This year, purposefully, I've really tried to back away from those types of things and allow Tom (Heckert) and Pat (Shurmur) to speak for the football team and that was just what I thought was the right thing to do and moving forward it should be more like that.
![holmgren-draft2011-horiz-jk.jpg]()
Plain Dealer File Photo"This year, purposefully, I've really tried to back away from those types of things and allow Tom (Heckert) and Pat (Shurmur) to speak for the football team and that was just what I thought was the right thing to do and moving forward it should be more like that," Mike Holmgren said Thursday.Browns President Mike Holmgren met with members of the Cleveland media on Thursday. Transcript provided by the Cleveland Browns Public Relations Dept.
(Opening statement)- "Well
this is fun, I haven't been able to do this is awhile so why don't we just fire
away. I think last year about the half way point or at some point we did
have a discussion and it was my first year and all those things. I hadn't
intended for it to be quite this formal, I was going to come in and talk to you
like we do on occasion. This year, purposefully, I've really tried to
back away from those types of things and allow Tom (Heckert) and Pat (Shurmur)
to speak for the football team and that was just what I thought was the right
thing to do and moving forward it should be more like that. The head
coach is the spokesman for the football team and he's good at it and that's the
way it should be done, but I was going to talk to you kind of informally so
this is the next best thing I guess. I couldn't get down to you soon
enough I had other things going on so that's why we are here so fire away."
(On the Peyton Hillis
situation)- "First of all and you guys know this and I know you can
appreciate it, we're not going to talk about the contract negotiation per say
publicly ever with the details certainly with anybody about any player. Peyton
along with a couple other fellow's in the league who had very productive years
last year and are in the last year of their contract and have not signed
extensions, Matt Forte as an example being one in Chicago. I think you
know this already, we tried to sign an extension. There was a difference of
opinion as is the case, those who have been around this business for a long
time, it happens and so there we were. Now, was everyone trying?
Yes. From their point of view, we were all trying to get something done,
but it hasn't happened so there you are. I've always encouraged players
in this situation, I've had any numbers of players in this type of
category. Now, what has to happen is you have to have a great year to
reach these goals, it's to your benefit, it's to the clubs benefit and there we
are. Unfortunately, the added drama of the sickness and injuries and all
that other stuff and really I'm serious about this, a lot of things have been
written and said that are so far from the truth and it really presents road
blocks for the development of our team. I'm not placing blame here, I'm
just saying that it's kind of the nature of the beast at times. Peyton
was sick in that first game and couldn't play, okay. All sorts of stuff
was said about that and in this day in age there's a lot of activity where
there's talk radio, there's just a lot of activity. He couldn't play, he
was sick and then most recently he pulled a hamstring and I found out that
everyone was concerned during the football game on Sunday, 'What's happening
he's not in there.' It's not this major conspiracy deal going on, it's
just he had an injury, he tried to go again, he couldn't go and it's something
that happens every Sunday with any number of teams all the time, but because of
the previous stuff that had happened with Peyton I suppose it became more
newsworthy, but that's where it sits. No one has called off negotiations,
no one has said, 'Let's wait until the end.' It's still kind of in that
floating area where you're waiting for a phone call or you're going to make a
phone call or whatever. In the meantime, in fact, I talked with Peyton
yesterday. We talk weekly and I said look it's important that you kind of
go out there and do the best that you can do once you get healthy and I'm
rooting for you and selfishly for the team certainly and then I like him, he's
a good guy. That's where it is."
(On if Hillis has a future
with this team)- "With the trading deadline I saw, the trading deadline is
another interesting thing. You get all sorts of names floating around at
the trading deadline. There's no way I'm trading Peyton Hillis.
There's just no way that was ever going to happen. Why would I do
that? Why would I trade one of our best players? I wouldn't do
it. Now, because of the nature of these types of negotiations and if
Peyton has a good year he'll have opportunities now because you enter into free
agency, legitimate free agency. Are we going to be a player in there to
try and keep him here? Absolutely, I told him that yesterday."
