Based On History, What Will Mike Holmgren Do With Brady Quinn?

As we ring in the New Year, folks in Cleveland wonder what Mike Holmgren will mean to the Browns. Fans wonder about a lot of issues.

One of those key issues is how will he deal with the quarterback situation. While nobody really knows, everybody like to make their own prediction about what Holmgren will do.

To predict what he will do, you really have to look at what he has done with this situation in the past.

Dr. Phil is famous for saying that the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. Since Holmgren's method has gotten him to Super Bowls with two different teams, why would he deviate from that now?

Based on that, it is a good news/bad news situation for Brady Quinn. For those who think that Quinn will be replaced next season by Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy, etc., that probably won't happen. Holmgren has never gotten his starting quarterback from the draft.

When he took over in Green Bay in 1992, he inherited a quarterback by the name of Don Majkowski. Majkowski was in and out of the lineup under Lindy Infante due mainly to injuries. Mike Tomczak finished the previous year as the starter when Majkowski was injured.

Holmgren began the 1992 season with Majkowski as the starting quarterback. However, that only lasted a few games as Majkowski got injured once again. Holmgren inserted this second year player who he acquired from Atlanta, Brett Favre. The next year Majkowski was out.

After a great run with the Packers which included two Super Bowl appearances and one World Championship, Holmgren moved northwest to the Seattle Seahawks in 1999.

There he inherited a quarterback by the name of Jon Kitna. Kitna had previously served as the backup to Warren Moon but did end the previous season by starting the last few games. Once again, Holmgren gave the guy he inherited a chance to show what he had.

Kitna led the Seahawks to a 9-7 record, which was enough for an AFC West title and a wild card appearance. Unfortunately, it was a quick exit as the Miami Dolphins led by Dan Marino took care of business.

The playoff appearance bought Kitna another year as the starter. However, he threw four interceptions in the season opener. That year Kitna was in and out with Brock Huard.

The following season, Kitna's contract was not renewed and Holmgren went out and got a guy named Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck was unknown to many, but Holmgren had a feeling about him. A few years in, the Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl.

What does all this mean for Brady Quinn? Again, it is a good news/bad news situation.

The good news is that Holmgren will probably give him a chance as the starter again in 2010. That is what he did with Majkowski and Kitna.

The bad news is that Holmgren hasn't shown any long term loyalty to the quarterbacks he inherits. Therefore, Quinn has to stay healthy and produce results.

If Quinn fails after that, don't look for Holmgren to get his quarterback from the draft. He never has. He has always gotten his guy in a trade and both times it was an unknown, unproven backup. Both times, it worked out.