DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Ruskell resignation coming Thursday morning

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The Seattle Seahawks have made the unusual move of announcing a 10 a.m. press conference Thursday, with Tim Ruskell expected to step down as the team's general manager.

Mike Sando of espn.com is reporting that Ruskell asked ownership for answers about his future with the team and didn't receive a positive response, leading to his decision to resign.

Team officials haven't returned phone calls, but the public relations staff sent out a one-sentence statement to media late Wednesday night informing reporters of an impending press conference.

Ruskell is in the final year of his contract with the Seahawks and Pro Football Weekly reported Sunday night that its sources indicated he'd already been informed that he would be let go at the end of the season.

Ruskell has not been available to the media, but was at the Seahawks practice on Wednesday watching the team work out in its Virginia Mason Athletic Center indoor facility.

Ruskell is in his fifth season as president of football operations and general manager of the franchise. In his first year, the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl and qualified for the playoffs in 2006 and '07 as well, but things have not gone nearly as well the past two years.

The team went 4-12 last year and is off to a 4-7 start this season under head coach Jim Mora, who worked with Ruskell previously in Atlanta and was brought to Seattle as the heir apparent to Mike Holmgren.

Holmgren's name has already risen to the forefront as the logical successor to Ruskell as he seeks to return to the NFL after taking a one-year hiatus.

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Seattle Post Intelligencer

This probably decreases our chances of getting Holmgren.

This will basically just become a 2nd Holmgren thread. Although, the original one has become the 'Value of the Browns / Should Randy Give up a Piece of the Team?' thread.

I think our only hope is that Holmgren is attracted to the Browns as a bigger challenge, in a tough, blue collar division and takes the more powerful czar position which, I'm assuming, will pay more than the Seahawks GM position.

So the Seahawks GM will be paid more than our Czar?

And I seriously doubt weather is going to influence the decision much.

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My personal feeling about it... our chances of landing this guy just dropped below 10% if Ruskell is indeed resigning.

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flap...I agree...UNLESS...Lerner offers something Paul Allen is not.

Browno...the "title" you give to the job opening is meanless...if both Allen and Lerner want Holgren, they will give him whatever title he wants.

Ruskell's resignation, at this time, doesn't necessarily mean that something is in the works with Holmgren. It probably was just a coincidence that it happened at this time.

Dan Rooney was right when he wrote the Seahawk fan and said that all the calls in the SuperBowl were correct.

Printing money, with nothing to back it up, IS a great way to fix the economy.

Fairies are real.

I said it when Holmgren's name first came up... he's the next Seahawks GM. WHY would he choose us over them? Why? Pure financials? I don't think so. It was an open secret that Ruskell was gone after this year. The most logical person for the job is Holmgren. He's have to really want to change and take on a SERIOUS challange to want to come to Cleveland.

Seattle forced Holmgren out of the GM spot for Ruskell
Seattle forced Holmgren out of the HC spot for Mora
Seattle forced Ruskell out of the GM spot for Holmgren?

seriously, for a guy they keep forcing out....they are going to bring him back in? and everyone is fine with this?

i understand that Holmgren may love Seattle and may want to remain there....but it has to at least bruise his ego a little bit how everything played out there.

plus, if he isn't successful in Seattle this time as GM....it tarnishes what he's done since he's been there.......Cleveland would be a fresh start and a legacy builder (not that Holmgren really needs it at this point).

basically, we can still hold out hope if we want to

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basically, we can still hold out hope if we want to

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I have been listening to the Seahawks/Ruskell news conference, it appears that a decision on Holmgren could continue for a period of weeks as the Seahawks say they will search for Ruskell's replacement.

In short, nothing on Holmgren committing to Seattle today.

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In short, nothing on Holmgren committing to Seattle today.

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Holmgren has been saying he won't make any decisions until the end of the season.... perhaps,, he's a man of his word? we'll see I guess.

Also, the last I read on the subject, Holmgren was still trying to determne if he wanted to come back as a HC or GM/VP/Pres or as we would call it here, Czar..

Has anyone seen anything where he's made up his mind yet about the position he wants?