(On the national reports such
as there being grumblings in the locker room and if he wishes some of that
stuff would be filtered if it is indeed coming from someone within in the
organization)- "Well certainly, if it's coming from someone in the
organization and I find out who it's coming from then they're not going to be
part of the organization for very long. I think the nature of the beast
is it's an emotional business and everyone has their pain tolerance, everyone
has their levels and I'm not talking about Peyton Hillis, I'm talking about
anybody. I've seen this many, many, many times where a guy will play with
a broken leg. I had a guy in San Francisco play with a torn ACL for about
two quarters so everyone's different, but that's not the point. The point
is and to answer your question, absolutely. It really bothers me when I
get these, 'unnamed source' or however that's phrased. We're trying to
put together a good organization and a good football team and all those things,
all that is, is distracting us from what we're trying to do. All that is
and it's too bad. I don't like it either."
(On how big of a hinder it is
when players speak out on their role in the offense after a loss)- "Well I played
quarterback a few years ago, I'm an old man now. But, I played
quarterback for a long time starting back in junior high, through college, a
little thing in the pros, coached quarterbacks. I've been around quarterbacks,
I've been a quarterback and I have never, ever talked to a receiver that wasn't
open in the huddle, ever. 'Hey, I was open.' Then you look at the
film and he wasn't open. You have to tell them to just shut up and if
you're open then I'll throw you the ball and if I throw it to you, catch
it. I think at the end of a ball game and look, there are a lot of
veterans in here. If you go up to Josh Cribbs or Evan Moore or Mo (Mohamed
Massaquoi) or any receiver and go, 'You know you didn't see the ball too much,
how do you feel about that?' 'Oh, I'm happy, that's really good, I don't want
to see the ball.' They're not going to say that. What are they
going to say? No, I'd like to see the ball more. It happens.
Jerry Rice after every game, he'd come into my office and say, 'Mike you've got
to get me the ball more.' I had a little strip on my call sheet, plays for
Jerry Rice and I'd check them off and I'd explain it, I'd talk to him, we
didn't go there because you had four guys covering you. This is where he
went. At the end of the session he'd go, 'Okay thanks.' But, did
that prevent him from doing it the next week or the week after that, no.
It's just how it is. I'm not bothered by the fact that they want the
ball, in fact, I like that. However, I think there's a way to do that and
sometimes players just get caught in the emotion after a game. It just
happens. I would prefer that those kinds of discussions take place in our
locker room, in our offices, because then they don't get blown out of
proportion and then cause a distraction."
(On how he riled up fans by
saying he wouldn't be in Cleveland for 10 years and what he wants to see happen
here before he moves on)- "First of all, did they say I was leaving Monday
after the game (joking)? Holy smokes, let me comment on the first thing
first of all because apparently this thing is starting to swell. Not that
it has one bit of anything to do with how we're playing football. First
of all, I did a show for those of you who didn't know, I did a radio thing with
a guy I use to do radio with in Seattle. They had asked for this because
we are playing the Seahawks. I did the show and he's kind of a wise guy
and we joke around. Most of our give-and-take is tongue and cheek with us
and I don't remember the exact words, but he said are you going to be there 10
years? I said well, I'm 63 years old at 73 I probably won't be here, I
don't think I will be. My kids are in Seattle and all likelihood when I'm
done where ever, here, I'll be back there. That was it and I didn't think
much of it. This is important to me and I've told you this and I mean
this, is that getting the Cleveland Browns to a point that first of all, that
our fans are very proud of the football team, how we're playing, become a
playoff caliber team with a chance to get to the Super Bowl, building it
properly. I'm all in, I am all in. Kathy and I are living here,
we're involved in community, that's how we do it wherever we are. I don't
know why they would anyway, but people shouldn't think too much about that.
That's my commitment. How long will it take? Tough question, tough
question. I've always said as an example in my two previous in Green Bay,
we came in 1992 and we were in the Super Bowl five years later, won the Super
Bowl. Seattle, came in, we were in the Super Bowl seven years later, but
it took me two more years to find the quarterback. We've been able to do
it, but I don't say I've been able to do it, but my group has been able to do
it in five years but a couple things that were important there, you have to
have good drafts. I have the utmost confidence in Tom Heckert to do a
good job in the draft so I think we'll do things properly there. The
quarterback, you have to find the quarterback that can get you there, that's as
big as anything. Colt this year, he's still a pup and he's out there
playing, getting banged around and playing pretty well actually. Then at
times he's playing kind of young too. He will play this season and lord willing
he stays healthy and at the end of the year we'll look back and evaluate that
and he knows that, we know that and I think what he does and how he performs
will speak for itself. That's an important part of success. If you look
at the last two drafts in the guys, (Joe) Haden, (T.J.) Ward, and we like the
job (Jason) Pinkston's doing at guard this year, he's a rookie. Our
defensive linemen, the two rookies we're playing on the defensive line, we've
got young people playing and gaining valuable experience, who appear to be
solid, if not, solid plus starters. Really pretty good players and that's
how you build it. I'm optimistic, but it takes some time, it takes some
time and you guys know that and I know the frustration. I know all that,
but building it properly it takes some time."
