Here's a name to file in the back of your mind as a General Manager candidate for the Browns: Randy Mueller.
The former Seattle and New Orleans GM might well be a viable candidate in Cleveland. Though candor prompts me to admit that because Holmgren has not actually been hired this can be classified as an educated guess.
Meanwhile, Seahawks coach Jim Mora had this to say about Holmgren leaving Seattle: "I'm probably as disappointed as anybody that he's decided to reject our offer and go onward. I don't know all the particulars. I just know that I absolutely have great regard for Mike Holmgren."
Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelly opines that the Seahawks "botched it" by not hiring Holmgren.
Quite a few people also have sent me articles that cast negatives on Holmgren's drafting and player personnel work. One is here.
They're all fair stories. That was not a great time for him — though I would have to say as well that there was a reason his team went to a Super Bowl. Which would be … umm … one more Super Bowls than the Browns have been to.
I addressed his drafting in this post a while back.
But I repeat: Holmgren is not being hired to draft players. He's being hired to build and steer an organization, to provide football sense to an organization that needs a football guy.
Were he hired to draft and select players, I'd be more concerned. Were he hired to do two jobs, which he was doing in Seattle, it would be more concerning as well.
But he's hired to do one job, and though he'll have input on others, I don't think the job he's been hired to do is too much for him.
We'll assess Brady Quinn's season a little later today or tomorrow.