Trade Chatter: Donovan McNabb

me: i still have a feeling oooo oooooooo that were gonna end up with mcnabb on draft day

by draft day*

Eric: haha no way jack!

me: don't see us going into this year with wallace and quinn and a rookie

i like wallace as a backup

solid starting experience

Eric: i dont see getting mcnabb

too costly

me: maybe holmgren thinks higher of him

11:33 AM did the same thing taking hasselbeck to sea from gb

Eric: i can see us w quinn wallace and ratliff

me: well that will be fun winning 4 again

Eric: yea but that cost him a 6!!!! hasselbeck was not a multi probowler

me: id rather start wallace then

Eric: we'll see maybe he does

me: Quinn blows

11:34 AM haha

me: if we keep qbs as is id rather start wallace

i dont see us being finished though

Eric: i dont know ill be fine with whoever

11:35 AM me: i wont be fine with quinn

Eric: not ideally but we're not going to mortgage the draft to get a starter for next year

me: hes a joke

Eric: im fine with quinn

me: no

he cant play

Eric: if holmgren thinks quinn is alright then im cool w it

me: he doesnt

Eric: he hasnt thrown a ball yet

me: hes watched his tape

11:36 AM youre dellusional

youve seen his throws

Eric: he watched tape of dabolls **** head offense

me: hes innaccurate, doesnt spin the ball well

Eric: ive seen him make some good throws, ive seen wr drop the ball and ive seen him make some bad ones

me: doesnt matter

youre high

look at his numbers

Eric: right

in a BAD offense with terrible handed WRs

me: only thing brady does a DECENT job of is limiting turnovers

11:37 AM look how many he threw behind too

dont be a fan and be realistic

Eric: yea there were some misses, but im saying if holmgren starts the season with quinn, you have to think hes comfortable with it

me: you really think he can win us a game?

Eric: so then i will be too. he knows alot more than me

me: ok ill go out on a limb then and say its only march and quinn will not be starting

11:38 AM Eric: i dont know if he'll go out and win us games, but if no one can for less than a 2nd rd pick thats fine

me: ok but holmgren does not like what he sees in quinn

Eric: if the options are quinn or giving up our 1 or 2 i want quinn for another year

me: why else would we be looking at mcnabb?

Eric: HE WILL DEMAND A F***ING 1!!!!!!!

me: id give up a conditional pick next year for mcnabb

Eric: a 1!!!!

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

me: i wouldnt give a 1 and you know that we wont give it up

11:39 AM Eric: right so that means NO mcnabb

me: its negotiations

theyre not gonna be like well do it for a 3

Eric: which means no clear cut starter, which means quinn is starting which means hes a better option than wallace

which means we look for a qb next year

me: wallace would beat out quinn right now

Eric: u think reid gives up mcnabb for anything less than a 2?

11:40 AM me: quinn couldnt beat out DA DA DA

Eric: hehe

i think we just need to trust in MH

me: id be comfortable giving a conditional 3 or 2 that can move up to a 1 based on production/wins in 2011

Eric: no!

me: i know you keep saying that

but youve read as i have that HE DOESNT LIKE QUINN

Eric: i will not give up a 1 for a qb that can only play a few more years

if we give up a 1 i want a good qb a franchise qb for 10 years

11:41 AM me: ok well id do it for a 2 this year

Eric: he never said he didnt like him, he said hes looking for a better qb

nope

a 2 this year is a 1 any other year

me: alright well agree to disagree

11:42 AM final points: 1. wallace is better than quinn, brady sucks

Eric: haha, im not going to say wallace is better than quinn, thats my point, if quinn is starting i wont go yelling that wallace should be

thats my point

11:43 AM bc whoever is starting, mh thinks hes the best chance and i trust him

me: 2. without QB were going nowhere, and i agree that we dont want to throw away the future for an aging QB, and my point is thats why we havent made a deal yet, bc MH does kno what hes doing and is talking eggles down

11:44 AM Eric: the eagles will NOT take a 3 for mcnabb. if its more than that, im out

which is why a deal will NOT be done and mcnabb will NOT be a brown

me: haha

i still think something will happen

11:45 AM hes old

he cant command a high pick compensation

Eric: hes the eagles best chance to win!

me: plus hes got injury history

Eric: yes i know! haha which is why i wont give a 2

me: they were 2-0 with corn on the kolb last year

Eric: we were 10-6 with DA

11:46 AM me: would you give both 3's?

teams completely different

it was a fluke

Eric: id give a 3 and rogers

me: ok now were talking

Eric: literally maxed out there

me: listen to this deal

11:47 AM

me: they could use DQ

Eric: i dont want to give up dq

me: id give up DQ for a deal involving mcnabb

youre high

haha

whats so good about DQ

Eric: ud give up dq, rogers and a 3?