While I am still young, and really wasn't following the Browns that closely at the time, what was the Big Deal with Carmen Policy?

He was the CEO and President of the Browns while Al Lerner owned the team, but how is that being compared to the Czar Position that the Browns hopes to fill?

Also, reading his Wiki Page, about the 4 Super Bowls, he was the President of the 49er's during that 17 Year Span (I Think That was how long it was). I just don't see the comparison.

Hope is free. I can afford it. Have a bunch left over from this season, so what is a tad more disappointment.
Maybe coaching is a possibility?

Ruskell resigns as president, GM
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ESPN.com news services

RENTON, Wash. -- Tim Ruskell has resigned as president and general manager of the Seattle Seahawks.

Ruskell announced his resignation Thursday, weeks before his five-year contract with the team ends.
NFC West blog

Sando ESPN.com's Mike Sando writes about all things NFC West in his division blog.

• Blog network: NFL Nation

"Obviously there's great sadness today but I will leave here with great memories of this place and the people. It's been the people for me," Ruskell said during a news conference.

The Seahawks have hired New York search firm Spencer Stuart to help in their search for a new president or general manager, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The search firm is expected to commence its work right away, if it hasn't already.

The fact that the Seahawks have hired a search firm is a sign that perhaps former coach and GM Mike Holmgren is not the favorite that many around the league thought he would be. It will be up to Spencer Stuart to identify candidates and help the Seahawks hire the most qualified one.

And it also must consider that the Rooney Rule now applies to senior front-office positions, just as it does for head-coaching ones. In a rule announced last spring, NFL teams must now interview a minority candidate, just as they must for a head-coaching position, when they are filling the franchise's most senior football personnel position.

The team's ownership gave Ruskell full authority to shape the franchise soon after he arrived before the 2005 season. Seattle made its only Super Bowl that season.

Since then, he has presided over decisions including failed top draft choices, expensive free-agent busts -- and the awkward ouster of Holmgren at the end of his contract this past January.

Ruskell brought in his own coach for 2009, Jim Mora. The 4-7 Seahawks are on their way to a second straight season without a playoff berth. Last season they finished 4-12, their worst record since 1991.

"It didn't happen quickly enough, but it wasn't because we didn't do it right," Ruskell said.

"When you're rebuilding a pro franchise, the last thing to come is the wins," he added.

Seahawks vice president for player personnel Ruston Webster will serve as interim general manager.

Ruskell arrived in February 2005 as a veteran of 20 years in scouting following a stint in Atlanta as the assistant GM, when Mora was the Falcons' coach. Ruskell presided over three consecutive NFC West titles to begin his Seattle tenure, including that Super Bowl season of 2005 when he overhauled the defense and scored a major coup in drafting overlooked linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

But the Seahawks have regressed since then.

Ruskell was part of the decision that allowed perennial Pro Bowl offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson to leave for the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent soon after the 2006 Super Bowl; Seattle's line hasn't been the same since.

Ruskell signed running back Shaun Alexander to a $62 million, eight-year contract with $15.1 million guaranteed even though Alexander was about to turn 30 -- an age at which most running backs begin to decline. Just over two years and several injuries later, Alexander was released.

To replace him, Ruskell spent millions on veteran running backs Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett and Edgerrin James. Jones is fighting for his job with emerging Justin Forsett, a seventh-round draft choice in 2008 who the Seahawks cut last year and then brought back. Duckett and James were released this season.

Seattle is 29th in the league in rushing. It has twice set franchise lows for yards rushing in a game, more recently two weeks ago when the Seahawks managed just 4 yards on 13 carries at Minnesota.

Ruskell traded a first-round draft choice to New England in 2006 for wide receiver Deion Branch, then gave the former Super Bowl MVP a $39 million contract with $13 million guaranteed. Branch has had seasons with 53, 49, 30 and now 26 catches -- plus two knee surgeries, including a reconstructive surgery.

