DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Holmgren Press Conference today...

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The NFL when Paul Brown was coaching and the NFL now are completely different animals. That is a horrible comparison.

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I disagree football as Paul Brown said is all about hitting and tackling. Brown like Holmgren was good at finding guys who fit what he wanted to do and being in charge...Holmgren has both including exceptional leadership qualities.

People change, but processes do not...no matter what ideas people have, you have to have 11 guys that can hit and tackle to play football..no matter if someone likes passing or running, no matter how much people change..the process remains the same.

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Reid doesn't do what Holmgren does. Holmgren is like the acting owner, attending owners meetings. Reid is not the President of the team, that is Joe Banner. He is the Executive Vice President, Business Operations. A position held by Bryan Wiedmeier in Cleveland. Reid also has an owner who is very involved with the team in Jeffrey Lurie. We do not have an active owner. Holmgren was hired to do what Randy Lerner would normally do.

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Reid Calls the shots on all player personnel and has final say over who makes the roster, who don't, who they pick up and who they don't. Heckert was Reid's Assistant but Reid had final say over roster...Reid also coaches.

Holmgren can hire another suit to delegate other Pres duties to and take over coaching working with Heckert no prob..Reid does it..so can Holmgren...

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Honestly, I would rather stick with the current staff and keep this thing rolling. We are playing good ball, and still putting pieces in place. With a few more players and going into next year we should be vastly improved and ready to win week in and week out. I would rather go with continuity/same coaches over the next few years rather than start over with Holmgren playing president/coach. We have made progress since last year----and we need to keep this thing together and add a few more pieces in the offseason/draft.

It makes no sense to start over when we are clearly moving in the right direction right now.

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we have heard this before

now what happens next year if we "stay the course" and we start out 1-5 or 1-6 again

what will be the excuse next year hmmm

Holmgren and Haskill could have won 8 games with this roster...maybe more..he won 9 in Seattle his first year with less talent overall....

if we stick with Mangini again next year, chalk up another losing season...might as well just chalk it up..another year of looking forward to DAboll and his horrific play calling....i still Daboll makes our receivers look much worse then they really are...

If the Steelers are stupid enough to fire Bruce Arians...the Browns need to get on the phone pronto at years end if we decide to keep Eric and Can Daboll and hire Arians....atleast Arians runs more then a high school offense....in fact the last time we had a really god O Arians was our OC for a few years with the exception of 1 good year from Chud.

When comparing today's NFL to Paul Brown's era I was talking more about the business side.

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what happens next year if we "stay the course" and we start out 1-5 or 1-6 again

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What happens next year if we start out 6-0, 5-1, 4-2, 3-3, 2-4.

What happens if I tell you I ain't Nostradamus. What happens if the sky turns into a big marshmallow.

As with everything else in life---the only answer in life is to wait and see. And while you are doing that, you can evaluate the present and try to predict where it is heading. You might want to make a chart or something to try to find out where you are heading. Well, from my perspective, we have improved a whole ton from last year to this year----and so it seems entirely probable that we can expect the same jump heading into next year, so long as we stay the course.

I think the fact that we are playing well into the fourth quarter and we have a shot at winning every game in the fourth quarter is a big jump from last year. Last year, we had often lost the game by halftime. And we were seldom in any game going into the fourth quarter. In fact, the first half of last season had us being blown out nearly every game.

We are playing better on all sides of the ball, and we are 2-5 going into the second-half of the season.

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Holmgren and Haskill could have won 8 games with this roster...maybe more..he won 9 in Seattle his first year with less talent overall....

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Sorry, but you aren't nostradamus.

The worst part about something like this---is that it is presented with some kind of authority. I just know that if we did something completely impossible---like head back in time and reinsert these guys into the coaches ranks---this would be the outcome.

It must be fun to play pretend.

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atleast Arians runs more then a high school offense

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I think both coordinators are employed at the professional level.

So that means they both run a professional offense.

This is more smack than an actual argument.

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Yea, I would much rather have Mangini and continuous improvement---which we have credible evidence of continuous improvement just by looking at last year into this year. And I firmly believe that it we be here next year and the year after so long as we continue down this path.

Why do you bother with his antics. This one line from the presser fuels his anti-Mangini campaign. If this team would win out, he would still spew his anti Mangini speeches.

It is not a discussion with him, it is him trying to convince everybody he's right. Only problem is his agenda is so played out it is actually a little funny.

actually no I wouldn't...no one would be happier then me if Mangini does win out...no one....i have however seen more coaching blunders from him this year then I have seen in a long time from an NFL head coach....

I was stucking watching NY Sports for two years, I seen what Mangini done with the Jets..he had ONE decent year...the 1st year he was there and thats pretty much it....

He lacked the guts to bench Farve when the dudes arm was torn all up, His players literally threw a party when the guy left..very few of those guys miss him...the Jets are doing much better now without him....Guys like Revis and others made the Pro Bowl due to Rob ryans brother doing a good job putting those guys in a position to make plays...Mangini D left a ton to be desired in NY.

this is not to Mention that Bellichik actually had to take away Mangini playcalling duties as DC his last year in NE because his D planning was horrid (this is actually what started the rift between him and Bellichik)

on a personality scale, i actually like Mangini believe it or not..he has the personality to play the part of Cleveland Browns coach, but his gameplaning and personel decisions have left a ton to be desired.