11:48 AM me: no

i said maybe swap out rogers

maybe dq a 3 and a 5

Eric: and bring back some of those ice cubes

me: we have 4 5s

haha

they have to start at a 1

Eric: yea id do dq and a 3 and a 5

me: thats not gonna happen

id rather give up our 1 for b marshall than D Mac

Eric: ur high, they really will not trade him for less than a 1

11:49 AM me: ok ive never said id give our 1 for him

Eric: i dont give up our 1 for almost anyone

unless its a player who is a probowler and under 25

if nothing else we must commit at least 1 terrorist act!

me: haha

11:50 AM what about this... rogers and swapping 1sts

11:51 AM Eric: where are they?

me: like 20

range

maybe 22

Eric: eh

on draft day id do it if certain people were off the board

id do it at their pick if someone i like alot is still on the board

like graham or spoon

me: maybe ill call MTC today and talk to tim and pat

11:52 AM i think theyre pretty firm it will take a 1 to get mcnabb though

Eric: yea u should, yesterday they were talking about mcnabb and starting with a 1 offer

me: yeah

Eric: they think it takes at least a 1 to get him

me: but if we throw players in there

Eric: but if berry is there at 7 not a chance i trade it

me: maybe?

Eric: eh, u should call

11:53 AM me: one of the funniest faces is al rokers on seinfeld "INTERESTING!"

Eric: hahahaha

yup

11:54 AM me: i like our approach though

11:55 AM starting qb aside i like the addition of wallace

pretty risk free acquisition

at worst much better #2 than weve had

11:59 AM Eric: yea

and someone who knows the system

12:00 PM hes ken dorsey but can play

me: ok so youre gonna say you trust in MH, if he gives up our 2 for mcnabb, youre out on him?

12:01 PM Eric: i just think its too much

considering the type of player we can get at 2

me: look at kurt warner and brett farve

they played til 40s

Eric: uh huh

me: no reason d macs gonna only play 3 years

12:02 PM Eric: i dont see mcnabb being as good as late

me: i think it could be a steal

Eric: for a 2?

i dont know

12:03 PM me: http://www.nfl.com/players/donovanmcnabb/careerstats?id=MCN017517

stop undervaluing this guy

he can play

hes big time

BIG TYMEEEEEE!

slappa da baise

12:04 PM Eric: haha, im not saying he cant play but i think the player we could get at 2 is better long term, for building a team, id take spikes over mcnabb

there are some GREAT qbs in next years draft

me: i agree but draft is a crap shoot

you draft potential

dmac is proven

12:05 PM Eric: right but potential of a young player weights heavy against the injury potential of a proven old man

me: no way

youre so wrong!

hahahha

12:06 PM Eric: i didnt say outweighs, just something u need to think about

me: how many of our 2nds have not panned out

i thought about it

still would take dmac in a second for our 2nd rd pick

Eric: and again this year is not like most years, this years 2nd is a first in most other years

me: still doesnt matter

Eric: does to me

12:07 PM me: what team do you work for?

easy!

guarantee you this

Eric: mike eruzione i play for... ...the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

me: i ask any host on sirius they make d mac for browns second rd pick trade

no brainer

12:08 PM Eric: probably they would

me: we still have 11 other picks

Eric: is florio on, he has no insight, he just posts news from other people

me: so you think long term brandon spikes for example would do more for us than mcnabb for say 5 years

lol

12:09 PM he plagiarizes

Eric: im saying you cant assume we have mcnabb in his present state for 5 years

me: of course hes probably a drooling vegetable but I think thats only common sense

12:10 PM eric, avg nfl career is 3 years

our second rounder might be gone anyways

Eric: for 1st round picks?

u think the avg 1st round pick spends 3 years in the nfl?

me: why are you back on 1st rounders

i said 2nd

i would not give up our 1st for mcnabb

12:11 PM Eric: haha because thats what the browns 2nd round pick is this year

me: ive consistently said that

Eric: this is a deep draft

me: no

Eric: yes

me: youre high

Eric: your low

me: overvaluing this draft

Eric: haha

me: wow

Eric: 38, you think that spikes in last years draft makes it to round 2?