(On if the organization is
committed to McCoy past this year or if he's on an 11 game trial basis)- "I
wouldn't say either one of those things. Now, I'm so aware of pronouns and
adverbs (joking). He is going to play this year, he's our starting
quarterback and in essence he's a rookie because how many games did he play
last year? He played a few games last year and then you throw into the
mix the fact that he's handling a new system with a new head coach, new signal
caller so really it's his rookie year, really, without an offseason. Now,
you can say that doesn't affect Tom Brady well it didn't appear to affect Tom
Brady, but for young people trying to learn a new system I think that's real,
that's part of it. I would say the same thing when Joe Montana when we
were together in San Francisco, he came in every year believing he had to
prove himself and the good players think that way. I'll just say wait and
let's see how he plays. Colt's going to play. Are we committed to
Colt? Absolutely. Will we be committed to him after the season is over?
I will always be committed to our players on this team. Does it guarantee
him the starting quarterback position for the next however many years?
Well seeing how I'm leaving Monday who cares (joking), but we'll
see. He's doing everything we're asking him to do and I want him to do
well. Everyone's rooting for him because it's important and I know
he's trying real hard."
(On what he thinks of McCoy's
strength and accuracy and how much of it becomes a mental issue and how much of
it is other things surrounding the offense)- "I think that's overstated a
little bit. He's missed a couple throws and every quarterback in the
league misses a couple throws. From a technical standpoint when a
quarterback, Colt's no different, when that has happened to him, two
things. One, either pressure forces feet or his mechanics into a little
different thing so he misses the throw or his footwork caused the ball to be
delivered a certain way. You can't point to too many times when he's got
a guy open and he miss fires on them. We run a lot of crossing routes and
it's one of the tougher balls to throw right on the money, particularly if
you're getting pressured at all. That is not a worry for me. His
strength and accuracy I think are just fine."
(On if negotiations with
Peyton Hillis are ongoing or if they are going to wait until the end of the
season)- "I think with Tom and Matt Thomas who is our negotiator and
Kennard McGuire who is his agent, I don't think anybody pushed anybody against
the wall on timeline on this. Right now it's kind of quiet, it seems to
be kind of quiet, let's let Peyton play, just let him play, let the dust
settle a little bit and see what happens. That's where it is."
(On how he thinks Shurmur has
handled his five games and if he remembers when he was a first-time head coach
if there was ever this much scrutiny)- "Well my first seven games I was 2-5
in Green Bay, that I do remember. One of those wins was just a miracle so
it could've been 1-6. I think if you're in this business and you become a head
coach it shouldn't surprise you or shock you that you're going to be
scrutinized and every little thing is going to be looked at. I think
Pat's doing a great job, I really do. I think he communicates well with
the players. He's kind of weathered, in my opinion pretty well, this
storm cloud that's kind of hit the team early. He didn't have an
offseason like I did. I was able to work with and establish some things
before we came to training camp when I was a rookie head coach. The
players are listening I can tell, I can see. We met on Tuesday, we meet
every week and we had a pretty good session on Tuesday. We both kind of
vented a little bit and it was real healthy. I really like him a
lot. I told him two things, when you're the signal caller, as I was all
those years, one of the first things I would every Monday morning was I would
come in and I wasn't one of those guys that would look at the game Sunday
night. We played the game, I was shot, and I'd wait until Monday. You
come in and you look at every call you made, every call if you lost a football
game I particular. Could that have been better? Would I have done
something different? Did I do the right thing here? You kind of go
through that and you're very hard on yourself because calling the game is very,
very important. It's important that if you did, in your opinion, make an
error or it's reasonable that you correct it, that's why you do that.
