Tribe First Cuts: White, De La Cruz Among Them
March 15, 2010Attention Night Owls, Early Risers, West Coasters and Insomniacs
March 15, 2010For the first time since completely revamping the quarterback position for the 2010 Cleveland Browns, team president Mike Holmgren and head coach Eric Mangini met with the media to discuss future of the organization.
Holmgren joked as he opened up the press conference by saying general manger Tom Heckert made all of the moves, but he was “on the road” and would not be able to answer questions.
Within the past week, the Browns have released Pro Bowl (alternate) quarterback Derek Anderson, traded for Seneca Wallace, traded quarterback Brady Quinn, and traded linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.
“I think [the quarterback position] has been the one area that we have spent the most time on since we have been here as a group,” said Holmgren. “I think we all came to the conclusion that we could not go into this season the same way we went into last season, and that’s difficult for everybody.”
Looking to get the Browns back on track, the last bout of transactions is the most action that Browns fans have seen in quite some time. The team recently gave second-round tenders to several restricted free agents.
Holmgren called Jake Delhomme a “great leader” and a “charismatic guy.” Once the team became aware that they could sign him, both men stated that the dynamic (or “landscape”) of the quarterback position had changed. The newly acquired team president labeled the team as being fortunate to have the chance to sign someone like Delhomme as well as add a talent like Seneca Wallace.
“This team needs an aging veteran who’s going to grab everybody by the throat and say follow me through that door,” exclaimed Holmgren.
Head coach Eric Mangini has had the opportunity to coach Jake Delhomme in the past. In regard to when the team will determine who will be starter, Holmgren said that it would be up to his staff. Holmgren discussed his history with Wallace and shot down the notion that a “career back-up” will only be a back-up in the future.
“There’s going to be a heck of a competition at quarterback with the guys we have now,” said Holmgren. “Seneca Wallace will come in and compete like crazy. There will [also] be a lot of things you will like about Jake [Delhomme].”
Both Holmgren and Mangini discussed the fact that the team is not done making moves. Being one of the more active teams this off-season, Holmgren reiterated that he has been active on the phones with several teams with regard to several players.
“Because of the moves we made now, it doesn’t preclude us from doing stuff,” Holmgren said. “We have a draft coming up.”
Coach Mangini applauded Brady Quinn’s work ethic and discussed the importance of getting a fresh start with a new team. Both individuals understood what Quinn meant to the Browns fans and how many wanted him to get the chance to succeed. However, once the team was able to add Jake Delhomme, the team felt it would be best to trade Quinn sooner than later in fairness to the player and what distractions would surround him with four quarterbacks on the roster.
“We wish [Brady Quinn] well, and I suspect he will do well,” said Holmgren.
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Joshua Gunter/Cleveland Plain Dealer
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34 Comments
Holmgren looks like the dancing gopher from Caddyshack. There. I said it.
Really. It’s stunning:
“We wish [Brady Quinn] well, and I suspect he will do well,” said Holmgren.
No, you don’t. If you did you would keep him. But I suppose you can’t say “We wish Brady well, we have a feeling he’s going to spend his career carrying a clipboard, but good luck anyway.”
lol @ denny
@ Rick – they didn’t say WHAT he would be doing well. In fact, I’d venture a guess they were referring to his clip-board abilities.
oh wow he DOES look like the “I’m alright” gopher!
Holmgren is going to be very surprised to find out that Heckert traded “that guy with the huge guns.”
rimshots to denny and rick
@Denny – funny, my first thought upon seeing that picture was that Holmgren looked like Homer Simpson opening a box of donuts: “oooooooooo, sprinkles!”.
Just got done watching the presser. Refreshing. It was downright uncomfortable to watch a Mangini press conference last year.
Who are the reporters there? Grossi, Mary Kay, who else? Almost an hour of questions and that was the best they could come up with? WFNY has better insight on a daily basis. Do these people really get paid?