Ruskell's No. 1 draft choices have been: injury-prone center Chris Spencer; undersized and periodically benched cornerback Kelly Jennings; cornerback Josh Wilson, who recently reclaimed his starting job; defensive end Lawrence Jackson, a disappointment in his rookie season last year; and outside linebacker Aaron Curry.

Curry, the fourth overall pick who the Seahawks signed to a $34 million guarantee this summer, has great potential but recently had his workload scaled back because coaches thought he was getting overwhelmed.

Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and The Associated Press w

This is the part that caught my eye. It would seem there is a good possibility that the Seahawks aren't interested in Holmgren.


The Seahawks have hired New York search firm Spencer Stuart to help in their search for a new president or general manager, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The search firm is expected to commence its work right away, if it hasn't already. The fact that the Seahawks have hired a search firm is a sign that perhaps former coach and GM Mike Holmgren is not the favorite that many around the league thought he would be. It will be up to Spencer Stuart to identify candidates and help the Seahawks hire the most qualified one.

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The Seahawks have hired New York search firm Spencer Stuart to help in their search for a new president or general manager, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

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Having been in the Exec Search business a while back in my career, there are more than the obvious reasons to hire a search firm.

Costs vary from firm to firm, but 20 years ago, we charged a 1/3 upon engagment, another 1/3 upon surfaceing candidates the client agrees to interview and another 1/3 at the end. Oh,, all of that plus expenses.. the total fee would end up being 30% of the starting salary...You can do the math from there,. So it can get to be a substantial amount,, but not prohibitive for a guy like Paul Allen..

Of course the primary reason to engage a search firm is to surface applicable candidates., qualify them, research thier backgrounds (don't want any body that would embarrass the team)

But if the client has a candidate in his sights, just to be sure, they may want a search firm to do a deep search or maybe even just touch the surface before you make the offer to your pocket guy....

There is also using the search firm to get candidates for you to interview.. just to pick thier brains. (not sure how well this would work for an NFL job.. everybody knows everybody and its really a small circle)

While I lean towards this being a good thing for us, its by no means a prayer answered..... YET!

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Randy's father Al, used a stake in the Browns to get the man he wanted to run the Browns when they returned to the NFL in 99, This franchise already has a precedent of using minority ownership to secure the services of the best management available.

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Hang in there mac. Don't give up, you never do. This statement you just made was explained to you in the other thread; ad infinitum. Moving it over here doesn't alter the facts nor lend any more credence to it than it did over there. The facts are not forgotten.

Once in a while we have to just let it go. Give it up. Realize when we're off base and gracefully back away. Laugh at ourselves if it comes down to it, (and it has). It takes a big man to do that. It also garners respect instead of ridicule.

Before you ask me too: A winning Browns team will, in fact, be more valuable than a losing one.

Now lets do something besides your idea to get a proven winner in here and see if he can build us into a winner. Your idea is too much like paying for sex.

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The team's ownership gave Ruskell full authority to shape the franchise soon after he arrived before the 2005 season. Seattle made its only Super Bowl that season.

Since then, he has presided over decisions including failed top draft choices, expensive free-agent busts -- and the awkward ouster of Holmgren at the end of his contract this past January.

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So basically he took Holmgren's team and got credit for putting them in the Super Bowl and then proceeded to screw the whole thing up.

It's beginning to make me think that a return of Holmgren to Seattle would be a lot like Seattle admitting a mistake in the first place on the Holmgren decision so it would seem unlikely they would bring him back in.

It would be a little bit like bringing back Savage and RAC to the Browns after Mangini totally ruined the franchise when it was better when Savage and RAC was here.

Bad analogy but similar.

in the end, we all pay for it......

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Before you ask me too: A winning Browns team will, in fact, be more valuable than a losing one.

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Right about now, I need something clever to say,,,

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Your idea is too much like paying for sex.

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Damn, you beat me to it

Anyone else afraid Junior will see Ruskell on the market and think to himself...

"Superbowl on his resume as a GM...OMGZ...he's pr0v3n!!!!!! Let's hire him!!!!!!!!!"??????

A cold shiver just went up my spine thinking about that...

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Anyone else afraid Junior will see Ruskell on the market and think to himself...

