Comments on: Holmgren expects significant improvement in Cleveland this year

By: micro216

micro216 — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:30:49 +0000

If Holmgren expect improvement, then HE should do something about it.

The teams top needs were RB, WR, OL, OLB, and FS. They managed to get the top RB in the draft, so that did good there… and then failed after that.

There were so many picks that they passed on that could of helped the team, and instead they dramatically reached at #22 for a 29 year old rookie QB. So sad what could have been…

#22 OG David Decastro
#37 OLB Lavonte David
#67 WR Mohamed Sanu
#100 RT Bobby Massie

Then sign a vet OLB and FS in free agency, and then we might have something to talk about. With a o-line like that, the QB would have plenty of time to pick the defense apart or the RB could gash em for big yardage.

They managed to address the o-line some, but could have done better. They needed a WR and took a little guy who could be in trouble in the NFL.

By: klumpofbrownsadness

klumpofbrownsadness — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:54:34 +0000

For all the griping being dispensed by the impatient types, the talent added to this team since H&H took over has been a vast improvement over the 1999-2009 timeframe. I don’t think they realistically have the talent yet to compete for the playoffs, yet, but it is improving. I would be quite happy if we at least got some entertaining football this year – 2011 season was dreadful & even the wins (Seattle comes to mind) felt like losses. Earlier comments on the Ravens getting long in the tooth, and Stillers needing to re-tool are accurate, but they still have solid foundations. Cincy has historically been up & down, so I can’t help but think last year was a fluke for them. All that said, 8-8 with 1 or 2 division wins would make me feel a lot better, and isn’t beyond imagination. It IS an improvement, especially compared to the 96, 97, & 98 seasons (well, at least it’s something to do on Sunday afternoons).

By: cpp3

cpp3 — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:39:51 +0000

muckfodell says:
May 8, 2012 6:56 PM

Just a suggestion: Do a little research before you comment.

Heckert’s first draft was 2010. Their first two picks Haden and Ward made the NFL all-rookie team. Shaun Lavuao is their starting right guard. McCoy was considered a great pick at 67. So that’s three starters.

2011: Again, the first two picks made the all-rookie team, Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard. And we also picked up Weeden this year as part of that deal. Greg Little had 61 catches after not playing football in 2010. Jason Pinkston (5th rd.) started all 16 games. That’s five starters.

Will these acquisitions turn the team around? We’ll see, but let’s be fair when we judge Heckert.

The crappy drafting was from 1999 to 2009. Please don’t be like a lot of ignorant fans who hold this regime responsible for the incompetence of the past.

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K Haden passes but, who, who, and who? None of those other guys are relevant in this league. With the Browns roster, it doesn’t take much to start for that team. How about you start talking about how good a drafting team this is once someone actually becomes a big time player in the league and weren’t drafted in the top 10.

By: cpp3

cpp3 — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:35:18 +0000

theland24 says:
May 8, 2012 10:44 PM
When they take, at least, one game from each team in their division plus beat Indy, Buffalo, Oakland, KC, and Washington that would make them 9-7 and all you idiots will be choking on crow
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HAHAHAHA good luck with that. 1-15 is more likely. No way they win against anyone in there division.

By: td40

td40 — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:46:44 +0000

So, Mike- when the Browns have 5 or fewer wins again this year, you’re firing yourself, right?

By: Brar

Brar — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:04:31 +0000

It looks like to me that Holmgren up there is knocking on Death’s door. If he lives another 5 years without dying from a massive heart attack I will be shocked. I think he is a good dude, but damn he looks unhealthy.

By: brownsapologist

brownsapologist — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:49:38 +0000

Gotta love stupid Bengals fans. Way to be happy about going to the playoffs, when you get there you just crap all over yourself. The reason why Browns fans are so miserable is because we know we will only be happy if the Browns go to AND win the Super Bowl. They’ve been so close before and no one walks out of the stadium or turns off their TV after getting Elwayed in the face and says “oh well, at least we made it to the playoffs. At least were not as bad as the Bengals because we made it to the playoffs this year.” No one says that crap! No one cares about your stupid team! And quit piling on like your team is good now because we all know you’re just a whipping boy in this division like the Browns are. Give me a break….

