While We’re Waiting… Suns Minus Shaq, Mangini’s Timing, and Ndesiring Ndomukong
December 15, 2009Phillies Looking to Trade Cliff Lee for Roy Halladay
December 15, 2009As the quest for a Football Czar continues for the Cleveland Browns, we have confirmation early this morning that potential President/GM Mike Holmgren was in Cleveland last night to meet with owner Randy Lerner. I say “confirmation” as we were sent an email stating just that as the two individuals were spotted at Fahrenheit restaurant in the Tremont area of Cleveland, though we could not confirm said report at that time.
We were told that the two individuals had dinner in what was a fairly empty dining area and then allegedly went upstairs into an office of some sort, apparently for Lerner to give his best efforts at wooing Holmgren out to the Midwest. WKNR’s Tony Rizzo reported this morning that he received a handful of similar emails and texts, though he could not announce the name of the actual location – followed by their patented “no names, please.”
Regardless, the WFNY paparazzi was in full effect last night and thankfully, it was to spread some good news. While many outlets are reporting that Lerner is having the proverbial door slammed in his face, the fact that Holmgren came to Cleveland instead of Lerner having to fly out to Seattle speaks volumes. In addition, The OBR continues to report that Lerner continues to be in contact with other high profile names like Bill Cowher on “more than one occasion.”
So while it may appear on the outside that the search for a “strong, credible, serious leader” has slowed to a halt due to a lack of reported updates, the truth may actually be the exact opposite. Following a weekend where the Browns topped the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aston Villa beat Manchester United, this could in fact be the best week in quite some time for Lerner as it is topped off by a sought after football mind coming to Cleveland to spend some time, discuss the future, and have some excellent food. Let’s just hope that the trip wasn’t solely for the third portion of said trifecta.
30 Comments
I really like the thought of Bill Cowher being the head coach. Is that more likely to happen with Holmgren calling the shots or if the latest rumor I read happens; the Steelers GM going to Cleveland, hiring Cowher, giving Cowher a lot of power? A Holmgren/Cowher combination? I don’t think Cleveland is that lucky.
If Lerner really wanted to sell Holmgren on coming to Cleveland, he should have taken him to Brasa. You know that menu would appeal to Holmgren.
Any confirmation that Mangini was outside on the sidewalk with his face pressed against the window?
People who say that the Cleveland GM job is somehow undesirable and that no experienced football exec would want it have no idea what they are talking about. It’s a great job. The owner’s got money up the wazz and the Browns are adored by fans despite everything.
All those people claiming the door is getting slammed in Lerner’s face are silly. This is the same sport where Bill Parcells went to Miami. The NFL is a league where teams can be improved through shrewd acquisitions and drafting. All these guys have big egos and think they can win anywhere. Plus, Lerner’s checks cash at the bank. Just ask Phil Savage.
Bill Cowher will never happen … it’s been said that he has too much respect for the Rooney’s to coach for a team in the division.
News tomorrow: “Mike Homlgren named GM of Aston Villa”.
HAHAHA EZ!
@ Titus – I think he could’ve taken Holmgren to McDonald’s and super sized it and it wouldn’t have affected his decision. Boy looks like he likes to eat.
EZ – Thanks for the morning laugh! That was a good one.
@ Titus Pollo
…No, but Mangini wanted to. Instead he had his tongue stuck to a flagpole in a schoolyard.
Seriously, though, the Cleveland GM job can be a sweet gig. You have an owner who has money and is willing to spend it and, unlike Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder, actually leaves you alone to do the job.
Sorry guys, I don’t have a telescoping lens strong enough to see Tremont from Capitol Hill. Something about trees in the way and the curve of the earth.
Hopefully I get one of those lenses for Christmas and will be a more effective WFNY paparazzo.
ESPN is reporting that Holmgren is meeting with us today again…keep your fingers crossed!
Would love Holmgren, but gotta believe he needs at least one “serious” interview elsewhere to leverage his contract figure in Seattle. Hope I’m wrong.
@ Istavole13
So is S.I.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/12/15/browns.ap/
@EZ – giggles.
Please give us some Holmgren.
Gotta undermine Craig a little though. I know this is the league where Parcells went to Miami. But c’mon 1) It’s Miami; beautiful place to go as you get older 2) Parcells lives in Miami anyway 3) Parcells was buddies with Wayne…like actually really good pals 4) Parcells had 3 boats in Miami before the move as well.
I don’t think we can offer such amenities to any of the big names out there. We can offer tradition and some cash, but not those geographic/relationship intangibles.
That being said, I agree with MrCleaveland, I don’t think it’s an undesirable undertaking.
@MrCleaveland, have you met Fern yet?
The benefit to coming to Cleveland over Seattle, from what I’m hearing from my Seahawk Brother In Law, is that in Cleveland he would likely be President and GM and have pretty much full control of the team. The Seahawks apparently are balking at giving Holmgren that much power, so we apparently have an edge there.
We don’t need fancy restaurants to lure Holmgren…we just need a big bucket.
On a side note, if he does get hired I can see the following taking place.
Holmgren gives Mangini one more year as Head Coach, with the stipulation he fires Dabol. If he sucks it up next year and does not show any improvement…here comes his best pal, and life long Browns fan, Chucky.
All i want for Christmas is Holmgren and Gruden
@Corey- Agreed
Per ESPN….
“….Sources tell ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that Holmgren is hoping to have his future clarified and secured by Christmas. He recently returned from a nine-day vacation to Mexico with his wife, Kathy, where the couple was believed to have discussed his potential options…..”
Options? Yeah, right….
“Mai Tai or Margarita, dear?”
“OOOh, Mikey, you’re not seriously thinking about Cleveland are you?”
“No way Kathy-poo. Not enough Starbucks.”
“Good….I hate sluch. Mmmmm….shrimp or lobster?”
Yeah, options….
If Holmgren leaves today without a deal, i seriously doubt it will happen.
Agree with Harv that it’s just posturing by Holmgren to drive up the price with Seattle. But we can dream, can’t we?
Interesting insight on Holmgren: in an interview about the Seattle position Holmgren said of Mora, “The second thing is, I think having one year under your belt and then not being able to continue is kind of unfair.”
Who doesn’t want the Rob Schneider from Deuce Bigalow as the czar of the browns?
Who doesn’t want Rob Schneider’s dad from Deuce Bigalow as the czar of the Browns?
Imagine having the word czar on your business card. How sweet would that be?
I think the word ‘Tsar’ would be much better.
we have 11 picks this year and maybe more.We need a prez/gm to make the rt pick and it has 2 be MICK HOLGREN.
OOPS THATS MIKE HOLMGREN. AND WOULD JG REALLY COME 2 CLE?
[…] deal may be a cause for concern. As mentioned yesterday, getting him to come out to Cleveland was a giant step in the right direction for Lerner. There is apparently legitimate interest on Holmgren’s end given that he was […]