This guy literally "blew" an entire draft in 2009..he set this franchise back years with that debacle....it was bad enough we traded out for what we got, but he could have made up for most of that with common sense picks...ya know like Micheal Oher(RT was a big need) there were others as well....you can't go wrong with good lineman....not to mention what we got for Edwards..ehhh....folks have every right to evaluate Mangini on this picks as part of his job, HE MADE THEM

I watched Mangini for 2 years in NY and after this season it will be 2 years here...the guy has learned NOTHING from his mistakes in NY..nothing....I was really hoping when we he came here that he would grow into his job and learn from his past mistakes but he hasn't..the guy is making the same boneheaded mistakes here he made in NY as a gameday coach....

Do you realize.."most likely" all Mangini had to do to win the Tampa game was to put in Wallce...I believe a healthy Wallace would have been able to do enough to win the game...he certainly gave us a better chance then Jake who was so banged up he could hardly walk.

then he refused to put in McCoy(his healthy QB) when Wallace went down against Atlanta...again he didn't give us the best chance to win...you have to play your guys that are healthy to give your team the best chance to win and again he didn't do it...he put in a guy who was still hurt...its makes no sense...i know McCoy was 3rd string but so what..he should have been ready to play in that scenario and its just boneheaded to put in Jake in that game when he was still clearly hurt.....

I still am holding out a "bit" of hope that Mangini will finally wisen up a little bit and quit with the same blunders he made in NY, most of you here never watched him every week in NY like I was stuck watching for two years..i watched this guy do the same exact nonsense blunders he is doing here....

As for Brian Daboll...that guy isn't a good OC..he is in way over his head....his O makes our WR look worse then they actually are...I don't believe Robo or Mass are as bad as they have looked...Ohio State has produced some good receivers...Hartline, Boston, Holmes, Ginn, Glenn, Galloway.

Robo's dad is one of the best WR coaches in the NFL and Robo is a prototypical possession receiver/slot receiver...which is what he was projected at in the draft..we never put Robo in the slot...he isn't a #2 but i bet he could be a good slot receiver if we used him right much like Joe J was..he just needs expereince in that role...robo has very good hands and is a big guy...but he don't have the speed to flank outside as a #2 he needs to be in slot where he played a TON at OSU..OSU used him in the slot alot in his time there...

not to mention Evan Moore is probably our best receiver/TE and he hardly gets to play...all Evan Moore does is catch passes when he gets a few chances, yet Mangini won't hardly play him...it makes no sense...he catches balls, he makes plays, put him out there!

Instead he plays Watson(his Ne buddy) who really isn't even that good and NE was not worried about losing him....Watson never lived up to his billing in Ne and thats why Bellichik finally parted ways with him...so we take on their cast offs....

Also what did we do to address WR? He traded away our best talents at WR and replaced them with nothing...he needed to get a Wr in here that can play outside opposite of MoMass...he did nothing...so we could move
Robo to the slot where he belongs...

I will say it again...I really hope Mangini proves me wrong and stops with this stuff he is doing..its the same stuff he did in NY and these gameday coaching blunders like playing hurt QB, etc.

what about a few weeks ago where the team punted us the ball with a few seconds left in the half and they were punting from their own endzone and they got a penalty....why didn't we make them re-kick?

there was probably 3 seconds or so left on the clock..make them re-punt from their own endzone and just go all out hoping to block the punt..if it works great, if not its halftime...play to win....typical Mangini declines the penalty and don't even try.

how bout him not using any of his timeouts against in the first halfthe Saints? sure we won...but we should have used those timeouts..maybe we get a chance with the ball to move down field and add another field goal..try to score more...Bellichik would have, Sean Payton would have, Bill Cowher would Have, Parcells would have, and i can assure you Mike Holmgren would have.

you have to play to win and give yourself a chance to score as much as possible...I am glad we won the game against the Saints, but that could have cost us...wouldn't it have sucked if we lost by a field goal? I know we didn't but it could have happened...i am just saying you have to play to win....so far Mangini and Daboll have not played to win.

In fact I personally believe Rob Ryan is the best coach on this staff and I even wouldn't mind rob Ryan as HC..the guys play for Ryan and rally around the guy and he has that "killer instict" if Rob ryan was Head coach he would play to win I can assure you...he wouldn't be ultra conservative like Mangini is

this team could easily be 3-5 or even 4-4 if not for some serious coaching blunders on Mangini's part...

Its not an agenda, its what I see. I really hope Mangini gets better at this sort of stuff, but so far going on 5 years as a HC he hasn't..its frustrating...

I find it funny how fans & media love to read way too much into what people say, and run with it as if it's a slam dunk to happen. Of course Holmgren still has an "itch" to be a coach. He's not that far removed from that position in the 1st place. It doesn't mean he's going to fire Mangini any time soon just to get back into it. Being successful as team prez is just as much of an ego boost as being HC, maybe more. Anyway.....

I thought that was a very good presser.

On a side note. Cleveland has some of the dumbest reporters I've ever heard.

If Holmgren became Head Coach as well, we would probably lose Heckert.

Right now Heckert has final say on the roster. Sure there is cooperation with the coaches and such, but the final word is his.

If the Team President also became the Head Coach .... well .... does anyone think that Heckert would remain the final word? he'd be on his way out almost immediately, as his power would be completely undercut.

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If the Team President also became the Head Coach .... well .... does anyone think that Heckert would remain the final word?

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So the guy who hired Heckert doesn't/wouldn't have final say on the roster until he takes over the HC position (if he ever does)?

