2010 NFL Draft: Mike Holmgren Tries To Make Sense of It All

Cleveland Browns Team President explained a little bit of the reasoning behind the massive roster overhaul of the past week, including the turnover at quarterback.

While many of Holmgren’s comments were candid, especially those referring to the decision to move on from former starting quarterback Brady Quinn, he still held some cards pretty close to the vest, so let’s do some translating.

Holmgren said, after three years and 12 starts with the Browns, “you should have an idea as a coaching staff where this is headed.”

Translation: “I didn’t like what I saw in the tapes and I want to draft a quarterback and start over. For the organization to do that effectively, I have to get rid of the guys who are here, so that meant Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson had to go.”

Holmgren also alluded to the non-stop quarterback competition that seems to have gripped the Browns’ organization since 2007.

Translation: “Phil Savage really screwed up by signing Derek Anderson after the 2007 season. It hindered both quarterbacks progress and the drama overshadowed everything. I don’t want that drama, and it was yet another reason to dump both quarterbacks and start over.”

The media in attendance did question Holmgren on the value of the deals, something I focused on here . To be perfectly clear, that column was not meant to be any kind of impassioned defense of Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, or Kamerion Wimbley, it was a critical look at what we gave away and what we got, which I found wanting.

Holmgren’s response to the media can be translated in this manner: “Those guys needed to go in order for the team to move forward. Yes, I sold low, but it was the deal offered to me and I didn’t feel it was in the best interests of the team to try and hold out for more.”

The thing to focus on here is Holmgren’s willingness to say as much as he did because, truly, he is not obligated to explain one thing to the fans or the media. However, he did and everyone should feel better for it.

Even though the Browns ended up selling low on Quinn and Wimbley, there was a solid plan in place, and that plan is being executed as efficiently as the franchise is able to. The Browns didn't get Quinn or Wimbley's full value, but at least Holmgren admits it.

That's a lot better than stepping in front of the media and trying to sell the fan base snake oil, which the previous regime was a little too eager to do, but selling snake oil becomes the preferred plan when you're real plan isn't all that great.

It is a shame the hometown boy, Quinn, never got to live his dream taking the Browns to the Super Bowl. It also is a shame Anderson never became the quarterback he still has the potential to be.

But the Browns have 12 picks now going into next month’s draft, and Holmgren is looking for the next big thing.

The name Sam Bradford was brought up in the press conference, and Holmgren admitted to having interest in him. How much stock you can put in that statement is debatable since Holmgren absolutely is not going to tip the Brown's draft strategy.

As of right now, the good bet is on the Brown's taking a quarterback in the second round, trading up isn't the smartest move and any quarterback they want after Bradford still will be on the board in the second round.