In Holmgren We Trust: Is Optimism Warranted for the Cleveland Browns?

On December 22nd, 2009 Mike Holmgren became the new president of the Cleveland Browns. "The Big Show" is an established football mind and brings respectability to a team that has been everything but.

Owner Randy Lerner gave Holmgren full authority of the organization and he started with hiring Tom Heckert to be the new GM and decided to keep Eric Mangini as head coach. Browns fans could finally relax knowing their beloved franchise was in good hands.

During free agency, the Browns brought in veterans Jake Delhomme (QB), Scott Fujita (LB), Tony Pashos (RT), Ben Watson (TE), Alex Smith (TE) and Bobby Engram (WR). The Browns also traded for veteran players Sheldon Brown (CB), Chris Gocong (LB), Seneca Wallace (QB) and Peyton Hillis (RB).

It's well documented that Holmgren believes that the most important position on the football team is quarterback. He didn't like what he saw in the Quinn-Anderson tandem so he quickly removed them from the team. Delhomme and Wallace swiftly replaced them.

Wallace is a career backup and Delhomme who was once a pro-bowler had his worst season of his career last year when he threw 18 interceptions in 12 games before being benched. Some Browns fans were in disgust over the move but most said that Holmgren must have a plan.

But I ask, what if Butch Davis had made that move?

The Browns have had many different heads of the organization since they came back into the league in 1999 but none of them have been as established as Mike Holmgren. If any other previous president would've gotten rid of the hometown boy who never got a fair chance—otherwise known as Brady Quinn—for a 35-year-old quarterback coming off his worst season of his career, the fans would've been screaming for their heads. 

So is the optimism warranted? Should Browns fans have faith that times have changed?

Or should Browns fans be reminded once again of the curse on Cleveland sports?

We'll have to wait for the season to start to figure those things out. Until then—In Holmgren We Trust!