Sorry, not buying that one. Holmgren has final say now and in the future. The frequency with which he uses his veto power MIGHT change if he became HC but not the power itself.

In his contract, Heckert has the final say on personnel decisions.

He left Philly because he didnt want to play underling personnel guy/2nd fiddle to Andy Reid's decision maker. What makes you think he would want to do that again here?

I think that if Holmgren were to become President/Head Coach, we would be looking for a new GM as well. (or, more likely a "key personnel" guy, with Holmgren assuming the GM title as well)

That being said, I expect that Holmgren will stay right where he is. This team is not a "Holmgren/West Coast" team. It is a Mangini/Smashmouth team. We are not a Holmgren 4-3 .... we are a Mangini 3-4. Making these transitions would just set us back even further once again. I doubt that it happens.

j/c..

the funniest thing Holmgren said to me was how it drives him crazy when Ryan throws all those exotic blitzes and has guys everywhere... It drives me crazy too, but it's do or die in this league...

like Romeo use to say... If it works.. its a good play.. if it doesn't.. then its not so good of a play...

If Holmgren became Head Coach as well, we would probably lose Heckert.



No you wouldn't regardles about what powers he has.
MH brought him in with the knowledge of what could happen down the road.
My concern isn't that ,but if MH wanted to coach again let someone else handle the FO duties..and he has people in place to do that.

All everyone needs to do is remember what he said when he came here..He could not fathom how the Browns won those games last year with the play of the QB's.
He wanted to evaluate the QB's.Didn't take long did it?
He ejected them in their underwear out the airlock in deep space.


MH isn't happy with the same things we see or are easy to see..I thought how he defended the receivers,when actually it's Mass/Robo that are the main culprits.
Now when he mentioned that it's a lot of things that is correct..some games they're not being targeted but other times they just aren't getting open .
So in that equation you look at their ability to get open and if they are,then that finger gets pointed elsewhere,
If they aren't is it due to poor route running?
Or do they lack the ability on the pro level to get open?
MH belives that even if we had more talented WRs, the O would still be centered around TEs, slot receivers, and backs utilizing the middle of the field. Apparently, Mangini's offense and defense is something he's not familiar with...see my last sentence and tie it in with this.




Looking at his face when he discussed the Offense, there seemed to be something there I coudln't put my fnger on exactly..



I can,he doesn't want to expose his disappointments to the media because you know where that goes..to the coach and possibly firing him or the offensive staff..keep in mind he said he was encouraged they were in the games they lost but discouraged they lost those games...wins are the bottom line.

He said some things that he was clearly masking and wanted to sound strickly objective but that little blurp about lookit any coach who thinks that his way is the only way is nuts. kinda hit me and then he immediately covered it by saying he didn't expect Mangini to do things Holmgems way..did U notice that?

I didn't get to see the presser so I wasn't able to hear his tone or see his body language - which I believe reveals a lot (I knew Savage was a rat from watching his pressers). However, based on what I've read it appears to me that:

**He is really trying to understand the offensive philosophy employed by Mangini and Daboll. I suspect while he believes there isn't only one way to do something the team is not maximizing what it's got.

**Again, not seeing or hearing the presser but just reading, him becoming coach of this team is totally on the table if by the end of the year he just doesn't think Mangini did enough with what he's got. And I would be totally on board with that.

**I read that Ryan's D made him nervous. LOL ... kind of like that. I think Ryan is one of our few bright spots. But if MH or anyone else takes over, he's gone. And I doubt he would be considered for HC.

**Overall, I think he is trying to balance the fact that he's been a head coach and knows what Mangini is going through with his own competitiveness and thought that he could do better with this team. I now believe Mangini is on a short leash and if the record is south of 7 wins, MH will need to exercise an incredible amount of restraint not to can him. I like Mangini, but I wouldn't second guess MH's moves if he decided to go that route.

that's fair enough Clem. You have just as good an argument...Weidmier would have to take over a lot more in order for Mike to take over.

However, Perhaps Holmgeen brings in Mooch or Gruden...in essence Mike could coach "through" those guys...afterall, those guys and their systems are a direct reflection of Holmgren himself....also they would most likely accept and probably want Haskill as OC which works out double whammy.

I will say Holmgren's look on his face he seemed upset with the O and the O playcalling.

I personally believe that Holmgren is letting Eric do it "his way" for now...however if he don't win Holmgren is going to bring in his own guy.....its obvious that from an O standpoint Holmgren is frustrated because it is NOT the way he would run it, and he knows you have to have a passing game to win and our passing game is pathetic. That falls squarely on Mangini and Daboll's shoulders...squarely.

I would not be surprised in the least that we have either Mooch or Gruden as HC next year if Holmgren don't/can't take over....that is unless Mangini starts winning...

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He said some things that he was clearly masking and wanted to sound strickly objective but that little blurp about lookit any coach who thinks that his way is the only way is nuts. kinda hit me and then he immediately covered it by saying he didn't expect Mangini to do things Holmgems way..did U notice that?

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I did but I'm not trying to read anything into what he said..

The more important thing is WHY? Why even have the presser if he wasn't going to tell something new.. maybe about changes, maybe about adjustments on the staff, or dicussions about specific problems..

He literally skirted in depth discussion on all topics.. I'm just wondering why he even needed to be seen in public at this point.

Maybe a halfway point outlook? Dunno

Also one last thing.

