Lerner should think twice before hiring Holmgren as ‘Czar’

Inevitably, the ridiculous title of Czar has wriggled its way into the world of sports.  But who would have guessed it would first be used to describe Mike Holmgren? That’s the best they could come up with?

Is this Chocolate Zinger Czar the “serious, credible leader” that will bring an end to the heartache of Northeast Ohio? I doubt it.

At first, Holmgren looks like a decent fit.  He’s already won a Super Bowl, worked with some of the best quarterbacks in the league and helped a struggling team in the Seattle Seahawks reach a championship.  He’s also shown loyalty to his organizations and is respected around the league.

But he’s never dealt with anything like the Browns.

In his first year as head coach of the Hawks, Holmgren inherited a much finer team than the current Browns (In 1998, the Seahawks were .500).  In 1999, he ended the decade-long playoff drought in the suicide capitol and improved the Seahawks’ record by one game, going 9-8.  In 2000, he ripped the team apart, getting rid of 9 starters.  That season, however, imploded much like the Kingdome.

“Everyone wants to go to the Super Bowl and they want it immediately,” Holmgren said in 2000. “I know the type of team I want to put together. I know the type of player I would like playing here. We’re trying to find the best players we can.”

In Holmgren’s czardom over the coaching operations of the Seahawks, he led his neon/aqua organization to the 2005 Super Bowl but could never make it out of the Divisional playoffs again.  Ultimately, Seattle posted a depressing 4-6 playoff record under Holmgren’s regime.

Does Lerner really think Homgren can turn things around in Cleveland?  The Browns are infinitely worse than the 1999 Seahawks, and there’s considerably more pressure from fans and media for quick and dramatic change.

Another point to consider: How exactly would Holmgren’s mastery of the West Coast offense mesh with Eric Mangini’s playbook?  It doesn’t seem like it would, and ESPN pundits are one again arguing about Mangini’s future.  If the Browns do shift to a more West Coast-influenced attack, Holmgren would need years to acquire the appropriate personnel.

As for the Browns’ Swiss cheese defense, who knows?

The most important person in the deal is Randy Lerner.  He will be the one who sets boundaries on Holmgren and defines what exactly the Czar of Football Operations does.  Will Homgren control salary cap issues? How involved is he in the draft? To what extend would the head coach have a say in such matters? Does he get a bomber hat?

Lerner will have to recognize the fact that Holmgren has never held a GM-type position without also being a coach (he served as executive vice president for four of his years in Seattle).  With Holmgren trying to mount a personal comeback in the NFL, he might want all the power he can get.  Seattle may be looking for a new GM, and Holgren’s family is reportedly very happy in the Rainy City.  Some have even speculated that Holmgren is only using the Browns as leverage.

But if Holmgren does indeed come to Cleveland, this is Randy Lerner’s last chance.  If he gets this right and Holmgren leads the Browns to a championship (or at least a .500 season), Lerner will finish what his father started and forever hold a place is this city’s heart.  If he can’t define Holmgren’s responsibilities or limits as Czar, Cleveland will continue to be the Gulag of the NFL.