The Browns have come to Cribbs with a new offer that would pay him around $1.4 million per year, which he looks at as a smack in the face. I even got insulted when I read that figure. When asked if he’d be playing another game for Cleveland, Cribbs responded “It’s unlikely the way they’re talking right now,”.

Hmmm, new GM, same old Cleveland? Cribbs is the teams most talented player by a long shot and is the most exciting player the Browns have had since, well, maybe ever.

Mike Holmgren knows talent when he sees it though and plans on trying to work out a deal with Josh.

“I believe players should be rewarded for what they do,” Holmgren said. “I have no problems with that at all. What happens though on occasion is our view of how much that should be and the agent’s view of how much that should be differs. We have made an effort.”

There you go, maybe Josh will get taken care of after all. I mean Homgren has payed talent in the past. Two examples that come to mind right off the bat are Deion Branch and Shaun Alexander. Both those guys got more than their fair share, like way more. Don’t worry Cleveland fans, you’re in good hands…..

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Everything boils down to Holmgren and his vision for the Cleveland Browns. It’s hard to imagine him to putting in place his own head coach but maybe he took the job thinking Mangini could fit the bill. Then again if that were the case I’m sure Mangini would have been informed by now that his job is safe.

In all fairness to Eric the Browns did finish the season winning four games in a row, which started with a huge upset win over the Steelers. The next three wins came against Kansas City, Oakland and a Jaguars team that had pretty much packed it in. So take the four game win streak how you want, but as they say a win is a win.

Things finished on a promising note for the Browns. The defense seemed to gel a little, Jerome Harrison looks like he’ll be a suitable replacement for Jamal Lewis and Josh Cribbs is finally starting to get recognized as one of the leagues biggest playmakers.

Unfortunately for Mangini this probably won’t be enough to save his job. Holmgren will have come into Cleveland with a plan and it’s hard to see Mangini being a part of that. Maybe Eric could get a job back in New England or something. I’m sure they could find him a job, like say, videotaping practices…..Patriots practices of course.

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In bringing in Holmgren, the Browns now have someone with serious credibility running the show. Holmgren most recent success came in 2005 when he guided the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl 40, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The big story now though is the future of Eric Mangini. Mangini commented that he feels secure with his job. Other people are talking about Holmgren wanting to bring in his own coach. The latter definitely makes more sense considering the difference in styles.

This is a positive step forward for the Browns. Mike Holmgren can only make this team better. How much better we’ll have to wait and see. But I would expect some major changes that’s for sure.

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The Browns definitely need some help and it will start with the vacant GM spot left by some guy whom I can’t even remember his name (George Kokinis). I’m sure by the end of the year they’ll need a coach too, and if Holmgren did get the job I would still expect to see Mangenius kicked to the curb.

But I’m not so sure Holmgren is the right fit in Cleveland. I have respect for Mike Holmgren for winning a Super Bowl back in 1997 with Green Bay and taking the Seahawks to a Super Bowl a few years ago. However I just don’t see it working.

The successful Cleveland Browns teams in the past have always been grinding, tough teams. This is not Holmgrens style at all. He’s a west coast offense kind of guy. I don’t see that being very Clevelandesque. Mind you there’s always room for change I suppose.

Still I don’t see this marriage working out if it does happen. What kind of shape did he leave the Seahawks in? Talk about a team with zero identity. Once they lost Steve Hutchinson a few years ago everything went south for them, including their, at the time, future hall of fame running back what’s his name…..it doesn’t matter.

How about all those power house receivers he brought in to give ageless wonder Matt Hasselback some targets. Remember Deion Branch? That’s okay, nobody does.

And speaking of Hasselback, I can see why they never drafted a possible replacement for him. I mean why bother? If he were ever able to play a full season without getting hurt he had the potential to be one of the above average quarterbacks in the league?

Now that I’m done being sarcastic I’ll give my opinion if it isn’t already very obvious. Mike Holmgren isn’t the savior everyone thinks he is. The Browns just don’t seem to have it figured out. And unfortunately for their fans, it doesn’t look like they will for a long time.

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