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Random Thoughts: Browns GM situation

By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

With a week to think about the the Browns General Manager situation and subsequent direction of the team moving forward, I have a ton of thoughts floating around my head.

They need to come out.

Is Mike Holmgren really the way the Browns should take this ship? I understand he is a respected member of the NFL fraternity. What capacity will he join the Browns? A lot of people are suggesting it'll be similar to the VP of Football Operations position that Bill Parcells holds with the Dolphins. This would almost certainly mean Eric Mangini would be gone after this season.
Holmgren as a GM. I'm not interested in that. This has been brought up before, but I think it bears repeating: Holmgren was relieved of his GM duties in Seattle. He was told to strictly focus on coaching. Maybe putting him in as the GM would add some credibility to the organization, but I don't think it makes football sense.
Anyway the Browns go about this, they have to have a head coach, a general manager and someone in the front office with solid football knowledge. All three need to have the very best interest of the team at heart. Our owner is not going to be a public figure so we need someone that can take the reigns and address the public when the need arises.
Is Bernie Kosar the public figure that the Browns need? I'm not sure. I think Bernie needs to be involved with the team because he genuinely cares about the city and the Browns. I genuinely care about the Browns and Cleveland, does that mean I should be considered, too?
I have been back and forth on this, but I want to throw a name out there. Ozzie Newsome. I feel like he betrayed the Browns and it still makes me angry to this day. But the facts remain that he is one of the Browns all-time greats. He has to have some form of loyalty to the franchise. Most importantly, he is one of the best general managers in the NFL and has an impeccable draft record.
Is Newsome a possibility? It is a long shot, but it has to be worth a phone call. If Lerner is serious about this he has to leave no stone unturned. It is going to depend on how good of a salesman he is by pulling on the heart strings of Newsome. A ton of money wouldn't hurt either.
I am in the camp of giving Mangini his time to finish what he started. But that also comes with conditions. The first condition is that Jon Gruden isn't willing to come coach this team. Gruden would be the perfect combination of relating to the players and demanding respect from them at the same time. The other condition is Bill Cowher, but unfortunately that ship has sailed.
These are all big "what ifs," but if Lerner wants to make a splash, it is going to take a big name that wants a challenge. It is also going to take a blank check. I find it hard to believe that if Lerner came with a good sales pitch and a blank check, Newsome wouldn't at least listen. Same thing goes for Gruden.
Like I said earlier, if a coach comes in and wants full control of everything, Lerner is going to have to pass. Lerner must accept the fact if the coach the wants full control he isn't the right fit.
As much as we need to have a GM in place the sooner the better, I hope Lerner does his due dilligence. If he hires the first guy through the door like he did last time, we will be having this same conversation in a couple of years. The franchise will not be any better off.
I just want a winner. I need to know that the Browns owner wants the same.

November 09, 2009 at 8:04 PM

Comments

Due Diligence, Yes. Hire the best one Yes. In any event it is very difficult to imagine a 'credible' NFL executive not firing Manidiot within say 2-3 minutes!

November 09, 2009 at 9:58 PM by frederick jblacknight

The dream team for me would be Mike Holmgren as GM and John Gruden as head coach. I believe they have a relationship that goes back to San Fran. Gruden is one of the best offensive minds in the game. Listen to his comentary and you can see what a good teacher he is. If he can make us understand the complex offenses as he does, he can easily get through to the players. In my opinion, to be a good coach, you have to be a good teacher. I dont care how much knowlege you have of the game if you cant relate it to the players.
Next, retain Ryan as Defensive coordinator. The reson our defense ranks so low is they spend 35 minutes on the field every week. I'ld like to see a stat sheet on the defenses performance in the 1st. half. I bet our ranking would be much higher

November 09, 2009 at 8:37 AM by kdawg

My fear with Gruden is his undying love for snob-knobbing QBs, especially #7. Can you imagine the head coach of the Browns running across the field twice a year in order to blow the opposing team's QB? Maybe I'm just overreacting the MNF game last night, but sheesh, that was some excessive oral fellatio.

November 09, 2009 at 11:47 AM by Bryon

Would it help if fans got on a bus with a pile of cash and knocked on Ozzie's door? We need him back in Cleveland. It's where he belongs.

November 09, 2009 at 12:40 PM by Tom

Random Thoughts: Browns GM situation

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