Holmgren in his press conference is already beginning to show his displeasure with Mangini's system. We could clearly tell he don't like the O Playcalling, he also made a statement about the D as well when talking about Ryan saying how he moves guys around "drives him crazy"

Here is what Holmgren said when he was hired:

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The West Coast offense and 4-3 defense have been strong staples in Holmgren's coaching career. The Browns do not run either system. Holmgren said he will have a strong influence in that department, particularly as it pertains to offense. "I’m going to try and help the organization from a different angle, if you will," Holmgren said. "Having said that, I do believe in what we did, and I think I'm pretty good at it. I was a pretty decent coach, and I came from a system that I understand and a system that's been proven in the league."

Holmgren

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Fact is Mangini runs NOTHING that would even resemble a Mike Holmgren based team. Holmgren showed "small signs" of his discontent yesterday in that press conference...when talking Ryan moving guys around "Drives him crazy" that is a nice way of Holmgren saying: "Its not the way He would do it" as for talking about the offense...you can clearly tell he wasnot happy with Daboll

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"Having said that, I do believe in what we did, and I think I'm pretty good at it. I was a pretty decent coach, and I came from a system that I understand and a system that's been proven in the league."-Mike Holmgren

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The above statement still holds true...Holmgren wants this team as a WCO running the 4-3 system that he has always used through out his career...

Holmgren will build this team in his image, he will want to run a system he is familiar with that he knows works...Eric was given a chance due to only the up in the air CBA and just to give him a chance to be fair....however...the rift is slowly beginning to show...it was rumored on STO i said a few weeks ago that Holmgren and Mangini have had "heated discussions" behind closed doors...this stems for Mangini not running a competent offense I would most likely guess.....there is a serious rift in terms of O philosphy here.

Holmgren = WCO
Heckert came from a WCO system in Philly
Haskill = WCO

Holmgren and Heckert both came from teams that ran the 4-3...I just don't see this working out...Holmgren is trying to hide his frustrations for now, but he is clearly frustrated and perhaps underestimnated himself and thought he could handle something different.

If this team wants to turn it around, they are going to have to go with Holmgren and Heckerts way of doing things and that is WCO, and 4-3 Defense...where these guys backgrounds are from, either Mike takes over or bring in Gruden or Mooch guys that are on the same page and want to do things the same way Mike would..and to a degree Heckert...All Heckert and Holmgren have ever ran have been WCO 4-3 teams...Mangini is the polar opposite of EVERYTHING Holmgren believes in when running a football team..

.I think Mike is beginning to realize that keeping Mangini was a mistake because he doesn't share the same vision as he does...in order to be successful the guys under you have to share the same vision and philosophy and Mangini doesn't fit that vision....I say for this reason we will see a diff HC next year unless Mangini can somehow start winning games.....

j/c

Here is the transcript and a link to the presser for reference.

Browns President Mike Holmgren press conference 11-2-10

(Opening statement)- “Hello everybody. Good to see you. I want you to know that I had a great time in Arizona in case anybody is interested. We are about halfway through the season and we thought it was important and fair if I spoke on a few issues and I’m absolutely happy to do that. There are a lot of things we’re still learning. There are a lot of emotions that have gone into the first seven games, that’s for sure. There are a lot of things I’m still learning about myself not coaching anymore in just watching the games. Some of you have seen me on Sundays upstairs and I’m sure I’m pretty transparent that way. But I think there are some really good things happening and I’m not trying to paint a pretty picture or anything. I just think we are improved over last year. We brought in some new players that are really making huge contributions in my opinion and I think they have bright futures here moving forward. But ultimately, how many games can we win? I was very encouraged by our last win obviously against New Orleans, as I’m sure you were, and now we just have to build on that and keep moving forward.”

(On his impressions on Colt McCoy after two starts and what the plan is going forward the rest of the season with him)- “When I talked to Colt, I told him I was very proud of him first of all. I think you couldn’t probably, as a youngster, go into two tougher situations. I think the first game against the Steelers, an outstanding football team, an outstanding defensive football team who can give you all you can handle as a quarterback, any quarterback much less a young one. I think he handled himself very well. I think what I learned from that game is that that type of game or the game itself isn’t too big for him. He handled himself very well, he maintained his poise, made some good throws and I think instilled some confidence in his teammates because he really hadn’t had much of a chance to play. You all watched training camp, you watched how many reps he had got, so it’s not like he had a wealth of experience under his belt when he went into that game. I thought he handled himself well and I told him that. I said, ‘Now that game is done. Now you have got another game. Anybody can come in and play a good football game at any time, now let’s put another one together.’ We go into New Orleans, a very difficult place to play, a fine football team he’s playing against and while we didn’t throw the ball around very much, I thought he played another really solid football game. When you look at young quarterbacks, what I’m trying to ascertain is his ability to handle the game, handle the situation he’s in. Does he make good decisions? Does he panic? How are things working? Not necessarily, does he complete that ball? Before anyone anoints anybody, he’s played two games. I told him I was proud of him and I think he can build on this.”

(On if he would like to see McCoy start the rest of the year)- “Now Tom (Withers), that’s a question that I’m not going to answer. That’s a question that’s a coaching decision and Eric (Mangini) and his staff will make that decision.”