I hate when teams trade/release a player and say that they will “do well”. If that were the case then they wouldn’t get rid of them. Unless it’s a $$$ move then just say we wish them the best and move on!
I personally always thought he looked like a Walrus.
At least we’re not taking ads in Denver thanking Quinn for his toughness, leadership, etc like some teams out there.
“This team needs an aging veteran who’s going to grab everybody by the throat and say follow me through that door”
Maybe that’s what got Quinn punched in the face. Thank god Smith isn’t here to do it to Delhomme.
“This team needs an aging veteran who’s going to grab everybody by the throat and say follow me through that door.”
Woody Hayes
Bobby Knight
Burt Reynolds
Holmgren is straightforward you have to give him that and he said Quinn got a raw deal. He also said what would be expected but I get a kick out of Mangini being at all of these things now and doing his “coach speak.” Btw Mangini will be on “More Sports and Les Levine” tomorrow at 6 PM ET with Terry Pluto.
Holmgren on Quinn, multiple choice:
a. It’s not you, it’s me.
b. See you in hell.
c. While you certainly have an impressive resume and are a highly desirable candidate, we don’t presently have a position available for someone with your unique set of skills.
d. We wish [Brady Quinn] well, and I suspect he will do well
There’s a fine line between “a heck of a quarterback competition” and a “quarterback controversy”. I have a feeling he was only paying Wallace a little bit of lip-service.
Denny really needs to copyright his pictures and call them Denny’s Pictures. The team is clearly going to draft a QB somewhere in the draft now.
Any news on the possibility of us getting McCoy? I think he’d work well for us. What could go wrong?
Does The Big Show realize that “Browns Fan” is going to chew up and spit out this glass-jawed skirt Jake Delhomme? This hick won’t know what hits him after one of his patented 4 INT games on the lakefront. This is gonna get nasty. Delhomme could wear #19 and it wouldn’t make a difference.
Mike Holmgren, Andy Reid, and Walter Brimley are all the same person.
*Wilford not Walter
The team is clearly going to draft a QB somewhere in the draft now. Delhomme isn’t the long term QB, don’t get fooled.
Denny, you are not getting enough love for the hilarity of that side-by-side. Look at the hand positions, the body angle.
Fantastic.
Stunning.
A tour de force.
Anyone else think they specifically are trying to NOT have a great QB this season while they continue to build the defense, line, and running game, with an experienced QB like Delhomme (who was never a particularly wow passer anyway) a good person to help them do that? Then, once those pieces are set, they can still go into next year with a high draft pick and a lot of cash to get a top QB that would slide into that spot, and Delhomme can be the “teacher” or model for the rookie.
@22
I think we plan to do that this year as far as the QB part goes
@22 I think that’s exactly what they’re planning and I’ve been calling for it. I was thinking that we would keep Quinn let him be mediocre for a few years while we build the rest of the team. Then draft the next QB of the future.
David “Jake” Dellucci is just the aging veteran the Browns need.
I didn’t even know he played football!
Ya I think they will get a QB I posted it three times now.
@JM: Do you think we’ll draft a QB? I do.
As long as the Browns don’t use that 1st rounder on another QB sounds like a plan to me. It would be refreshing and quite the change of pace for them to select a lesser known QB like many of you said and attempt to “coach him up” the major problem with this idea is who is going to do the coaching? I think it’s clear it can’t be Brian Daboll so unless Holmgren decides to come out of the ivory tower and start coaching, sooner then later, I don’t know what to think.
I hope they do go after a QB as long as they wait til after the 1st round.
I think Ezzie is right, we’re gonna take our 20 or so draft picks finally add depth and go into this season expecting to play like the Jets last year where they ran the ball 600 times in a season and let their defense wins games.
Then we will draft Case Keenum next year, CASE CLOSED.
The “Holmgren looks like the dancing gopher from Caddy shack”, is Epic! I really like the added – “There. I said it, really, It’s stunning” statement afterward, awesome, simply awesome.
Welcome to Cleveland Holmgren, We are happy you are here!
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