@atenears said:

Then again, it isn't as important as standing angry in a tunnel and meeting with DawgClown Mike.

I will agree with that.

Maybe what he said, he couldn't get out of NY is the story.

I also caught a bit of a rib on the office deal. I agree, it seems they would have at least had a temporary office set up until he was offered his choice of offices....so upon reflection, I can agree we may not have put our best foot forward for his arrival.

@atenears said:

That's when this ball really gets rollin'

I hope and suspect that if Dawgclown Mike decided he wanted to get audience with Holmgren, he'd get his ass kicked.

@atenears said:

He mentioned the snow here in Cleveland often ... I think it must have caught him off guard upon his arrive. We have gotten a lot of snow here this past week with more snow forecasted all week long.

He gave Mangini a list of things to prepare for tomorrow for when they meet.

Holmgren stressed not having any ego's in the building or small pockets of power base. Everyone will be on the same page and fit-in or they won't be here. This is the one area you could tell that he has a lot of feeling out of Mangini with. I think he wants to keep Mangini, but wants to make sure he can play his roll alongside others playing theirs.

He thought the idea of having this emergency to solve the Cribbs deal when there is still 3yrs remaining on his contract was a bit out of character in this league, but he could see where it is stemming from and believe a players deserves to be awarded for their accomplishments and that Cribbs fits that bill.

Lerner didn't make it because of bad weather ... cough, cough, BULLSHIT!, cough, cough ....

He can live with Mangini (or the coach) coming from a different coaching tree, or with a different philosophy. He mentioned wanting or liking to give input on the offensive side of the ball, but stressed that he will not coach the team. that will be the coaches responsibility.

Holmgren is well spoken and really took the time to try to learn each local reporters name, even having most repeat themselves when introducing themselves.

All-in-all, not much News, but I came away thinking that this place will be ran well with no stupid bullshit or roadblocks for anyone within the organization not to succeed.

I came away with the same thoughts Stan, my understanding is that Mangini will have to submit and realize he is not the top dog in this organization anymore if he doesn't understand that he wont have a job here. Hopefully these two will and can work well together if so i see a much brighter future than tearing down this staff and starting over. The defense especially will be sick we just need more talent in the secondary and a pass rushing beast.

Lets hope Mangini can swallow his pride and relinquish some of his power otherwise he wont be a head coach in the nfl next year and we'll be rebuilding again..

@theclevelandsound said:

READ MY NOTES. THEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON.

When does Mr. Holmgren meet with Dawgclown Mike?

That's when this ball really gets rollin'

@gips said:

+1

suns said:

Does anyone ever look at the first post in the thread?

READ MY NOTES. THEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON.

@atenears said:

Then again, it isn't as important as standing angry in a tunnel and meeting with DawgClown Mike.

Lerner is one strange creature, no doubt about that!!!

@alendor said:

Actually, that is not was I was implying. I'm not sure I'm implying anything, but call me old fashion, but when your the owner and you hire a new big wig Attorney type guy and before he is ever properly introduced he intro's the new President who is on the job to hire a new GM and possibly even an entire new front office and new head coach ... that seems like a good idea to have the head guy present, the main guy who is the only continuity and the guy who vowed to roll up his shirt sleeves and make this thing work.

Then again, it isn't as important as standing angry in a tunnel and meeting with DawgClown Mike.

@ballpeen said:

I know the guy lives in NYC. That isn't a big deal.

I have had the pleasure to spend some time in Berea, and plan to spend more. Some nice neighborhoods, restaurants, bars....a nice place no doubt, but NYC or Berea?? NYC or Berea??

Since both are cold in the winter, NYC gets my vote as well.

You guys have to be realistic here. When you have mega-bucks, Berea, or Cleveland isn't going to be high on most people lists.

Art lived in Cleveland for decades. Tell me how that somehow benefited the team or fans??

Serious question...I want a answer.

i was actualy responding to what you quoted from ant, and more adding on to your comment. since ant seemed to get the impression that lerner ducked out cause hes afraid to talk to the press. since he wasn't supposed to talk to the press, he wouldn't have ducked out for that reason.

@ballpeen said:

Most of these people don't own jets....they lease them....so many hours a year for X dollars a year.....and those don't fly out of some landing strip tucked away in the Adirondacks. They vie for space at JFK, LaGuardia, or even Newark if you are slumming

I don't doubt he had a hard time getting a runway slot.

Can we agree that Randy Lerner not being here deserved a little better explanation?

To tell you the truth, I think Holmgren was a little taken back by him not being here as well.