It's a self-study. I also told him, don't beat himself up so much.
Heck, it's football, you know you're a good coach, stuff happens, you're doing
the best you can and you've got another game next week. That was my
counsel to him on Tuesday. He's doing fine. We're the type of team
that will probably be in a lot of close games this year. That's my
feeling and certainly you could look at the Oakland game and the Cincinnati
game, you could, and say shoot well if this could have gone here, you can do
that. But, you lost so it's hard and I think that's what he's going
through right now. I'll tell you what, he's a solid guy. I believe
in him 100%. I'm not aware and I've told you, as much as I like all of
you, I don't read you that much. I'm not aware of the criticism's that
much and I don't really care, it's just important that he and I understand one
another."
(On why he thinks the offense
gets off to such slow starts and Shurmur saying they need to get off to a
better start)- "I would agree with what he said I think you all would agree
with what he said. You work so hard on your openers and he will continue
to stress that I'm sure. I think because we're so young, my thought is
that statistic and all the measurables as we go through the season, and I'm not
talking about win-loss record here, but all those measurables should improve
because we have gotten off to slow starts. It's funny though, you look back
there as to why, a guy misses a block, or you drop a ball or you miss a third
and one on the first series so you're three and out. There are all sorts
of stuff. That's a very tough statistical thing to analyze particularly
after only five games. Do we have to start quicker? Absolutely, to be
successful. I would venture to say we will. That'll get better."
(On how he evaluates a
quarterback if linemen are missing blocks and receivers aren't doing their
job)- "You bring up a very, very good point. I think when you're
evaluating, every coach grades every player on every play. Then they come
in and they meet and I'm not in those meetings. It's the way I use to do
it and I'm sure Pat does it the same way. Then the head coach in essence
is his own offensive coordinator. He's part of that. You look at
the film and then you get the grades from your assistants. Mark Whipple as
an example says Colt executed properly on this play, but the play wasn't
successful, why wasn't it if it was a pass? Well, because he was
pressured, this guy missed his block, this guy dropped the ball and then they
get a grade. You get a grade and the point being as a coaching staff you
must be brutally honest as to what happened and why it happened. You
can't protect your player, you can't protect in your own mind yourself because
all of a sudden if your player keeps being the guy that messes up then you're
on thin ice, you can't do that. You just have to honest, that's the only
way you have any chance of fixing anything and I think our guys do a good job
of that. There's a pretty veteran presence in that offensive room.
They will know if it's a quarterback error, what happened, did he do the best
anyone could do, they'll know those things so while on the surface it might
seem it might be a little bit tricky, it's not that tricky, they'll know."
(On after being five games in
if he thinks having Shurmur call his own plays is too much)- "No, I don't
think so. I think he wanted to do that and he's done that. I
totally understand it. There's no way he's ready to relinquish that type
of control in his first job. What I think he is learning, again we did
not hire an offensive coordinator because we didn't think the right person was
there or the fit was right. But, I think now as he goes through this
season, I don't expect him to change calling the game, but in all likelihood
we'll hire an offensive coordinator next year because that frees the head coach
up and his preparation and how he can prepare for the game during the
week. A lot of the nuts and bolts that he's doing now, he can kick to
somebody else and still oversee that, that's how I think it's going to.
We'll sit down at the end of the season and evaluate that, he and I, but I kind
of think that's where we're going to go with it."
(On if Shurmur would still
call plays in that scenario)- "I would think, we'll evaluate it at the end
of the year. I would think he'd want to, I always wanted to. No one
was as good as me (joking). It's part of the fun and I would think he'd
want to."
(On what it's like to work
with Randy Lerner)- "He's tremendous, in fact, now that he's in Cleveland
more we're together more and it's about as good as it can get for someone in my
position. He is really helpful, he's really intuitive on certain things
and he's gotten to know me and kind of how I react to things, he's good to talk
to. I can't say enough about him, he's been a man of his word, he cares
about the Browns, but he hasn't interfered, he's stayed with the plan. Do
we talk about a lot of things? Absolutely, but I'm a very lucky man that way to
have an owner like Randy Lerner."