"Superbowl on his resume as a GM...OMGZ...he's pr0v3n!!!!!! Let's hire him!!!!!!!!!"??????

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Not the least bit worried about it.. not even a little.. cause if that happens,, I'll just shoot myself

There's a FUNDAMENTAL difference in FORMING a partnership and GIVING UP a stake in the team.

TOAD...I fail to see the difference your claiming above...Did Al Lerner give up a stake in the team if Policy would take the job of "Browns team president"?

Al Lerner offered Policy 10% of the team if Policy would take the position of "Browns team president" ...if Lerner was awarded the team. Policy joined the already formed Lerner group, which included Cleveland's Mayor White and Bernie Kosar.

web page When Lerner offered last week to make Policy the Cleveland president and a 10% owner if Lerner is awarded the team, Policy said yes.

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Toad...Al Lerner gave Policy 10% to be the Browns manager...
.........I want Randy Lerner to offer Holmgren a minority stake if he will become the Browns Czar..

I fail to see any difference at all...

Randy's father already set the NFL precedent when he did the deal with Policy. If Randy would do such a deal, he would be using a tactic his father used to get the man he wanted to run his team.

...and it does not matter if it Al Lerner's deal with Policy worked out or not...it was about getting the person you want, to run your franchise...NOTHING MORE!

Furthermore, bringing Policy aboard was ALSO a move designed to influence the NFL into giving Lerner's group the team over groups created by guys like Jim Brown and Don Shula.

...again, the deal was, Policy would be the "Browns team manager" in exchange for 10% of the franchise. Policy did add creditability to the group, without a doubt. He was one the most successful front office managers in the NFL at that time.

Did Lerner's move to add Policy to his group influence the NFL owners? ....If it did, it would have to be seen as a good move by Al Lerner, because won the bid. BU, according to the SI article, the major difference maker was going to the size of the bid for the franchise. Who got the franchise was going to come down to "money". Al Lerner was the wealthiest bidder..he was the CEO of a $65 billion company, MBNA credit card company.

From the SI article (above), Jerry Jones says...

The decision, which will be made by a vote among the 30 league owners, is likely to come down to money, an astounding amount of money. According to Cowboys owner Jones, the price tag on the recent Minnesota Vikings sale, when tax breaks and debt forgiveness are factored in, was approximately $325 million. Jones says the Browns, with a new lakefront stadium as a huge revenue source, can expect to earn "$50 to $75 million a year more than the Vikings.

When they did it many people from around the league laughed at them, saying their claims that they were the front-runners were BS, and that they didn't have a 50-50 shot at it. Those people included the likes of Jerry Jones

...I'm not sure where your getting the above info from, but according to the SI article Jerry Jones said the following..SI link above...

I'm sick of reading that the Browns will sell for $300 million—that's incredibly low. In my estimation, the price will be in the high hundreds of millions, between $700 million and $900 million."
While conceding that Lerner could afford to pay that much for the franchise, Jones couldn't resist taking a gentle dig at would-be part owner Policy, who, it seems, will not be able to escape his history with DeBartolo as easily as he fled San Francisco. "I don't begrudge Carmen for hooking up with somebody who might make a great owner," Jones said. "It would be a good experience for him to make some of the decisions he has made in the past, while at the same time having to pay the bills."

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Toad...no evidence of the NFL laughing at Lerner or his group...the article even says Lerner's group was a front runner, mainly due to Al being the richest of all the bidders..."if" anyone did laugh at Al Lerner, they probably were not laughing after Al Lerner was awarded the franchise for a bid of $530 million. Also, here in Ohio, we don't give a damn if Jerry Jones likes something or wants to laugh...Al Lerner got his franchise and he got his man, Carmen Policy.

Besides, do you REALLY think Lerner would go that route again, knowing how much of a disaster Policy was when he was here?

...It's not about the job Policy did...it's about an owner getting the guy he wants to run his franchise. Policy was seen as one of the best at his job when Al Lerner hired him to run the Browns. Holmgren is seen as the best available manager today. The cream of the crop are in high demand and the NFL is full of owners with deep pockets. My idea is to use the same tactic Randy's father used, to get the guy Randy wants to run his team.

