Seneca Wallace on Holmgren/Mangini

[DawgFan]

BEREA, Ohio -- As the Cleveland Browns, his all-consuming pet rebuilding project, went through drills earlier this week, team president Mike Holmgren ventured onto the rock-hard practice field and called over kicker Phil Dawson for a chat.
With coach Eric Mangini standing only yards away, Holmgren, bundled in a heavy jacket to combat December's biting cold, talked to other players and then with Gil Haskell, his longtime friend and one of the trusted advisers he brought to Cleveland.
Last year, Holmgren traded his whistle for an executive's tie.
He might be about swap them again.

Holmgren
With the Browns perhaps on the verge of a coaching change, quarterback Seneca Wallace believes Holmgren is angling for a return to the sideline.
"I kind of do just because things probably haven't turned out the way he wanted on offense and being an offensive guy, I think he still has that itch to come back to coach," said Wallace, who played seven seasons for Holmgren in Seattle. "But at the end of the day, he's going to make the right decision for the rest of the team."
Yep, the Browns (5-10) could be getting a makeover. This one, though, might not be quite as extreme.
Mangini, given one reprieve by Holmgren last January, may not get a second as the Browns stagger to the finish of another disappointing season -- their ninth with double-digit losses in 12 years. Cleveland has gone just 2-5 since a midseason upset of New England, and unless the Browns can stun Pittsburgh on Sunday, Mangini will close his second year with a four-game losing streak.
That may be enough for Holmgren to make a coaching change, assuming he hasn't already made up his mind to replace Mangini, who will carry a 10-21 overall record -- 2-9 vs. the AFC North -- into Sunday's regular-season finale.
When Holmgren last met with reporters on Nov. 2, he said he would wait until after the season before making a decision on Mangini. He also left open the possibility of a return to coaching.
"I'd be less than honest if I didn't say I get fired up watching the games," he said. "I mean I [coached] 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."
Browns owner Randy Lerner brought in Holmgren to fix his franchise, which has undergone nearly constant change in the past decade.
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If Mangini gets fired, the 62-year-old Holmgren, who won a Super Bowl with Green Bay and an NFC championship with Seattle, will quickly jump to the top of a list of possible replacements. There could be several other big-name candidates available, including Jon Gruden, John Fox, Bill Cowher and others.
But Holmgren simply packing up his belongings and moving down the hall to a new office would cause the least uproar for organization craving calm. Unlike previous years, there doesn't seem to be nearly as much concern about the possibility -- and potential likelihood -- of change.
Maybe that's because Holmgren is overseeing it.
"He brings credibility to the whole organization," said Dawson, who has seen his share of turnover in 11-plus seasons with Cleveland. "I think if you ask anyone, they would say the same thing. Guys are confident that he knows what he wants to do, and we'll all have to wait and see what happens. But no one seems to be panicking or anything like that."
Many Browns fans can't bear the thought of another coaching change, but Wallace believes they should be comforted by Holmgren's presence.
"He's a person who is going to build a foundation," said Wallace, who started four games this season. "I don't think over the last couple of years there's been a foundation. There has been a lot of turnover. And I think once you build that foundation and that type of mentality, it's going to build for the future."
Has he seen any part of the foundation formed?
"I saw a couple of bricks slide in place," he said, "but there's still a lot of building that needs to be done."
Holmgren has spent the year evaluating Cleveland's roster, which has been upgraded by general manager Tom Heckert -- Holmgren's first hire. Holmgren knows what's needed and what's not, a fact that would make his potential takeover as coach that much more seamless.
Cornerback Sheldon Brown, acquired in an offseason trade with Philadelphia, has faith that the Browns' front office is getting things done.
"If they came back here and said, 'Sheldon, we need you to play safety, nickel, dime,' I believe that they know what they're doing to get us to where we need to go," he said. "I just believe in the plan."
When Holmgren accepted Lerner's offer to restore the Browns, he did so knowing it would be hard to shake the coaching bug. It's all the former high school history teacher has known since becoming an assistant at his alma mater in San Francisco 40 years ago.
Holmgren has enjoyed his executive role, immersing himself into the daily business of the Browns with the same verve as he did as a coach. But shaking hands with season-ticket holders and charming suite holders doesn't provide the same excitement as preparing a game plan to beat the Ravens.
He knew turning the Browns into consistent winners would take time, but patience has never been a strong suit.
"The problem is that I'm old, and the clock is ticking a little bit for me in this business," Holmgren joked during an interview with The Associated Press in October.
He misses the game.
It might be time to get back in it.

Isn't if funny how we hear nothing from Wallace, a guy who is a ghost on the sidelines, and then he suddenly appears and talks about Holmgren (who hand picked him) taking over at coach.

Everyone else who has come out is in support of Mangini, but the guy not getting the playing time or recognition is pulling for Holmgren.

Kind of dilutes the message, don't you think???

[Masters]

Dilutes it no more than from a guy like Bowens sticking up for EM, who possibly would be out of job, if not for EM signing him (for 7M and 4 years) and giving him a roster spot again this year too. He certainly wouldn't be seeing this much playing time else where. Heck, he started a total of 7 games over the last two years EM was the Jets HC.

