As the Browns prepare to play the Patriots this weekend, coach Eric Mangini has to worry not only about his former boss but also his current one.
Browns president Mike Holmgren, who had kept a low profile for much of the season, suddenly has gotten chatty. He held a press conference earlier this week, during which he declined to close the door on returning to the sidelines.
“If I keep wearing a suit or not,” Holmgren said, “we’ll see.”
Earlier today, Holmgren appeared on The Dan Patrick Show, and the former Packers and Seahawks coach continued to send out clues regarding a possible return.
“I don’t know,” Holmgren said as to whether he’ll return to coaching. “I’m not evading anything. I don’t know. . . . One of the challenges for me is just watching the game. I’m in the box and I’m with some other guys and I’m ranting and raving and jumping around and it’s a challenge for me. It’s new for me.”
As to the desire to be on the sidelines, Holmgren said, “I don’t know if it ever leaves you.”
It sounds like a huge factor in the decision-making process will be his wife, Kathy, who apparently would remind the Big Show of the big problems that coaching in the NFL creates.
Patrick eventually said he thinks Holmgren will coach again. “You do?” Holmgren said, possibly not clear what to say once Dan shot an arrow into the heart of the matter -- and struck the bull’s-eye. “Well, you know maybe we can talk about it if it happens next year.”
Later, Holmgren added, “We’ll see.”
Indeed we will. And Mangini is going to be one of the folks monitoring the situation most carefully.