I suggest you go play Madden because it isn’t happening here in the real world.