Written by Dave Kolonich

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I guess I’m just off my game this week.  Much like our beloved Browns, I’m also taking the week off – at least mentally.  So, for the quick scorecard – let’s take a look at the week that was….or wasn’t…in my case.

First, after writing this:

Friday Roundup: Talking Points Edition

It was brought to my attention by a reader that the subject of Tony Grossi trying to drum up a little midseason controversy to replace last year’s Mangini witchhunt was already covered in depth by one of our Internet friends…

Cleveland Frowns on Grossi

And when I say “covered”, I should add “in great detail.”  So, for the fine folks at Frowns, I offer an apology for any infringement.  Let’s just say it’s been a busy week at my own personal “salt mine.”

Then, to add insult to my own injury, I completely missed the Canton Rep’s Steve Doerschuk’s interview with one elusive Randolph Lerner.  Thanks to pdxscott for setting me straight on this one.

To all the loyal readers of this site, all I can say is “my bad.”  This bye week has completely thrown me off.  And in related news, I’ll probably post a belated reaction to the recent Jerome Harrison trade next Wednesday.

Anyway, on to more recent news….or at least the aggregated highlights.

Doerschuk with Lerner

Doerschuk: How well have you come to know the general manager Mike Holmgren brought in? How is Tom Heckert panning out?

Lerner: I know Tom well. I think he’s done fine … or better than fine. I think his free agent choices have been good … or better than good. They’ve been productive. They’ve matured. They’ve added character to the locker room, etc. He’s a very, very easy guy to work with. He’s a pleasure to be around.

Actually, if you were to say this is a formal evaluation, that goes back to Mike Holmgren. That’s who’s here to evaluate and really give you a read. In terms of me, I know he’s a very, very good guy. I know a lot of the guys he used to work with and I think we’re lucky to have him in the building.

Now I’m worried – does that not sound like Lerner just gave a Browns’ GM a vote of confidence?  Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  Remember this?

Lerner Interview – 2008

Lerner continually fended off questions about his plans for Crennel and Savage. But while he was careful not to criticize them, he didn’t offer any endorsements either. He did vaguely outline his criteria for evaluating his GM, who was forced to apologize to a fan last week for the e-mail containing an expletive following Cleveland’s game at Buffalo.

“You weigh strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “I think that Phil recruits as aggressively as anybody could ever ask a guy to do and as thoroughly as anyone could ask a guy to do. I think we’ve been a beneficiary of those skills and that determination and commitment.”

The winds of change are swirling.  Quick, someone get me Dawg Pound Mike’s email address.

Actually, on a more reassuring note, Lerner has again done what he is more than capable of….meaning he deferred to Mike Holmgren – who is now in charge of the entire franchise.

And isn’t it reassuring to know that Lerner – who simply “knows” Heckert is a “good guy” and “knows” guys who used to work with Heckert – was not a major factor in the hiring of this franchise’s GM?

Back to Doerschuk….

Doerschuk: Is the overall chemistry the best you have seen it since Holmgren came on board? And why?

Lerner: Yes. It’s Mike. He’s got a very compelling, contagious personal style. He brings people together, and he gets the best out of you.

Actually, isn’t it the reality of having some real front office structure – you know, for the first time in a decade?

While Holmgren appears to be the “serious, credible” leader Lerner has desired in the past, it’s ridiculous to suggest that one person can completely change the “chemistry” of the front office….at least until you realize who was responsible before Holmgren.

Let’s take another trip down memory lane….

Lerner Interview – 2009

Question: Another criticism of your last coaching/GM search was that you hired the coach before hiring the general manager and that would leave the GM beholden to the coach. Do you regret doing that?

Lerner: I don’t believe the GM was in anyway beholden to the head coach. They had distinct and clearly articulated duties and responsibilities.

Q: The addition of Bernie Kosar as a consultant. What is his role and what will it be moving forward?

Lerner: Based on Bernie’s background in football as well as his friendship and familiarity with people in our building, we asked him to come in and get acquainted with more people and some of the approaches we are taking. As a result, he’s been helpful in a number of areas. We have not discussed specific future roles with him, however.

Q: The appearance of Kosar’s addition is that he will imbed into things now to make a judgment on Mangini and report back to you. Do you see a scenario where Mangini would not be back in 2010?

Lerner: No.

It’s like it was only yesterday….”distinct and clearly articulated duties and responsibilities.”  Of course, there was no one there to actually check in on what the GM and coach were actually up to.  Or, if you go back a few more years, you may recall another power struggle between Phil Savage and John Collins.

It’s odd how these things kept happening in Cleveland.

Anyway, back to Doerschuk….

Doerschuk: How smart a fellow is Mike?

Lerner: I think he’s extremely bright. He reads books. He cares about people. He cares about ideas. He’s a very complete person. I don’t think you can go in and take a team like the Packers, turn them around and take them to a Super Bowl unless you’re extraordinarily intelligent.

After Eric Mangini was hired by Lerner at the beginning of last year, nearly the exact same comments were attributed to Lerner regarding his latest hire.  Mangini, a student of history, evidently also impressed Lerner with his “book smarts.”  And on a related note, it turns out former “Senior Advisor” Jim Brown was a Rhodes Scholar.

Doerschuk: In terms of money, in a terrible economy, how well suited are you and how well positioned is the organization to be as solvent as you would like it be.