By: mrfrostyj

mrfrostyj — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:02:57 +0000

Browns record would have been 7-9 if you eliminated all of the special teams mistakes. 8-8 if you eliminate the defensive brain fart in the season opener against the Bengals were Dalton threw a touchdown pass to Green while Cleveland was still in the huddle.

If Richardson at runningback is as good as the scouts say he is 7-9 would be a disappointment the way Clevelands defense has played. They should be on par with the Jets and Ravens as teams that can win despite shaky QB play.

By: theland24

theland24 — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:44:55 +0000

When they take, at least, one game from each team in their division plus beat Indy, Buffalo, Oakland, KC, and Washington that would make them 9-7 and all you idiots will be choking on crow

By: bhb85

bhb85 — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:30:13 +0000

Amazing how no one has mentioned the importance of drafting WR Travis Benjamin. He ran a 4.36 40 at the combine! With defenses stacking 8 in the box we can stretch the field with one on one coverage in the secondary. More importantly though, he will be returning kickoffs and PR’s changing the game of field position which is crucial in the stingy AFC North. The Browns ARE taking the right steps 8 – 8 next year because you can’t coach speed. GO BROWNS!

By: jjbadd

jjbadd — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:23:45 +0000

I truly don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I don’t see it. Holmgren is very overrated, & if you really look at it, I think they have taken a step back! But I can also see Holmgrens approach too. He wasn’t sold on McCoy,so he decided to cut ties. But see, Weeden isn’t the savior everyone is thinking. He’s actually a smokescreen, because if/when he fails this year, that will set them up for Barkley next year, and give them trade value for Weeden. Just watch how it plays out…

By: muckfodell

muckfodell — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:21:44 +0000

“In the picture, Holmgren is showing you the # of wins the Clownies will have this year!
“Ya dont live in Cleveland, ya live in Cincitucky!” -Sam Wyche

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Quoting the village idiot Sam Wyche, eh?

Don’t get too excited about the Bungles. It was ONE decent year…

By: bensstinkyfingers

bensstinkyfingers — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:24:18 +0000

blacknole08 says:May 8, 2012 3:24 PM

Is Holmgren doing the black power fist or the Hitler fist in that pic? I can’t really tell.
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That’s Holmy explaining that if the browns go 2-14 this season, he will be riding his harley back to Seattle.

By: muckfodell

muckfodell — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:56:35 +0000

“man they say that every year in cleveland. instead of talking about it try doing it. it is apparent you cant draft worth a crap every year.”

Just a suggestion: Do a little research before you comment.

Will these acquisitions turn the team around? We’ll see, but let’s be fair when we judge Heckert.

The crappy drafting was from 1999 to 2009. Please don’t be like a lot of ignorant fans who hold this regime responsible for the incompetence of the past.

By: pacodawg

pacodawg — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:49:18 +0000

Can’t believe people still like McCoy. Name 1 other team he could start for? ZERO!

By: pacodawg

pacodawg — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:47:35 +0000

The 3rd toughest schedule argument is hogwash. The difference in having the 3rd toughest and 3rd easiest is about 2 wins. In the NFL parity rules and the record the year before means zero. If they lose alot this year or win alot has little to do with the schedule, but how well they play on the field.

By: Fantasy Football Legend

Fantasy Football Legend — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:13:54 +0000

Does Holmgren plan on looking for a new job next season? Browns will still be junk, yeah they drafted a new QB but his a rookie and they still have a junk WR/TE core. Oh yeah the DE sucks besides Haden.

By: coop16

coop16 — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:12:33 +0000

Like a couple of other guys posting comments here, I’m a lifelong Browns fan (yeah, and I’ve got other problems too). I agree with most of them that the Browns aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Holmgren can bluster all he wants, and in a weak division maybe we’d be competitive, but in the AFC North? We’ve got the worst QB in the division, the worst defense, and BY FAR the worst receiving corps (maybe in the entire league). The only place we match up with the others in the division is at OL and RB, and that’s no anywhere near enough.

