Here are my notes from Mike Holmgren’s first appearance in Cleveland as President of the Browns.

- First of all Holmgren was introduced by new head of council Fred Nance. I have to say this was a much better introduction then a year ago when former team president Mike Keenan introduced Eric Mangini. Nance had excitement in his voice and came off as if he had talked in front of big groups of people a million times before. - Holmgren seemed in charge of the press conference by first saying hello to Browns legend Jim Brown, but then also talking about how special being able to win a super bowl can be, and how much he wants to bring one to Cleveland.

- Holmgren throughout his 30 minutes in front of the media made it clear that he missed coaching a ton in his season away. He seems to understand that he has other roles to fill now but I think we should all remember that this is a man who will always have the itch to get back on the sideline. This could be good or bad. Just depends how he handles that emotion.

- Speaking of coaching, Holmgren was peppered with questions about Eric Mangini early and often. And in an odd way it was a bit funny that the coach that wanted his players to know his core characteristics (Mangini) that Holmgren on his first day basically gave Mangini homework by giving him a list of things that he wanted to go over on Wednesday. This was a classy move of rather then bombard a person with what he will need; he gave Mangini a few hours to prepare for what was most important to Holmgren.

- Holmgren then confirmed that he will be interviewing Philadelphia General Manager Tom Heckert Wednesday in Berea. What is interesting about this is that the Browns tried to interview Heckert just a year ago and he turned down the offer when Eric Mangini was hired as the teams coach. Heckert does not have final say over the final 53 man roster in Philly and that where the Browns could sneak in and grab him if they allow him to have that say. Holmgren did confirm that there are other candidates but he would not confirm who they maybe.
 
- Holmgren was asked does Mangini have a legitimate chance to win him over and Holmgren said absolutely otherwise he wouldn’t have set up their Wednesday meeting. He also talked a lot about everyone in the building being on the same page, and how ego can not get in the way of the major goal of winning championships.

- Holmgren has already been in contact with Josh Cribbs agent and wants to take care of him. He thinks players should be rewarded for what they do.
 
- One of the best statements Holmgren made was that he was not here to micro manage, he will have an active role in everything but he will also hire the right people to do jobs.

- When Holmgren was asked how much the coach will have say in who the team drafts and he went back to his time in Green Bay and told the media how former Packers GM Ron Wolf told him that I will never give you a player you will not want. So that gives the impression that he will allow the coach to let him know what he feels the team needs most.

- Eric Mangini talked today about his early years in Baltimore and how much he learned from Ted Marchibroda. Mangini recalled the Ravens drafting Jonathan Ogden and he talked about watching Ray Lewis’s first practice as a pro in which Lewis didn’t back down from any of the teams veterans from day 1.
 
- One player that the Browns will key on will be safety Ed Reed who Mangini said is a guy who can ruin a game plan at any moment. Reed has had some of his best performances vs. the Browns in the past so Reed will be a constant point for Brady Quinn to pinpoint through out the week.

- Mangini talked about the Ravens young offensive line that has matured with the acquisition of Matt Birk at center. Birk was signed as a free agent in the off season after former center Jason Brown signed with St Louis.
 
- When Mangini was asked about his offensive struggles so far this season he talked about wanting his guys to focus on the process rather then worry about the failures that they have had the first two weeks.

- Joe Flacco talked with the Cleveland media on Wednesday and talk of playing with a chip on his shoulder because he played at Delaware and he was not looked at as a top prospect at times. Mangini talked of Flacco as a determined guy who has focused on the job at hand. He also sees a guy who has found his comfort level with what he has been asked to do by the Raven coaches.

- Mangini said that Josh Cribbs as a number 2 receiver is not an experiment. He looks at Cribbs as a guy who has made a lot of progress and that becoming a competent wide out is not something that happens overnight.

- Mangini said that the roster move of cutting Martin Rucker was a move that he saw as a way to improve the team. Mangini also said that he likes Greg Estandia who the team picked up off of waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

- Well Browns coach has picked a quarterback between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, but he has refused to let the cat out of the bag. During the portion of practice that was open to the media the team stretched, and then went into special team work. After that the team had individual work and at no time could one pick out who was the starting quarterback.
 
- So that’s how this week shall begin, the players in the locker room seemed to be at ease with whom ever the quarterback is. And both Quinn and Anderson seem to be in good spirits. Neither talked to the media though.
- Mangini said that he likes that the emphasis is now on the Vikings, he wants his players to understand the opponent and also how there scheme works against the Vikings.

- Shaun Rogers returned to practice today after missing all 4 preseason games. Also Rex Hadnot and David Bowens practiced as the only guy riding the bike today was practice squad linebacker Titus Brown. But for all that were worried about Rogers you can take a huge sigh of relief, the big man looks ready to go.

- Back to the quarterbacks, Mangini believes it’s a pain to prepare for 2 quarterbacks. It is something that he didn’t like to deal with as a coordinator. And that makes some sense, but Mangini admitted you must prepare for two quarterbacks anyway in case of injury.

- One thing that Mangini told his team is that it’s not about who gets the credit or blame. It’s not about the stats because none of those things leads to winning. Mangini wants a team in every sense of the word and he continues to put that into his players mind.

- And when Mangini was asked how good his team can be this year, he simply said “we can be as good as we decide to be”.