(On what could be gained by sitting McCoy the rest of the year)- “I think what he’s done for a couple of games, I think that’s in the bank. That’s in his memory. You’ve talked to Colt and you know he doesn’t lack for confidence, but how much of that is saying it? He got to play though and now he’s played against, again, two quality opponents. He has to feel now, any little doubt that crept in, I don’t know if it did, but any little question he may have had, he said, ‘No I can do this.’ I think if we were to go back to one of the veteran quarterbacks, I think he has that in his pocket, in the bank so he knows. He’s a great team guy. If that was the way it went, he’d get ready to play just like he always did.”

(On if McCoy will see things differently after having played in two games)- “I think part of the thing about young quarterbacks playing is that as long as you can keep them healthy, as long as they don’t get too scarred and too beaten up. I’m talking mentally scarred, every game that they play is probably a good thing as long as that happens. We would like to win games, it will be a discussion the coaching staff has, there’s no question about it. It might be academic at this point because while Jake (Delhomme) and Seneca (Wallace) are improving, exactly where they are I honestly couldn’t tell you right now. I think Seneca is a little farther along than Jake, but that will all factor into it.”

(On if everyone in the organization has to be on the same page when making a decision like who will be the starting quarterback)- “That’s what you would like, certainly that’s what you would hope for. Given how we’ve worked so far, I don’t anticipate a big problem or discussion there. Like most things that we have done, most everything that I can think of, if it takes a discussion, there’s a discussion that takes place then a decision is made. I was a coach for a long time and I believe strongly that that’s the coach’s decision.”

(On what criteria he will use to evaluate Coach Mangini at the end of the season)- “The important point there I think is any coach, any staff where I am in the position I’m in, will be judged at the end of the season. It will take thoughtful thinking and I’ve said this before and I said it when I first came here, it think it’s important that you take some of the emotion out of it if you can. At the end of the year, everyone catches their breath a little bit, think about it and hopefully make an intelligent decision. I also said this, wins and losses are not the only criteria. The crummy part of our business is that most of the time, it is the main one. I thought my least year in Seattle, 4-12 on the surface they should have fired me. Based on record, 4-12 is my worst record of all time. It may have been my best coaching job because we were playing with young people that gave me everything they had, but they just weren’t good enough, we got so injured. If that taught me anything, it taught me that now in my position, there’s more to look at. Hopefully, I’ll do that properly.”

(On balancing the decision based on wins and losses and there being more to look at than just those two factors and how he is going to do that)- “You know what, I’m not sure I can tell you that right now. It’s premature at this point. Let’s let the season play out and then I’ll make the decision at the end of the year.”

(On the most encouraging thing he has seen so far this year compared to last year)- “I think the most encouraging might be the most discouraging. The most encouraging thing is I honestly think we have been in most of the games and you could make the argument I think we had chances to win the games. It’s also the most discouraging thing because we lost the games. The first couple of games were very close. As it turns out now, both of those teams are off to fine starts, they’re better than people thought they were. Yet those were games with a little bounce here, a little thing here and not an interception there or whatever it was, that we certainly were involved in the game. The Atlanta game was a close game, I think, down to the end. Pittsburgh scored 14 points in the last three or four minutes, whatever it was, to make it 28, otherwise, we are kind of in that game and we won the other two. The competitiveness, I like all of that stuff. I like how we are competing, I like the effort, I like all of that stuff, but it hurts like crazy to lose the football game.”

(On what he sees as the major reason why wide receivers aren’t a prominent part of the offense)- “That’s a good question Tony (Grossi). I think certain schemes, if you will, you get used to. If you’ve grown up in a particular system, there is a focus it seems like. The system I grew up in in San Francisco under Coach (Bill) Walsh and then through Green Bay and Seattle, I could almost tell you within two or three throws how many catches each position was going to make during the course of the year. It just happened that way. That was our scheme, that’s how we played offense, that’s how we did it. I think there’s an emphasis to work the middle of the field here with our tight ends, our backs and then the slot receiver, the inside receiver who in our case is (Chansi) Stuckey. That’s part of it. The second part of it is we don’t throw as many balls here as I have thrown over the years, so the numbers aren’t going to be as great. The third thing I think is you have to ask yourself about the receivers, but they do not get as many touches, Tony, as I am used to. We talked about it before and whoever is calling the game, in this case it’s Brian (Daboll), he has a belief in a system and how he moves the football, how he’s going to do it and if anyone were to interfere with that too much, it would really throw a monkey wrench in most things I think. We are going to play it out and see what happens.”

(On how Daboll has done so far)- “He works, all of the staff, I would say the same thing about the whole group. This is a hard-working group. Now I put on my presidents hat and I look at it a different way. I put on my coach’s hat, which is old, and I look at it another way, which I knew would happen. One of my greatest challenges is I’m up there, and (Doug) Dieken and Jim (Donovan), I don’t know if you hear me yelling sometimes, but I try not to get too boisterous up there. You’ll see things and you’ll go, ‘Aw, gee.’ That’s the coach in me talking and I apologize for that right now. Whether it’s Rob Ryan, who’s a wonderful coach, they’re fine coaches, but when we start moving around on defense and do all of those things, it drives me crazy, but it works. I’m not used to that. This first year in many ways, I’m getting used to a certain style if you will. I do not question their work ethic and how hard they’re trying to get this done. They are working very hard at this.”