Lerner: I think we’re reasonably well suited.

I would hope so, at least from Lerner’s perspective.  After all, few NFL owners enjoy the kind of sweetheart arrangement that Lerner’s family has with the city.

Doerschuk: Might it get tougher for the Browns to stay competitive against the New Yorks and the Chicagos?

Lerner: It depends on how the broader sort of arrangements that span the league evolve.

Let’s just chalk this one up to Reason #983 why the NFL owners are going to destroy the Labor Union during CBA negotiations.

But then again, isn’t Lerner’s answer interesting?

Lerner - I Have Long Term Plans, But As a Fan I Crave Instant Results

That research evidently filled in some local knowledge for Lerner, who had been running the Cleveland Browns NFL franchise since the death of his father, Al, in 2002. The detail was enough to convince him that English football was an adventure worth committing to. “In US sports, you tend to be pretty strictly limited by the size of your team’s market,” says Lerner. “When we heard that Villa was a club here that might be available, I had a strong feeling that a team in the West Midlands could be the chance to create something very special.”

Sorry for the misleading headline.  Obviously, Lerner only shows this kind of enthusiasm for his soccer franchise.  However, the comment about the NFL and “market size” in as interesting one.  Perhaps this is a preamble to some future cost-cutting?  After all, paying former GM’s and head coaches can be a fairly expensive venture.  And what will happen when Lerner actually has to put some of his own money into the team?

And again to Doerschuk….

Doerschuk: What is this job — your job — to you?

Lerner: I ask myself periodically what it is or how I feel. The first question is, do I still feel that it’s a privilege to have this job? And the answer is yes. And do I still feel motivated to come to work and try to be involved with issues and impact decisions that move the organization forward? And the answer is yes. And then finally, do I have thick enough skin to deal with the ups and downs or criticisms or what have you that may come with either making mistakes or the team not winning? And the answer to that one is, I hope so (laughs).

I’m guessing Lerner’s secret to developing ”thick skin” rests in his hiding in the shadows – a direct result of being the most hands-off owner in the league.

Doerschuk: Did you know as a younger man, thrust into the ownership role, that you would get hit with some hard punches?

Lerner: I don’t know that I felt I knew that, and I still don’t know what I’m going to get hit by, necessarily. I feel all you can do is care … care about the team and ask yourself how you can continue to hopefully make it better….

….So, when Mike came in, I know there was a sense I should have been more visible, and more out front. But the issue that I was facing was establishing Mike as the face of the organization, which meant that I should be less visible. So on the one hand I had visibility issues to address. On the other hand I had a superseding priority, which was to get Mike out there so that we could accelerate as much as possible a feeling in Cleveland that this was our guys.

And the award for Most Unintentionally Hilarious Comment of the Decade goes to Randy Lerner for stating that he needed to become “less visible.”

Doerschuk: This is a question about your passion for owning the team. I think it’s safe to say some people look at you as ‘soccer guy’ and that you care more about owning a soccer team than owning the Browns, etc., etc.

My perception of you from years of observation is that you are at minimum passionate about owning the Browns as a means of honoring your father who owned them. Where are you with the perception and the reality along these lines?

Lerner: I’m not sure … the first thing that comes to mind is making sure the Marine Corps flag is flown, And I think that that encapsulates a lot for me. Outside of that I’m not sure that I have a very … I’m not sure I have an answer.

My passion and love for this team burns every single day of the week, and … that’s how I feel. I know how I feel about the Browns, and the people around me know how I feel about the Browns. And it has nothing whatsoever to do with any other thing I may be doing or any other team I may be involved with. I was born in this town. I followed this team since before I could probably spell the name of the team. And I don’t have any personal issue about how I feel about this team. None. Zero.

I don’t feel that, having the background with you and having sat in this office for many years with you, I don’t feel defiant about it. And … I actually think you know exactly how I feel.

And this is the part that truly troubles me about Lerner as an owner.  While I completely appreciate the fact that first of all, we have a team in Cleveland – one that is owned by someone with tremendous financial resources – I cannot get over the idea that Lerner is simply a “caretaker” of the franchise.

Here, the verb “thrust” is most sinister.  There is nothing in Lerner’s background – besides being born into his family – that suggests that he is qualified to own an NFL franchise.  And while “honoring” his father’s legacy is an admirable trait, it is not something that can overcome the idea that he is ill-equipped to lead the Browns into a respectable present and future.

For all of Lerner’s gushing about Holmgren, the truth is simple.  Because Lerner was either unable or unwilling to create a basic functioning system of management, the franchise has suffered to an extent that is completely unwarranted – at least when measured against the passion of the Browns’ fanbase.

To this end, we’re now mostly exhilirated because our beloved team surprised the defending Super Bowl champions en route to collecting their second win of the season.  In the process, we’ve earned nothing more than the right to stay positive throughout the bye week, instead of lamenting another 1-6 start to the season and the likelihood of another in an endless series of crippling franchise reboots.

And while this sudden shift in momentum may have us all feeling a little better about our team’s current fortunes, both on and off the field, it’s worth noting who the credit should go to.

Or in the words of our owner, the one who supposedly “burns” with “passion” and “love”, the answer is clear:

“It’s Mike.”

Maybe, who knows?  But at least we can take comfort in knowing this:

It’s not Randy.