Tim Ruskell: The Cleveland Browns' New Man in Charge?

The Cleveland Browns' attention has turned to Tim Ruskell in their search to fill their vacant General Manager position, according to Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer .

Ruskell most recently was the President of Football Operations and General Manager of the Seattle Seahawks.

This is somewhat of an ironic twist in that he was the man largely responsible for pushing Mike Holmgren out the door in Seattle.

Holmgren has been on the radar of Browns Randy Lerner for the same position here in Cleveland but now may actually replace Ruskell in Seattle.

Ruskell also was all but offered this very post in Cleveland in 2005, but he believed the Seattle job was a better opportunity. Thus, the Browns turned to the inexperienced Phil Savage.

Ruskell has a solid pedigree, formerly working alongside Rich McKay in the Tampa Bay and Atlanta organizations. He has over 20 years of professional football experience.

He was a key decision-maker in helping two separate teams make Super Bowl runs.

In 2002, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl XVII under Ruskell’s stewardship as Director of Player Personnel.

Prior to 2005, Mike Holmgren had served as both the head coach and general manager of the Seahawks. Holmgren struggled in the dual roles and Ruskell took over as President and General Manager.

In 2006, Seattle played in Super Bowl XL after many years of mediocracy (or worse). Ruskell played a major role in making that happen.

According to the Plain Dealer source, “Tim is a cooperative sort. For example, he went to Seattle and accepted and worked with Holmgren even though it was common knowledge that Holmgren resented losing his duties [as President and GM] to Ruskell.”

Ruskell fits the profile of Randy Lerner’s search. He has a great deal of experience turning around woebegone franchises, he is personable in terms of his handling of the press and the fans, and he is well-liked and respected by player agents.