(On the theory of a starter not losing his job due to injury and how he feels about throwing the ball to a quarterback on a pass like they did in New Orleans)- “That was quite a play, wasn’t it? When he caught it and when he got up, I was very, very happy because that kind of sealed the deal there. We used to throw passes to Seneca Wallace when he was a starter for us my last year and he could do that. The idea of not losing your position because of injury, that’s an interesting idea really. I never had a rule like that, I know some teams do. The reason I never had that rule is because sometimes you come into a situation and you just go, ‘Gee whiz, this guy is lighting it up. He probably should start.’ I’d feel bad for the guy that got hurt, but I’d be foolish to do that. This is me talking now in years past with me, so I never had a rule like that. Is there sentiment to giving the player who got hurt, allowing him to go back in? Absolutely. He certainly earned it in the beginning before he got hurt. That’s something that you bang around in the meeting and you just pray you do the right thing. Make sure the players know because there are going to be ruffled feathers in there. Those hard and fast rules, I would like more wiggle room than that. I always wanted more wiggle room than that. Most of the time, yes the guy got his position back because that’s why he earned it in the first place, he was a better player. But every once in a while, you get a guy that shoots lights out and you say, ‘Hey, now you have got a decision to make.’”

(On if he wants to coach now after sitting out)- “No, I’m doing okay. Does it sound like I want to coach? No, I’m doing okay. The challenge of this is really something for me and I’m enjoying the challenge. I’d be less than honest if I didn’t say I get fired up watching the games, I mean I did that for too long not to react sometimes the way I do, but I also recognize what I was hired to do and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

(On if it hard on Sunday that he can run the team but he can’t run the game)- “That’s the hard part because you’re sitting up there and you’re a fan, you’re watching the game. I have a phone I can phone down to the field. I do have one right there, I’ve used it once to find out about an injury but I don’t phone, ‘Hey Eric, how you doing?’ I don’t do that.”

(On at which point does he feel that it’s more for the organization’s benefit to find out about McCoy going into the offseason)- “Yes, that’s the discussion that’s going to take place Tony (Grossi), that is. It’s important, I think, but again there’s a lot that goes into that. Until it’s clear that either one of those veteran quarterbacks can play physically, Colt will play, Colt has to play. As soon as it becomes where you have a choice to make then you have to sit down, have that conversation and make the choice. The obvious thing if you play a young quarterback, does he give you the best chance to win or are you doing it just for the future? That’s kind of crummy if you’re doing it just for the future, you want to win every game. That’s the discussion that takes place and will take place.”

(On if that conversation takes place as soon as the other quarterbacks are healthy)- “I would think so. Again I just got back yesterday so I haven’t talked to Eric yet but yes that’s the discussion I would have.”

(On why Jerome Harrison was traded)- “I think Jerome got to a point where he was unhappy I thought. I personally like Jerome, I think he’s a wonderful guy. I had two or three really heart to hearts with him before we traded him. I flat asked him if he wanted to be traded and he assured me that he didn’t. I said, ‘Look we are going to need you.’ He was unhappy. He had been so valuable down the stretch last year and his offseason is what it is, missed time, comes in, by that time we had gotten Peyton Hillis. There were some other things, we drafted a young guy so there was competition there and he was affected by that I thought. Even though he assured me he wasn’t and he’d compete. He’s a good guy, Jerome Harrison is a good guy. I always kind of feel this way, if a player is really unhappy and it makes some sense for the organization then you try and do something to make everybody right. That’s kind of how it came down as much as anything.”

(On if the Browns have any interest in Randy Moss)- “Has he already been waived? I can’t answer that question then. That’s a hypothetical, you’re trying to get me fined here. First of all, I think Randy is a wonderful player. He had maybe his greatest game of his life against me in Green Bay on a Monday night game. We could not stop him, unbelievable. Our focus I believe has to be on developing our younger receivers.”

(On what he is going to say to Eric Mangini when all the quarterbacks are healthy)- “We’re going to have that discussion. When that discussion takes place then I will let everyone know. Right now, I’d probably ask him, ‘What do you want to do?’ That’s the first thing I’d say, ‘As the head coach of this team what do you want to do,’ and then we’ll go from there.”

(On if the play calling would be different if the receivers were more talented)- “Let’s not jump on the receivers too much here. Honest to goodness. I think they’re pretty good but their numbers just haven’t been very good. Last year for obvious reasons, I think. This year for the reasons I stated. The emphasis seems to be (Benjamin) Watson’s catching more passes, (Chansi) Stuckey’s catching more passes, our backs are catching more passes. I would like to see, as you would, our wide receivers catch more passes but it’s not happening and I think there are two or three reasons there that I stated as the reasons they’re not. To be I think the most effective offensive team you can be, I think it’s important that they catch passes, I would say that. I think as we mature as an offensive football team, I would like to see that.”

(On if they want to see more of McCoy before they get a new quarterback in the draft next year)- “I think I have drafted a quarterback just about every year I have ever coached regardless of who was playing. I always like to see a young guy and see him. I don’t think if one thing happens that precludes you from drafting another quarterback I don’t think that. Would you like to know a little more about your current youngin’? Yes. Do I have a good feeling about him now and what he’s done? Absolutely, but it’s two games. It’s such an important thing for any football team, I get it. Remember what I said, ‘Man, I hope he doesn’t play at all, just let him learn,’ but now that was taken out of our hands, so now let’s just put the brakes on just a little bit and it will fall the way it’s supposed to fall I think.”

(On wearing a suit on gameday and if he feels like he’s made a commitment to Randy Lerner and wants to see this job through in Cleveland)- “Absolutely, I made a promise and I’m going to stick with it. Now, if I keep wearing a suit or not, we’ll see.”