Wallace (who will be a FA after the year) was asked if he thought Holmgren still wants to coach and said yes. Not exactly much to read into that. So Wallace saying it dilutes it about as much as Dawson and Brown saying they have confidence in what ever decision Holmgren makes, in that same article.

And heard nothing from Wallace? There have been quote from him all the way back to when EM went with Jake over Wallace after Colt went down with his injury.

[hiwaygal]

The thing is...alot of what we have heard from Wallace has been kind of negative toward the coaching staff, and to some extent the direction and plan this team has.

Sheldon Brown's quote was more telling, IMO, many of the players trust the plan and the people executing it.

There were a lot of quotes in this article that seemed like the writer (not exactly a Mangini fan) took some liberties with...I wouldn't necessarily interpret them in the same way, but then, I don't have a vendetta against Mangini. Or a strong desire to see MH back on the sidelines.

[DawgFan]

Originally Posted by hiwaygal

The thing is...alot of what we have heard from Wallace has been kind of negative toward the coaching staff, and to some extent the direction and plan this team has.

Sheldon Brown's quote was more telling, IMO, many of the players trust the plan and the people executing it.

There were a lot of quotes in this article that seemed like the writer (not exactly a Mangini fan) took some liberties with...I wouldn't necessarily interpret them in the same way, but then, I don't have a vendetta against Mangini. Or a strong desire to see MH back on the sidelines.

Exactly. My point is we see a lot of stuff about JD helping Colt out...but Wallace nowhere to be found...even on gameday he is MIA. The only things I have heard from Wallace is that he was upset he didn't get the starting job back after his ankle healed.

So, what we have, is a disgruntled QB saying that MH is disappointed with the direction and that he thinks he will come down (and basically, put him in starting I guess).

[YtownBacker]

Honestly, does it really mean anything other then we must wait until after the Pittsburgh game so we can find out.

I don't believe that Holmgren has any thoughts of stepping down to become coach of the Browns, but that's just my take. I do believe that Haskel will end up with a bigger role and end up on the coaching staff. I don't think he came here to fetch Holmgren coffee and be a fly on the wall. He's an offensive coach taught by Holmgren and loyal to Holmgren.

[Vegasdogg]

Wallace supports Holmgren as coach. This is not the first time he has come out and said Mike probably has an itch to coach again. I'm not a fan of players with loose lips but I'm not sure what you mean by "dilutes his message."

Is it because he doesn't come out and support Mangini for 2011? It's Seneca Wallace, probably the only player we have who knows Holmgren for his entire career, so why wouldn't he have a better understanding of Mike's thoughts?

I get the feeling sometimes that if it's not a pro-Mangini take it's dismissed out of hand.

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by Vegasdogg

I get the feeling sometimes that if it's not a pro-Mangini take it's dismissed out of hand.

LOL...I guess it can kinda seem that way.

In reality there are questions and uncertainty about the coach so we're all going to more or less "defend" our opinions with what we can find in the media.

Unfortunately, it seems like the media is all about getting rid of Mangini so it's not really bringing something 'new' to the table. There just isn't much speculation about Mangini staying. Seems a lot like last year! lol - well, we did want consistency!!!

From my perspective, Wallace's opinion is tainted much like everyone else's. Of course he has a past with Holmgren so his opinion may seem to carry more weight. But I tend to give more credence to someone who doesn't appear to have a preference...if that makes sense.

[kydawgfan]

Mangini's PR ploys and half truths arent going to take him out of the hotseat this time, holmgren is far to seasoned to buy mangini's tasteless garbage...

If for some unimaginable reason holmgren keeps mangini i will give him the benefit of the doubt but will be ready to join in on going straight after lerner for hiring holmgren if mangini tanks again..

[OconRecon]

Just watched Holmgren's SoundFX on NFLN. Coaching is clearly where his passion lies, without a doubt.

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by OconRecon

Just watched Holmgren's SoundFX on NFLN. Coaching is clearly where his passion lies, without a doubt.

Interesting take, Ocon!

I watched it the other day and that's not what I came away with...I was more impressed with his handling of personnel issues, how he handled people, how he worked with people.

He clearly loves the game, that's no doubt.

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by kydawgfan

Mangini's PR ploys and half truths arent going to take him out of the hotseat this time, holmgren is far to seasoned to buy mangini's tasteless garbage...

If for some unimaginable reason holmgren keeps mangini i will give him the benefit of the doubt but will be ready to join in on going straight after lerner for hiring holmgren if mangini tanks again..

Can you elaborate on the bolded part, kydawgfan?

Are you talking about him not revealing starters and not telling the media everything?

Is there a coach out there who DOESN'T do those kinds of things? Is there a manager of any kind that would necessarily reveal personal, personnel , or "strategic" information to the media?

These are honest questions...

[Danamal]

"I'd be less than honest if I didn't say I get fired up watching the games," he said. "I mean I [coached] 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."





This quote here could have been in bold and the article revolve around it but where is the shit storm in that?
Keep the cauldron bubbling,in a week or so we will all know the real deal till then lets keep arguing.