IMO, it comes down to how badly does Randy Lerner wants to turn his franchise into a winner?

Nothing in business is a sure thing and nothing is without risk..that is a given and I'm sure Randy understands that.

Understand this: Randy Lerner BOUGHT BACK the ten percent stake Policy had. You think he's going to give that up?

SO, he bought back Policy's shares?...it was probably written into the contract that the majority owner had the right to buy back Policy's share.

Randy's father used minority team ownership to get Policy to sign a contract to run his team...

Where does it say that Randy can't use the same tactic (his father used) to get his man?

What you're calling "precedent" is really just a failed attempt at spin, not your strong suit, Mac *L*

...No toad, it's not spin....IT'S A FACT...Al Lerner used the lure of minority ownership to get Policy to sign a contract to manage his team...thus he set a "precedent" for this franchise, for the Lerner family, for the NFL...that is not spin, bub!

Toad and the rest of you are more interested in Randy maintaining 100% of the worst franchise in the NFL...some "seem" to enjoy being a fan of a losing franchise...I don't...
...some "seem" to put business ahead of winning (even though I have shown a winning franchise is worth more than this loser)...I don't...

...It is not in my makeup to accept losing....I'm not wired that way..my brain says, how does Lerner fix this mess...if I were Randy Lerner, I would do it in a heartbeat, if that is what it took to secure the services of the best available manager in the NFL.

...but hey...that's just me...I follow no one...I have my own ideas...no one has ever accused me of thinking in the box...for that, I apologize to no one!...jmho...mac

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TOAD...I fail to see the difference your claiming above

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Yes... we know.....

Ddubia, don't you and D-shot go driving the price up in town; buy it all you want, but I am saving up for PSL's (there may be a few open up after this campaign ). Loletc.

Mac...excellent job and quite frankly you tooled the Toad, a hard thing to do regarding his Internet prowess. Of course the fact that I agreed with you 100% prior to your argument has nothing to do with my claim of your victory..

Again I see a precedent having been done and with the Lerner family no less. A prenupt can be written in as was with Policy and Randy forced a sooner retirement for Carmen utilizing the Pre-Nupt. Where yes if and when the Contract between the Czar and Randy runs out of gas and said party wishes to retire or we wish to hasten said retirement. Randy gets complete control of the stock in a buy out form.

As stated 95% of a lot more makes Randy richer in a business venture than 100% of a lot less. And remember the operation cost is not going to go up...so that most of the INCREASES (cause things would go through the roof if we became perrenial competitors for the Championship) would be pure PROFIT!!!

So it would be a very intelligent BUSINESS MOVE by Randy. And I'm not saying to use it on somebody like Casserly (who I wouldn't mind shopping for our groceries out of the lesser knowns) - I'm saying to use if one ONE of THREE,
Parcells, Holmgren n Shanahan/Cowher (as those two don't seem to be in the running right now so I count them as ONE...hey authors privy

So I won't go into the insults bestowed upon me in the closed thread...hate when I can't answer such claims. But MAC...pretty much did so for me.

Thanks Mac and I don't see how anyone can formulate a counter argument.

Oh funniest line in all of this? "What you're calling "precedent" is really just a failed attempt at spin" You didn't really say that Toad...the Spinmaster himself

Actually what Mac called "PRECEDENT" is exactly that and he pretty much spelled it out. I think you owe him an apology on that one. But I ain't going to hold my breath

JMHO

I think that is just semantics. I stick by my original post, though I'll add 'IMO'

Ruskell just happens to be the guy they hired at GM, which makes him the guy they forced Holmgren out for.

I don't think Holmgren 'decided' to retire. His wife had to plan a trip out of the country week1 this year because she knew he was going to be hurting too much not being on a sideline ( http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/09/20/mmqb/5.html ).

I don't think Ruskell just 'decided' to resign a year early. NFL GM's just don't walk away unless they are given a good push (or they are truly at their retirement point, which Ruskell is not).

again....that is my interpretation of things.....and your intepretation could be true also.

