Now batting cleanup …
Browns president Mike Holmgren?
OK, not really, but we’ll get to that in a minute.
First off, general manager Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur obviously got the message from Holmgren about Colt McCoy and what Holmgrem wants the team to do.
“I would say that based on what I know to this point, I’m extremely excited about working with Colt and him being our guy. I think that’s where we’re going,” Shurmur said in his first extensive interview since being introduced as Browns coach Jan. 13.
“I thoroughly evaluated Colt last year (as Rams offensive coordinator) when we went through the (draft) process with Sam (Bradford). He’s very talented, works extremely hard, football’s important to him, he’s an accurate passer, he understands timing, he’s a good decision-maker. I think he has all the things you’re looking for in a guy that can be your guy.”
Heckert echoed Shurmur’s comments.
“I think there are some teams saying we need to get a quarterback in free agency or the draft. We’re definitely not at that point,” Heckert said. “We have all the confidence in the world Colt’s going to be good.”
On the upcoming draft, it sure sounds like the Browns are leaning toward filling a hole on defense with their first round pick:
”I think we’ve got two really good (cornerbacks), and the third one, we’ll see,” Heckert said. ”We have a couple guys that we like on our team, but is that a position that we would look at? . . . I think corner is just as good a possibility as anything.”
The one positive to the Browns drafting so high – again – is that, with several holes to fill, they should be able to land someone who can help them (see Joe Haden from last year’s draft).
If defensive linemen Clemson’s Da’Quan Bowers, Auburns’ Nick Fairley or North Carolina’s Robert Quinn are off the board, they can select LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson to pair with Haden. Or Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. Orthey can go with Georgia’s A.J. Green to fill the gaping hole at wide receiver.
Or, if one of the top quarterbacks is still on the board, they may be able to swing a deal with a team desperate to make a mistake on one-year wonder Cam Newton and bring in extra picks to restock the roster.
So, for now, things are looking good.
As for Holmgren, earlier in the week he said the team is looking to draft “a home-run hitter.”
While he may have mixed up his metaphors, Holmgren’s desire for an impact player signals the team is continuing to think touchdowns (i.e. home runs) instead of field goals (singles?) as they continue to rebuild the team.
And with everyone on the same page maybe, for once, the rebuild won’t end up looking like a condemned building.
***
After losing to the Bulls on Thursday night, the Heat are now a combined 0-5 on the season against Chicago and Boston, 0-2 against Dallas (second-best record in the West) and have yet to play San Antonio (best record in the NBA).
The Heat are also just 12-14 against teams with winning records.
Sounds like Miami should have built a better supporting cast for LeBron James.
***
Finally, David Hirshey at ESPN missed the mark with his criticism of David Beckham this week: Thanks for nothing, Becks.
Hirshey’s main complaint is that Beckham didn’t live up to Hirshey’s expectations after arriving in LA four years ago to play for the Galaxy, writing that:
Great news, everybody: David Beckham is back!
Remember when those words meant something? When the thought of Becks stepping onto an American soccer field made your heart soar because he was going to transform the Los Angeles Galaxy into the second coming of the Cosmos? When it was presumed he would spread the gospel of MLS around the world, just as Pelé did with the NASL back in the day?
Yeah, I remember those 20 minutes too.
So because Hirshey chose to buy into the hype thrown out by MLS and the Galaxy – hype that no one could ever life up to – Beckham is to blame.
We don’t know why anyone chose to believe Beckham alone would somehow transform a minor-league operation like the MLS into something bigger.
Beckham was used to playing on the some of the world’s biggest teams in some of the world’s biggest competitions. Somehow playing in front of 10,000 people in Kansas City isn’t the same.
So Hirshey got duped and now he wants to blame someone. That’s on him; not Beckham.
Hirshey did get one thing right: Grant Wahl’s book, The Beckham Experiment, is a terrific book.
Red Right 88 