me: no

Eric: thank you

me: he dropped this year bc he didnt play as well

plus everyone else is better

12:12 PM Eric: im saying that the guys who are going in the top 10 in round 2 are first round talents

not knocked down bc of character issues or anything

me: you could say that most years

Eric: but true 1st rounders

no you cant

so you're saying this years draft is not better and deeper than last years

12:13 PM me: ill tell you this, i would be stoked if we trade our 1st, 3rd and next years 1st for don mcnabb

oh my god

mike florio is an idiot

12:14 PM Eric: THERE YOU GO GIVING UP A 1 AGAIN!!!!!

me: wildcat? thats your best breakdown of seneca wallace [florio]?

im joking

Eric: Charles: ive consistently said that

ur nuts

2010 State of the Browns' Union Address

Mike Holmgren delivered the address before members of the Browns' organization at 100 Alfred Lerner Way in Cleveland, Ohio:

"Madame Aponte, Vice President Wiedmeier, members of the front office, coaching staff, distinguished tailgaters, and fellow Browns fans:

Mr. Lerner declares that from time to time, the President shall give to the owner information about the state of our union. For fifty-four years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of games and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.

It’s tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable – that the Browns were always destined to succeed. But when Earnest Byner fumbled and John Elway first drove 98 yards, victory was very much in doubt. When Modell moved the team, the future was anything but certain. These were times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our fan base. And despite all our divisions and disagreements; our hesitations and our fears; Cleveland prevailed because we chose to move forward with our history, our tradition and our team colors as one team, and one Dawg Pound.

Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer history's call.

One month ago, I took office amid another losing season, a roster rocked by severe recession, a salary cap system on the verge of collapse, and Mr. Lerner deeply in debt on old contracts. Experts from across the NFL spectrum warned that if we did not act, we might face a second depression. So we acted – immediately and aggressively. And one month later, the worst of the storm has passed.

But the devastation remains. One in ten Browns players still cannot find the endzone. Many sponsors have shuttered. PSL values have declined. Season ticket holders have been hit especially hard. For those who have to sit in the Family Zone, life has become that much harder.

This recession has also compounded the burdens that Browns fans have been dealing with for decades – the burden of cheering harder and longer for less; of being unable to tailgate long enough to tolerate the cold or the miserable display on the field.

So I know the anxieties that are out there right now. They're not new. These struggles are the reason I became President. These struggles are what I've witnessed for years in places like Buffalo, Detroit and Oakland. I hear about them in the letters that I read each night. The toughest to read are those written by children – asking why they have to watch this crap, or when their mom or dad will be able to talk to them again on Sundays.

For these fans and so many others, change has not come fast enough. Some are frustrated; some are angry. They don't understand why it seems like bad play on the Steelers is rewarded but hard work in Berea isn't; or why Mr. Lerner has been unable or unwilling to solve any of our problems. They are tired of the barking and the shouting and the pettiness. They know we can't afford it. Not now.

So we face big and difficult challenges. And what the Browns fans hope – what they deserve – is for all of us to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our beer guts. For while the players who we drafted or signed with us here have different backgrounds, different stories and different beliefs, the anxieties they face are the same. The aspirations they hold are shared. A job that “pays the man”. A chance to get ahead. Most of all, the ability to give the team a better record.

You know what else they share? They share a stubborn resilience in the face of adversity. After one of the most difficult seasons in our history, they remain busy building muscle and learning plays; starting mini camps and going back to OTAs. They're coaching each other and helping their neighbors. As one woman wrote me, "We are strained but hopeful, struggling but encouraged."

It is because of this spirit – this great decency and great strength – that I have never been more hopeful about the Brown’s future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, it's time the Browns get a front office that matches their decency; a team that embodies their strength.

And tonight, I'd like to talk about how together, we can deliver on that promise.

It begins with our roster.

Our most urgent task upon taking office was to shore up the defense that helped cause this crisis. It was not easy to do. And if there's one thing that has unified Eric Mangini and Tom Heckert, it's that we all hated the Hank Poteat bailout. I hated it. You hated it. It was about as popular as a root canal.