I can't argue with you on some of the semantics pieces you mention.

As per Ruskell resigning a year early, 2009 was his last year, so it was really only a few weeks early. I'd bet (just a guess) that he was told that he would not be retained after this season and was given the option to leave early if he wanted (likely so they could pursue Holmgren) with pay.

ok, thought Ruskell still had a year left...thanks

Seahawks have changed direction, but not toward Holmgren

By ART THIEL
SPECIAL TO SEATTLEPI.COM

RENTON -- After the shudder faded from an abrupt, midseason course correction freakish for this franchise, two remarks from CEO Tod Leiweke stood out regarding the future of the Seahawks:


"One of the accomplishments" of Tim Ruskell was that he "recruited Jim Mora here. I believe that Jim is a very fine coach."


"We're going to find somebody who . . . we're not going to join them, they're going to join us."

Which is saying, without saying so, that former coach Mike Holmgren is unlikely to return as poobah/potentate/majordomo of the franchise that Thursday jettisoned the president who helped usher out Holmgren.

Another matter that discourages a return is a belief around the VMAC offices that someone close to Holmgren leaked to media the idea last week that Ruskell already had been told he wasn't coming back after this season, causing a panicked Ruskell to force a decision now that Leiweke didn't want to consider until the season ended in a month.

If you saw the wet eyes and heard the quavering voice as Leiweke cut loose a personal friend and respected colleague in the middle of a work week in the middle of an already disappointing season, it wasn't a stretch to imagine he was as irked as he was sad.

"Tim was anxious about what the future would bring," Leiweke said. "He called the question, and it really forced us to say, 'OK, there's an important question on the table.' The answer was that we weren't going to extend Tim's contract."

Even though the possibility exists for a 9-7 finish, the record to date of the last two seasons spoke louder -- 19 losses and eight wins, four of which were over the woeful St. Louis Rams. For a suspicious sort like Ruskell, the lack of certainty beyond the Jan. 3 finish was too much.

He had to know, more than he had to finish what he started five years ago.

The pressure was apparent Thursday in his face, voice and bearing. He didn't have to meet the media -- a chore he indulged grudgingly during his term -- but manned up and answered every question thoroughly.

The departure did not include a victory lap around Qwest Field, as was provided Holmgren after a 4-12 season. At a staff meeting that followed the press conference, however, he was accorded a rousing ovation that was, according to witnesses, filled with tears and hugs.

Mora was not present, but as passionate as he is, the tears and hugs probably came Wednesday, when Ruskell gave him the news in the office.

"Tim's a good man and a good football man," said a stoic Mora after practice Wednesday. "I'm disappointed it didn't work out better. We've had a nice history together."

Ruskell worked with Mora in Atlanta and went to large trouble to hire and keep him here before naming him head coach-in-waiting to succeed Holmgren. For 11 months, owner Paul Allen, Leiweke, Ruskell and Mora were on the same page: With people you know and trust, build a team in which the defense can carry the offense.

That was the opposite of Holmgren's page, which was good enough to get to a Super Bowl. Neither way is right or wrong. Each emphasis has won Super Bowls by playing to strengths that help cover weaknesses.

The key is to commit to a direction and stick with it.

Based on Leiweke's words Thursday -- he made at least three endorsements of Mora -- the accent on defense will be maintained. That was buttressed by the elevation of Ruston Webster from vice president of player personnel to interim boss of football ops.

Webster worked for 18 years at defense-first Tampa Bay before joining Ruskell, his former Bucs colleague, four years ago in Seattle. He since has interviewed twice for GM jobs, finishing second for the post in Tennessee. He figures to be a candidate for the permanent spot here.

Webster is one among a class of low-profile, well-regarded football executives who will form a stark contrast to Holmgren, a certain Hall of Fame coach who is one of the few sports personalities who honestly can be said to be larger than life.

The organization has to answer two questions about Holmgren's candidacy for football boss:

Is he the best person available to evaluate and acquire premier talent?

Will he or Mora be the face of the franchise?

Tough questions.