(On there being empty seats at
games and how business for the Browns has been)- "I think business is good
considering how the team has functioned in the last few years. I think
our fans are very loyal. The business part of it, take away the ticket
thing for just a second, if there are empty seats that doesn't mean we didn't
sell the ticket. It's unlikely, I don't anticipate any blackouts this
year. The other indicators in our business model are on the
upswing. Jim Ross who heads our business side in sales and marketing area
is doing a great job along with his people. I'm very pleased with the
service we are giving our customers and I'm watching that very carefully.
I think as the team gets better that will also give a little boost to our
business model. But, given the lockout and all that kind of stuff, it's
going okay."
(On the wide receiving core
being scrutinized and reaffirming why they made the decision with what they
have)- "Going into the season, I didn't think we had a fair enough
evaluation of the receiver core based off last year's games. They were
not emphasized very much, it was the structure of the offense, they weren't the
focus necessarily. I said do we really know who we have first of
all? We had a strategy in the offseason to deal with and use our money
for extensions for five or six players, you guys have followed that and we were
able to get that done for the most part. We also went in with the idea
that there we a couple free agents that we were going to extend ourselves to in
that first wave and we lost out on one and then after that we were going to go
approach free agency a different way. We drafted Greg Little and thought
he could help us right away. We like our receivers, but again, they're
all kind of young. It's a young group and if they can mature together,
this is our hope, then we'll have something going. They're learning a new
offense, they're learning we're not at the playground where you just go out and
throw me a long one, they have to be very precise in this offense and so it's
going to take some time, but I kind of like our group. I think they're
okay. They're big guys for the most part, Jordan Norwood's not so big,
but most of them are pretty big guys and that's what you need in this system
and now we just have to get them the ball, sustain drives and those types of
things and I think we'll be okay."
(On if it means a lot to him
going up against Seattle)- "For me, personally, after I was with a team,
whether the 49ers, the Packers, Seattle and I with those teams for a relatively
long period of time. Now, the first time you play against them, yeah
there's a little extra in there then that starts to wear off. The thing
is there's not that many players left on the Seahawks that were there when I
was there. But, you want to have a good showing against your old team,
sure."
(On how imperative it is to
push for McCoy to be the man as opposed to starting over)- "Until you find
the man that you think can be the man, you might make changes every year.
I'm not opposed to that. You have to find that person, you have to
find that person. These artificial constraints, 'Well it's not healthy to
change quarterbacks.' I know it's not healthy. Might it be
necessary? Perhaps, I don't want to do that. You have to find that
person. To use the word push, again I'm breaking it down word by
word, push, we're not pushing him anywhere. We're developing him as
a young quarterback. He does a lot of things very well. You've
talked to him, what's not to like? He's a great kid, he's smart, he
wants it. Now, let's let him play. Let's let him play and see how
he performs. I think that's the fairest way to do this and at the end of
the year we'll evaluate it."
(On how hands-on he is with
developing McCoy)- "I'm not coaching anymore, you know that. Do I
grab him every once in a while and talk about his release, his footwork or
whatever? I do that. Pat's given me permission to do that. I
do that. If something I think is real haywire I might just grab him. I do
that with Cribbs, I do it with anybody. I do it with Joe Thomas. I
do it with anybody out there and I told the coaches at the beginning don't get
flustered if I grab a player and just say that. I'm not in the meetings
with them. I am not coaching the football team. Mark Whipple is an
outstanding coach. Pat's an outstanding coach who has had experience with
quarterbacks. That's the best way to go. If they allow me to go in
there and cherry pick a little bit, I will do that."
(On building a foundation in
the draft and how much he has held back on free agency and trades so far and
when they will delve more heavily into that)- "At the end of the season
that kind of develops its own life. This year as I mentioned we're
focused in on handling our own guys, key guys, Joe Thomas and guys like
that. I know that's the way we're going to do it. What you've said,
you build a foundation and I think stability for your franchise through the
draft. I believe in that. After every offseason how you dive into
free agency is determined, one, by whose available and, two, your needs, your
immediate needs. Of course there's a money element to that as well.