But when became President, I promised I wouldn't just do what was popular – I would do what was necessary. And if we had allowed the meltdown of the salary cap system, roster cuts might be double what they are today. More season ticket holders would certainly not renew. More PSLs would have surely been lost.

So I supported the last administration's efforts to create more cap space. And when we took the program over, we made it more transparent and accountable. As a result, the scouting department is now stabilized, and we have recovered most of the money we gave to Phil Savage.

To recover the rest, I have proposed a fee on the biggest coach. I know Scott Pioli isn't keen on this idea, but if the Chiefs can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the fans who stayed with Romero is his time of need.

As we stabilized the scouting department, we also took steps to get our front office growing again, creating as many jobs as possible, and helped Kokinis who had become unemployed.

But I realize that for every success story, there are other stories, of backups and practice squad players who wake up with the anguish of not knowing where their next paycheck will come from. That is why depth must be our number one focus in 2010, and that is why I am calling for draft scouting tonight.

Now, the true engine of scouting for the NFL will always be Mel Kiper’s business. But Todd McShay can stir the pot to make for hilarious TV segments on Sports Center.

We should start where most new draftees do – on special teams. Special Teams is the one area where we have been successful.

Through sheer grit and determination, some players have developed in the recession and are ready to start. But when you talk to season ticket holders in places like Allentown, Pennsylvania or Elyria, Ohio, you find out that even though Brady Quinn was starting again, he was mostly throwing to less talented receivers. But quarterback play remains difficult for small market teams across the country.

So tonight, I'm proposing that we take $30 million of the cap space Mangini created and use some of it to sign Chad Pennington or some other veteran quarterback and give the quarterbacks on this team the mentoring they need to stay afloat. I am also proposing a new contract for Josh Cribbs – one that will go to over two million dollars per season if he continues to play at such a high level. While we're at it, let's also eliminate all players who would not make any other team in this league (looks at Hank Poteat); and provide playing incentives for all players, offense and defense.

Next, we can put Tom Heckert to work today building the defensive of tomorrow. From the Hanford Dixons to the Eric Wrights, our corners have always been built to compete. There's no reason the Steelers or Ravens should have the fastest linebackers, or the Bengals who manufactured more turnovers than we did.

Tomorrow, I'll visit Mobile, Alabama, where college players will soon break the huddle at the Senior Bowl. There are all-star games and combines like that all across this country that will showcase rookies who can improve our roster. We should draft best player available and not based on potential. It's time to finally build a team we can be proud of; that compete for 60 minutes every Sunday, or Monday night, or Thursday Night, and the occasional Saturday. My fellow Browns fans, the state of the union is strong!"

Mike Holmgren Interview on Sirius NFL Radio

Mike Holmgren was on Sirius today with Tim and Pat. Below are some highlights from the interview.

On Retaining Eric Mangini

He had no preconceived notions regarding Mangini. He came in intent on giving Mangini a fair chance. The more he met with him, the more he was impressed by Mangini's work ethic, smarts and willigness to be a part of the Team (meaning Heckert and Holmgren). Mangini reminds Holmgren alot of himself when he first started. He said in his meetings with Mangini he tried to get Eric to smile more because "you gotta have fun" sometimes. In evaluating Mangini, he did not look at the first part of the season or the last part of the season as individual factors. Finally, Holmgren said Mangini is getting better every day and Holmgren state that hes confident that his first big decision was a good one.

Talking to Tuna?

When asked who he talked to before taking the job Holmgren said he talked to 3 people in evaluating the Cleveland job. He talked to Bill Parcells (including about Eric Mangini), Bill Polian and John Madden.

Evaluating the Roster

Holmgren has not ready to discuss the roster because he's been spending most of his time getting the front office set up. However, at 5-11 he said the team has obvious needs and some needs that are not as obvious.

On Tom Heckert

Knew Heckert a little through Andy Reid. Once he got Andy's blessings, he could close the deal. Andy Reid loves Heckert but timing was right for him to move up. Heckert had A LOT of responsibilities in Philly despite reports that Andy Reid did all of the work.

On Cleveland

Holmgren really likes Cleveland so far. He had the itch to get back into football. His wife (a social worker) was very supportive and she is getting involved in the community. He said his daughters no longer live in Chicago (god damnit). He has sent everyone in his family Browns gear and everyone is fired up and ready to go!

What he didn't say because he didn't have to and also because he knew I would say it...

SUPERBOWL!!!!!!!!!!