Just as Holmgren is smarter now than when he wore both the GM/coach hats during his Seattle tenure, the Seahawks are better off now than when he was hired in 1999.

The Seahawks hadn't won a playoff game since 1984 and were desperate for the cred Holmgren brought, much in the way the hire of Lou Piniella as manager brought a measure of legitimacy to the Mariners in 1993.

Both teams rode their charismatic leaders to competitive and business success, complete with new stadiums. Each man moved on by choice, leaving behind a legacy of franchise relevancy.

As the Mariners proved this year with general manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Don Wakamatsu, familiarity and/or popularity is irrelevant to winning. And neither man had to be the face of the franchise, not with Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro around.

From a standpoint of player profile, the Seahawks have a popular quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck, who still has a majority of his bones unbroken, and that's about it. Mora is and will be The Man, unless of course he is the man, lower-cased by HOLMGREN.

The current front office football staff is almost split between Ruskell hires and Holmgren hires. That usually doesn't make a practical difference -- except when there's a vacancy at general manager, when it becomes every man for himself.

Holmgren has offered his admiration of the job Bill Parcells has in Miami, where he is king of football without having it muck up his life. The difference is that Parcells was an outsider who had neither pets nor pet peeves in the Dolphins organization.

Reinserting Holmgren into a franchise that has already changed direction is a move full of jagged edges. Then there's the pragmatic possibility that it won't take, subjecting the one-time hero to contemporary scorn.

Except for some players who can't forget his profanity-filled rebukes, most everyone in Seattle likes Mike. There's only one guaranteed way to keep it so.

The Seahawks will find someone to join them. They don't need to join Holmgren.

This back and forth with people taking sides is kind of childish.

But I can't understand why this is such a hard idea for people to wrap their minds around. The only reason Lerner gave Policy a stake was to make his bid more attractive. To close the deal.

Now.

The deal is closed. Randy is an owner. An owner only voluntarily gives up a stake in his company when money is needed. Not when the product sucks. You hire people for that. You don't make them owners.

Holmgren tells KJR he's definitely interested in Seahawks

Mike Holmgren, appearing on his weekly radio show on KJR-AM 950 on Friday, made it crystal clear he's interested in speaking with the Seattle Seahawks about their now-open general manager's position.

"Absolutely I would like to talk to them," Holmgren said on the Dave "Softy" Mahler show. "I think I'd made it pretty clear I'd like to go back to work after this season. I didn't know where.

"This is a bit of a surprising development in Seattle, but this is an opening. I've also said the people and the team have to want you, the situation and opening have to be right. So I've tried to keep an open mind and not get too emotional about it.

"This is not news. Everyone in my family is there and I have a strong attachment to the city and my time there. But I also know things change. You never know. The organization has to feel you're the right fit and things. So I'm keeping an open mind.

"I'd like to talk to Paul (Allen) and Tod (Leiweke) and anybody else. If the fit is right, who knows?"

Holmgren said whatever job he lands this coming season, he wants an active role, no matter what title is given.

"I don't have to make every decision in the world, but I absolutely have a vision about how an organizaiton should be built," he said. "I wouldn't have much fun doing it any other way. I think I'd have to be assured I'd have a fair amount of input in the major decisions."

As for working with coach Jim Mora, Holmgren he would never consider it fair for a head coach to have only one year to show what he can do.

"Jim is a fine coach and a passionate guy," he said. "If anybody doesn't know him and comes in, it wouldn't take long for that person to realize Jim is a good football coach."

Holmgren acknowledged his big challenge if he goes into a front-office position will be letting his coaching roots go.

"That's the question really," he said. "If I decide I don't want to coach any more and get chance to go into front office, really I have to discipline myself to not interfere in that way and justs upport and help the coach be as successful as he can be."

Concerning the Seahawks' roster, Holmgren said improving the offensive line and getting physically bigger in certain positions would be priorities, but he feels the general talent level of the team is good and that injuries have been a problem the past two years.

I agree. Time to start holding out hope for Parcells.

I will also agree.

Besides Parcells are there any other "big time" guys that would/could come here?