There have not been any constrictions about money, so then it's just decision
making. It's been my experience and I think probably Tom's as well, is
that I think maybe we signed maybe the greatest free agent of all-time in
Reggie White, the greatest free agent of all-time in Reggie White in Green
Bay. At the time we paid him more money than anyone thought you should
pay anybody. Now, looking back on it, it seems like beer money. You've
also seen and you've also reported on and you've also read about free agents
that just go, 'My goodness,' it didn't work. You're really rolling
the dice a little bit. The grass always looks greener. That player
always looks better than the player you have. You've got to be real
careful with that. I think our philosophy will be, build through the
draft, evaluate our needs and if there's a man available we'll go after
him. We'll be as competitive in free agency as anybody. Are we just going
to go off the charts every offseason doing that? No, I suspect that it
will be different each year based on our needs."
(On if the West Coast offense
looks he wants it to and where he would want it to go)- "There's room for
improvement. I think part of that had to do with the offseason not being
able to use it. I think some of the things we do are okay. Are we
all a little frustrated by our offense right now? Yeah, I think so, but am I
surprised? No, it did take some time to really time this thing out. As I
mentioned earlier, because we're young I suspect as the season goes along and
every time they get one more game under their belt, one more game under their
belt, listen to this, practice this, same plays and all that, that you should
see a little bit more of an offense with a little more timing, a little more
fluidness to it. You've seen this system work before and it works.
It just takes some time to get on the same page. I think we were hurt
just a little bit by what happened in the offseason, like a lot of teams.
You can see it every once in a while out there."
(On what his definition is
when he said he wants to feel good about the football team)- "Well my own
personal definition, wherever I was, is that you develop a football team who is
a playoff-caliber team every year. You've got a shot to be in the
playoffs every year. If you get into the playoffs you need a little luck,
you need something going your way, you're quarterback has to be healthy.
Then some other things happen, but to get into the tournament, to be there
every year that is I think a realistic, healthy goal. To say, 'Okay we're
going to win the Super Bowl every year.' Well, that'd be wonderful, but
what's real. Give me a chance to compete for the Super Bowl and to do
that you've got to get in the playoffs. This is Pat's first year. I
really can't give you what the record is going to be at the end, but you keep
building it. If we can reach those levels or the level I just described
to you then I'd feel good and I think our fans should feel good about that."
(On if he would consider
staying with the Browns for all five years of his contract)- "Yeah
absolutely. I'm in and I told you what I'd like to see. One, I want to
feel like I'm doing a good job. I don't want to waste anybody's
time. I think we have a plan and to realize our goals and our
plans, I think it takes some time. I've said that. I don't
know what the future holds that way, but absolutely, I want to be
here. We love Cleveland. I'm not that excited about the weather
right now (joking), but we like it here. We made home for ourselves here,
my wife and I. I have kids and grandkids flying in all the time.
There's a couple in for this game. It's good, I signed up to do something
here and that's what I plan to do."
(On if he's got any speeding
tickets in Bratenahl)- "I gave a helmet to the Chief of Police to Bratenahl
(joking). It's all good."
(Closing statement)- "Let
me conclude with this and then you've got more important things to do.
This is not rocket science. They're not giant conspiracy theories.
Those of you that have been at this a long time, it's kind of cut and
dry. You need good players who are coached well, you need a little
luck with injuries and you can get this thing done. That's where we're
headed. I believe that with all my heart. That's where we're headed
and I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about the team. We have a good
coach, we have a good coaching staff, we are getting better players, we've got
young people that I think will be here a while. There's a good feeling in
the locker room. The business side of it is going okay. I think the
owner's feeling pretty good, which helps me. What I would ask is that is
to kind of spread the word a little. I think distractions are created and
some of them are unnecessary. They just are. It's not helping
anything and I understand everyone has a job to do. I get all that.
Some of it, the distraction causes us to be less than our best at times because
you are dealing with young people, immature at times, and they kind of don't
understand the big picture. People can write that I'm leaving town
Monday. It doesn't bother me all that much. We joked about it today
because I kind of get it. If you write that about our starting quarterback,
'What do you mean I didn't tell anybody that.' They don't get it. I
know you want us to do well, I know everybody wants the team to come back
to their former glory. You can help with the formula, I guess that's what
I'm saying. I appreciate it. Thanks for your time today."
William Buford (44) and Aaron Craft (4), along with All-American Jared Sullinger (not pictured), help give Ohio State a strong nucleus. 