(On if the decision about the quarterback situation going forward into next April will be the most critical decision he will make as President of the Browns)- “I think it could be. I’ve gone on the record many times as saying the most important player on your team is the quarterback. I think you have to get to the Super Bowl and become a viable playoff caliber team year after year after year. You have to have that guy. I think it’s a huge decision Tony (Grossi), I do. I’m stating the obvious I think.”

(On if it is a coincidence that he hasn’t drafted quarterbacks at the top of the draft)- “Each year it falls a certain way. We weren’t up there drafting real high very often, that’s the first thing. Then in Green Bay, (Brett) Favre became a player so you’re not going to draft another quarterback high if you think you think you have your guy. Then in Seattle once I thought (Matt) Hasselbeck was the guy then those years we weren’t going to draft anybody high. I think that’s as much as anything but if you’re searching, if you’re not sure if you have the person in the building, I’m not opposed to taking a quarterback high. If you take a quarterback in the first round you’re really saying he’s your guy. Really, you’re saying he’s the next guy and you better be right about that one. We’ve all seen teams, and I’m not even talking about the Browns now, we’ve all seen teams historical over the years draft a guy high and really one, you pay them a ton of money, two, you’re obligated to play him, three, you’re owner feels strongly about this, and then if it does not work for the next two or three years you’ve probably passed on guys, maybe even longer. It’s a huge deal. Again, I am stating the obvious it’s a big deal but that’s the reason more than anything that we didn’t get a quarterback up high.”

(On if up to this point the team is farther away from being a contender or not)- “I think we’re improved, I really feel that we’re improved. Our records what it is and I’m not particularly happy with that but we are improved. How long it takes you to get to the playoffs and all that? That’s hard to predict. Look what’s happening in the league this year. I think a lot of people would predict teams A and B would be in the championship game. It’s all topsy-turvy a little bit. Those things are hard to predict, but if you have a quarterback you believe in though you can build around that and get there a little faster I think.”

(On how the Browns draft picks are playing and the risk in taking Montario Hardesty)- “I think in (Joe) Haden and (T.J.) Ward, they’re playing a lot. They’re doing everything you can ask young people to do and I think that’s gone fine. Hardesty’s a big disappointment to all of us, not the young man you ought to see him working. I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to talk to him, but just that it happened. Now, the doctors are telling me that it was his other leg, it wasn’t the one in college, so the doctors are telling me it’ll come back and be stronger and all those things. I’m hopeful about that. Every once in a while stuff like that happens. The injury thing, I don’t know if you can predict it, I really don’t. He had such a good year his senior year and he was fine. I would say that’s bad luck. I think Shawn (Lauvao), he’s been a little unlucky. I think there was a chance he was going to start some games at right guard, certainly when we had those injuries to our tackle situation and had to move Chop (Floyd Womack) outside. Then he would get a little nick or little something or hamstring or something or jump offsides and someone would get mad and put in someone else. I really think he’s going to be fine, I think he’s going to be a fine player. I’m pleased with what I see from Shawn and I think he’s also a center-guard candidate.”

(On if it is just luck with Hardesty)- “I don’t know, it’s just some guys you could say are injury prone I suppose or maybe it’s genetics I don’t know. I remember in Seattle we drafted a big tackle Chris McIntosh from Wisconsin, started his rookie year. Big right tackle, good player, the next year he broke his neck and couldn’t play football anymore. They said that was the biggest bust as a draft choice I’d ever picked. He started as a rookie and was going to be a really good player for a long time, I thought, but then he got hurt. That’s the sad part of this business at times. I’m hopefully he’ll come back though, I really am. I think he’s going to come back and play and we’ll all be happy that he’s here.”

(On the future for Shaun Rogers and if he still has enthusiasm)- “My talks with Shaun on a one-on-one basis are always pretty good. As you all know, he is very vocal. It’s interesting when you get him one-on-one though, it can be a little different deal. I know this, he played a very fine football game against New Orleans. That was a big part of why we won the football game. I have always said this, of the guys I have coaches against over the years, he as a defensive lineman gave me more problems than most people. I think ultimately it’s going to be Shaun’s call though. He’s had injuries that have slowed him down in the last couple of years and he’s played a long time. He commands a very big salary and he earns it when he is the Shaun Rogers that I know and love. It’s going to be his call, I think for as much as anything. He’ll let me know by how he plays and all those things about his future.”

(On if it is hard for him to not be over critical of the coaches)- “Any coach that thinks he has the only way to do something is nuts. I feel very strongly on how I did things. I believed for me and my staff and my personality, that was the exact way to do it. But heck, there are a lot of ways to do it. I watch and I give that speech to myself on occasion. I think it’s the right thing to do though. I kind of knew that, whether it was Eric or anyone else. They are going to do things differently than the way I did it. I had better be prepared to handle that or I shouldn’t have taken the job.”

(On if his previous comment about his suit means that he is itching to be back coaching)- “You are catching me at a weak moment. I just came off vacation (joking). I love coaching. I am doing what I am doing now and that’s what I plan to be doing. My commitment is to get the Browns going in the right direction and having people feel good about their football team in my role as the president. When I talk to Randy (Lerner) honestly about those things, I am being honest about it. Right now, that’s what I am going to do.”

