Browns, Holmgren to continue discussions
December 18, 2009
BEREA, Ohio (AP)—As Browns players dressed for practice on Thursday, defensivelineman Corey Williams(notes) began chanting, “We want Holmgren! We want Holmgren!”
Their wait continues.
Mike Holmgren left Cleveland on Wednesday without a contract to take over asthe Browns’ director of football operations. Team spokesman Bill Bonsiewicz saidmoney has not been discussed, despite reports that Holmgren could commandupwards of $10 million a year, but that the two sides agreed to talk again inthe coming days.
FILE – This is an Oct. 26, 200… AP – Dec 15, 11:38 am EST NFL Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
He would not offer specifics of the conversation, or whether the Browns havebrought in other candidates.
Before Holmgren can be hired, the Browns would have to interview a minoritycandidate to comply with the NFL’s “Rooney Rule.”
“We’re aware of the rule,” Bonsiewicz said. “So much so that we contactedthe league office to make sure we’re clear on it.”
Browns coach Eric Mangini wants his 2-11 team to focus on Kansas City,Sunday’s opponent, but all the buzz about Holmgren has clearly infiltrated thelocker room.
“Have they hired a czar yet?” one player asked a group of reporters,poking fun at the title that has been assigned to owner Randy Lerner’s searchfor a “serious, credible leader” to overhaul the Browns again.
A few minutes later, Williams began shouting his unsolicited campaign.
Williams has been vocal about his lack of playing time this season, althoughinjuries have made him one of the most productive players on defense in recentweeks. He had two sacks in the Browns’ most recent game, a stunning upset of thedefending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Williams came to Cleveland from Green Bay, but Holmgren was long gone by thetime Williams landed in Wisconsin. Still, Williams heard all the stories aboutthe man who has coached in three Super Bowls and appears to be Cleveland’s clearNo. 1 target.
“I heard a lot of great things about him,” Williams said on Wednesday.“It’s a great thing he came in and I hope he gets the job.”
The list of available landing spots for the 61-year-old Holmgren was trimmedThursday when Washington hired Bruce Allen as the team’s general manager an hourafter Vinny Cerrato resigned as vice president of football operations.
Holmgren is considered a candidate in Seattle, where he is still popularafter coaching the Seahawks to a Super Bowl three years ago. Holmgren haspreviously served as the team’s GM and could be a contender to reclaim the roleafter the resignation of Tim Ruskell earlier this month.
Last week, he told a Seattle radio station he “absolutely” wanted to talkto the Seahawks about a possible return as Ruskell’s replacement.
A Seahawks spokesman said Thursday that the Seahawks are is still in an“initial auditing” stage of assessing the slumping franchise and has yet totalk to any GM candidates.