Hours after a vague statement didn’t specify whether Browns owner Randy Lerner is talking to Steelers minority owner about selling a slice, the controlling chunk, or all of the franchise, team president Mike Holmgren has clarified the situation.
Via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Holmgren says Lerner is selling the controlling interest in the team.
Holmgren also says the Browns won’t be leaving Cleveland. However, Holmgren declined to address whether he would be leaving Cleveland. He said questions regarding his status will be “answered down the road.”
That likely means Holmgren eventually will be moving on, and moving out. With Lerner making avoiding disruption to the team his top priority, if Holmgren were staying, he’d say so.
The deal, per Cabot, is close. Which means that Holmgren’s future likely already has been addressed.
Our guess? He remains in place through the 2012 season, then walks away.