BEREA: After trading two former first-round picks in a 24-hour period Sunday, the new Browns brain trust found it had quite a bit of explaining to do to the legions of team fans Monday.
In a near hour-long question-and-answer session with the media, new Browns president Mike Holmgren and second-year head coach Eric Mangini hopped from one subject to another trying to cover all the ground traversed by the team over the last week and a half – especially over the busy weekend.
Included in the far-reaching discussion were: why aging quarterback Jake Delhomme was signed, the abilities of another new quarterback in recently-acquired Seneca Wallace, the reasons behind the surprising trade of linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, the signings of unrestricted free agents in tight end Ben Watson, linebacker Scott Fujita and offensive lineman Tony Pashos and even possible scenarios in the April NFL Draft.
Holmgren did his best to break the ice with a joke, saying new general manager Tom Heckert had made the recent rash of trades and was on the road, but that he and Mangini would do their best to explain the mess he'd left.
Jokes aside, Holmgren seemed genuine in sharing what the organization was trying to accomplish through cutting ties with both of last year's quarterbacks in Derek Anderson (released Tuesday) and Brady Quinn (traded to Denver Sunday).
"(The quarterback position) has been probably the one area we've spent the most time on as a group since I've been here," Holmgren said. "We all came to the conclusion that we couldn't go into the season the same way we went into last season."
In Anderson and Quinn's places, Holmgren and his staff picked up Wallace in a trade with Seattle and signed the free agent Delhomme – quarterbacks familiar with Holmgren's preference of running a West Coast offense.
"One of the areas we looked at as a group was at a veteran quarterback," Holmgren said. "A guy who'd done it and proven he could do it to come in here and add some stability to the position."
At the same time, Holmgren admitted trading Quinn "wasn't easy.
"Brady Quinn's a fine young man, and we wish him well," Holmgren said. "I suspect he'll do well. Oftentimes, players and organizations need a fresh start. Sometimes you both need to cut it off and just start over clean."
"At the same time, Holmgren admitted trading Quinn "wasn't easy.""
He must have still been joking around.
So Where is the hour long explaination? Why Wimbley? What about the draft? What is the future of the QB position? Do they wait till next year? Are we set at Safety? What a dumb and uninformative article.
They traded a quarterback that they really didn't get a good look at, thanks to Mangini's madness.
They had no problem picking up two quarterbacks that are medicore at best. One on his last leg and one that has been in the league for 7 years and has proved nothing. If they were so good at the "West Coast Offense" They surely didn't do very good at it. Really doesn't make any sense. Now there are two more quarterbacks who have to get to know the offense and all the players, and another year of "give us a few more years." I am sure they will go after yet another quarterback they can groom to ride the bench then throw them in and say they aren't very good. Did the new Management not know we have heard this same scenario for the past 10 or so years. Oh Well, back to the drawing board. How soon will they have all of "Their" players in place. GEEEEEEZ
Agree, Mangini thoroughly botched any proper evaluation of Brady Quinn at QB, but it sure didn't help that he surrounded him with Div. 2 college level receivers and running backs, or inserted our 4th string QB/all-purpose guy at the position on 3rd downs.
As soon as Mangini declared an "open competition" which lasted from January thru September at the most important position on the field, the season and the two QBs careers were finished. No team or player can survive such uncertainty, and Mangini was the author of it all.
Trading Quinn without a look merely shows that Mangenius never wanted him in there. He already proved that by pulling him in the middle of the third game last year. What would have made sense would have been to release Anderson and bring in Wallace, then give Quinn a full opportunity in 2010.
Trading Wimbley made little sense, either. I agree with those who doubt this rebuilding strategy. You can't win by rebuilding every year or two. We were winning at the end of last year, and we needed to keep that going by replacing a player or two, bringing in a few new players, and looking to the draft to build further for the future. I'm still not convinced that keeping Mangini was the right thing to do, either.
To the powers that may be maybe thay should hire some cheerleaders so we as fans would have something to cheer for