Oh yeah ... the teams last game was 48 hrs ago too, but not obvious in Randy's window.

@atenears said:

I mean it ain't like it's only Lebron's birthday or something.

I don't see where the location matters when you have a private jet.

You know I like you Stan, but I already explained that. If snow in the NE hasn't been a problem...which it has, commercial traffic gets first call at airports.

Most of these people don't own jets....they lease them....so many hours a year for X dollars a year.....and those don't fly out of some landing strip tucked away in the Adirondacks. They vie for space at JFK, LaGuardia, or even Newark if you are slumming

I don't doubt he had a hard time getting a runway slot.

@ballpeen said:

I know the guy lives in NYC. That isn't a big deal.

I have had the pleasure to spend some time in Berea, and plan to spend more. Some nice neighborhoods, restaurants, bars....a nice place no doubt, but NYC or Berea?? NYC or Berea??

Since both are cold in the winter, NYC gets my vote as well.

You guys have to be realistic here. When you have mega-bucks, Berea, or Cleveland isn't going to be high on most people lists.

Art lived in Cleveland for decades. Tell me how that somehow benefited the team or fans??

Serious question...I want a answer.

Umm, It has nothing to do about the cities: NY or Berea/Cleveland. It has to do with being in town for the companys new Presidents press conference & first day in the headquarters. Not such an unnecessary trip this week when coupled with initial interviews of a new GM followed by evaluation of the head coach.

I mean it ain't like it's only Lebron's birthday or something.

I don't see where the location matters when you have a private jet.

@darubes said:

A. That I didn't want to pay some punk ass QB who'd proven nothing like he is Peyton Manning and screw up the team's salary cap situation for upcoming years.

@darubes said:

2. What were you thinking about with the QBs last year?

A. See answer to question 1.

@alendor said:

No kidding???

I know the guy lives in NYC. That isn't a big deal.

I have had the pleasure to spend some time in Berea, and plan to spend more. Some nice neighborhoods, restaurants, bars....a nice place no doubt, but NYC or Berea?? NYC or Berea??

Since both are cold in the winter, NYC gets my vote as well.

You guys have to be realistic here. When you have mega-bucks, Berea, or Cleveland isn't going to be high on most people lists.

Art lived in Cleveland for decades. Tell me how that somehow benefited the team or fans??

Serious question...I want a answer.

@ballpeen said:

Commercial customers always get priority.

I guess he could have flown commercial, but if I didn't have to, I wouldn't either.....neither would you.

not to mention, mh was referring to lerner bing in berea for their meeting, not being at the presser.

Donovan said Holmgren hit it out of the park with the press conference ( I guess Jim's job

is secure).The interesting part was when Bruce asked Donovan about Mangini. Donovan said

more than once that Mangini is gone. He (Donovan) does not feel that they can exist together.

He said their philosophies do not mix.Just another man's opinion but a man who is a lot closer

to the situation than any of us are.

He also said some of the topics Holmgren gave to Mangini to think overe today could have

included;

1. What were you thinking about at last year's draft?

2. What were you thinking about with the QBs last year?

@earl34 said:

Here are two guys who legitimately are curious to see if they can co-exist and build a winner in an unconventional way when all the pundits say that they can't because they had different teachers.

I said this a long time ago, but, I think Mike Holmgren gave Eric a list of things that would be sticking points (e.g., would you be willing to fire or demote Brian Daboll) in addition to trying to figure out Eric's football IQ. If Eric can concede some power and is willing to play on Holmgren's terms...you could see the birth of a new way of doing things in the NFL.

Earl,

Agree with everything in here. Especially the excellent point you make of how we might have two guys who might be alike in thinking that let's give a big eff you to everyone and work WITH each other and pull this off.

Also, your speculation about the Show's pre-meeting points to EM matches mine. I think he tasked EM to think about where he stands on certain changes within the staff and also on what he expects his adjusted role regarding the draft should

be.

@atenears said:

OK....Lerner doesn't like the cameras....that is the way it goes sometimes....The NE has also been hammered with snow...and commercial traffic at airports get priority over private traffic....it's that way anywhere...I have many times wanted to lock though off the lake on to the Tennessee River...plan on sitting there for 5 hours if a tug with 3 barges is in line....in other words....forget the river trip.

Commercial customers always get priority.

I guess he could have flown commercial, but if I didn't have to, I wouldn't either.....neither would you.

@thaak said:

exactly. it sounds alot like the al davis dictatorship that's running the raaaaiiiiiidas.