(On the best thing about being President of the Browns)- “The football stuff, you know I love, I’m not getting into that, but when I can go around the building and see all our other departments. I kind of knew what they did and things like that, now I feel somewhat responsible for our marketing, sales, our community relations and all those things that I’ve gone into now more. What’s good for me as the president is seeing the good people we have working here doing a great job in those areas. When I came in, and we’ve talked about this before, you think you are going to come in and just change everything, it would be such a huge mistake without first meeting the people that are already here. We have good people here that care and do a great job. Now, we are tweaking little things and maybe coming at it from a little different angle. I think we are doing a decent job of teaching. Do they care? Will they work hard? Are they talented? Absolutely. That’s the part of my job now that I like the best.”

(On if there are similarities between McCoy and Matt Hasselbeck with them both not being highly regarded)- “That’s a tough comparison because there body types are different. Colt had much more college success than Matt did. Matt was a sixth round pick, played at Boston College but played at the end. The similarities are not unlike most of the guys that I have coached at that position. They are very bright, they are very competitive and they are good leaders. Then you get into the physical stuff and that’s where you get all the differences. In the intangibles, yes, I see some of the same stuff.”

(On people not giving him a standing ovation for Hasselbeck in the beginning)- “Keep in mind, Matt was drafted in the sixth round. That was a pattern we had established there. Mark Brunell, we took guys later, because either I saw something in him or position coaches. We were going to do that. We went looking for guys. I think Matt feel into that category. He got a chance to prove himself in the preseason. He was like the preseason player of the year for about three years. He was just throwing it everywhere. Then I felt I knew, ‘Okay, physically, he can do this, this and this. Now it’s just a matter of putting it all together.’”

(On if he has talked to Jim Brown at all recently)- “I wrote a letter to Jim after the dust settled just a little bit after we had the Ring of Honor. Again, I encouraged him and tried to let him know how I felt about him. Jim Brown will always be, in my mind, one of the greatest players that ever played. I understand what he means to the Cleveland Browns, I absolutely do. I am really so sorry that all of that happened because that was not my intention. I still wanted him to be a part of this organization in a certain way and the door is always open. But have I spoken to him? No.”

(On if he heard back from Brown since the letter)- “I don’t want to say something here and get my dates mixed up. I am not sure, now that you mention it, I don’t think so.”

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He literally skirted in depth discussion on all topics.. I'm just wondering why he even needed to be seen in public at this point.



Not really..he tried to mask his true feelings and throw people off but it's apparant he isn't satisfied with the offense..he's not satisfied with the losses..
He wants to make it sound like he's not doing any evaluation till the end of the year but logically he is doing it now.
He doesn't want the media/fans to take his comments and start rumbling with it..
He's a good poker player but not too many questions realy put him on the spot and the ones that did he deflected.

Sounded like a mid season recap but when discussing the offense, he seemed umm to put it fairly less than confident in the direction its going. I dont know the entire presser had an odd feel to it.

Yes it did have a odd feel to it but then this is a odd situation.
We've talked at length about whats wrong with this team.
I think MH isn't satisified with the results and yet is trying to be fair with Mangini but knows at the end of the year he's got to make another decision on him.
Wins/Losses are the big thing but not the only thing.
He may not can stand how they are directing the team and it's giving him a stomach ache..

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In his contract, Heckert has the final say on personnel decisions.

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It's possible you're correct. But there is no way you KNOW that.

I still say Holmgren has the final say on everything. Which I have absolutely no problem with. It's all in how or when he exercises that power.

It's really bothersome to hear talk of coaching changes at this point of the season, especially when it involves MH.

Just about everyone is in agreement that this team is getting put together the right way and exciting,legit football is back in Cleveland.

Talking about cutting the head off this thing AGAIN is nothing short of sickening. Let Mangini coach and let the locker room continue to gel and come together while understanding the new pholsophy being implemented.
I don't understand how instilling doubt with the new young coach and the intentions of the famous team pres. is going to add stability and focus to the organization as a whole.

Looking around this week at teams like Washington,Minnesota and what's going on in denver with McDaniels should be warning enough that rocking this boat at this time will only set us back once gain.

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**Again, not seeing or hearing the presser but just reading, him becoming coach of this team is totally on the table if by the end of the year he just doesn't think Mangini did enough with what he's got. And I would be totally on board with that.

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I think, at this time, that Mangini will be the coach next year with the team's 2011 record the deciding factor on whether he gets to continue being the coach. It's a pure guess at this point, but just listening to Holmgren yesterday tells me the record next year better be playoff caliber or Eric will be back to being a ball boy again.

Of course, I've been wrong so often regarding the Browns in the last 10 years that I'll probably post this and see that we just picked up Moss and Merriman.......

The one thing that really stood out for me was when asked about Daboll, his only comment was he works. I mean that isnt exactly a ringing endorsement.

Then he talked about Ryan and all that moving around and stuff and he kinda lit up. it was interesting.

He doesn't like Daboll's scheme.He couldn't .

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I agree completely. I like the 3-4. I like the physical, smash-mouth, downhill style running game we employ.

Can't begin to tell you how disappointed I'll be if we start over again next year. Even the thought of it makes me sick to my stomach.

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why we haven't built anything here at all...we have no passing game...

our 2010 draft class is going now where..we haven't built anything so we wouldn't be starting over....

Our O is 31st in points per game and last i checked in the 18 to 20 range in rushing and something like 26-29 in passing.

ST has been really poor in blocking all year. They have been PHENOMENAL in coverage. Best in the league by far in coverage but blocking is no where near what it was last year.

Defense has been impressive other than mistakes in the secondary and they are getting better each week.