Let’s be realistic, OK? We’re just starting Year 3 of a 5-year rebuilding plan. And the way things are going, it might be more like a 7-year rebuilding plan. If we draft well we might be competitive by 2014, but it isn’t going to happen any sooner than that, no matter how much the team’s president wants to bluster. There are just too many holes to fill. Unless of course you think the Browns’ defense is already as good as Baltimore’s, and that the WR corps is equal to Pittsburgh’s, and that a 28-year-old rookie QB is going to be as good as Big Ben and Flacco, in which case you need to get some strong prescription medication.

By: frozenrope15

frozenrope15 — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:34:12 +0000

Of course they will, nothing is blocking him now that he has every player’s Dad in line.

By: ravenseattheirownpoop

ravenseattheirownpoop — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:29:45 +0000

I’ve been hearing this out of the Brownies for the past 25 years. Let’s face it, ten years from now they will be saying the same thing. Until they learn how to draft, they ate gonna suck. Shoulda drafted Big Ben!

By: criticaldsj

criticaldsj — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:24:17 +0000

Well, I expect to win the lottery. I suspect both of us will be disappointed.

With that schedule, and the limitations on offense, another five win season would be about the best this club will do.

And that’s not entirely a bad thing. Another year of high draft picks should, provided Weeden gets a season to get his legs under him, the opportunity to surround him with tools and solidify the defensive line.

Suck it up Browns fans and look at putting yourself in position to be competitive in 2013.

By: rowdymon

rowdymon — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:17:48 +0000

It’s getting harder to be hopeful, then I think to the Saints going from 3 – 13 to 10 – 6, the Lions going from 6-10 to 10 – 6 and the Colts going from 3 – 13 to 13 – 3 in consecutive seasons. QB is the key and I sure hope Holmgren got it right this time.

By: hawkforlife

hawkforlife — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:14:31 +0000

If you watched Holmgren scream at Matt Hasslebeck all those years in Seattle you’d wonder how this guy could possibly run a franchise.

I always wonder how many super bowls the Hawks could have made it to with all that talent in that stretch from 2003 to 2007 without that constant screaming and just showing a little support for Matt.

Now McCoy has had his negative treatment from Holmgren and Holmgren can start undermining his next QB. I know he’s not the coach but I’ve been interested what he’d do to that franchise since he was anointed by the press as the GREAT Mike Holmgren. Believe me, as a Hawk fan forever I was not sad to see him go.

By: cpp3

cpp3 — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:04:19 +0000

And with the first pick in the 2013 draft, the Cleveland Browns select…..

Expect to hear that phrase next year Browns fans

By: wallacejay

wallacejay — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:57:50 +0000

On paper and until the season starts

By: 3yardsndust

3yardsndust — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:46:12 +0000

Holmgren doesn’t know his ass from a hat.

By: savocabol1

savocabol1 — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:36:11 +0000

I know it has nothing to do with the article, but the Bunglas really do have some of the worst (and most fairweather) fans in the league.

By: rocketdogsports

rocketdogsports — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:30:57 +0000

Let’s review:
1. No meaningful free agents signed.
2. No defense stretching WR in the draft.
3. Division is the toughest in the AFC.
4. Braintrust may be “not so much”.
5. Fujita out for three games.
6. Two rookies on the OL.
7. QB probably a rookie.
8. NFC East on the schedule.
9. 4-12 looks optimistic.

Not a lot to look forward to.

By: sterilizecromartie

sterilizecromartie — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:30:33 +0000

spunhead73 says:
May 8, 2012 4:21 PM
If its Brown flush it down. Boy that’s a good one,i’ve never heard that one before. Must be a Bengals fan saying that. That is the oldest,and dumbest saying ever,not to mention i’ve heard that many times when i was a kid. Bengals suck,and they have the worst fans in the land.
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You’re right about the fans. But even that sorry franchise has made the playoffs 2 of the last 3 years. That’s more than the Browns have made it since they came back to the NFL all those years ago.

By: terrygca

terrygca — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:29:14 +0000

If my Granma had balls and a mustache, she’d…well, acutally, she’d look a lot like Mike Holmgren.