Perhaps I was a bit too harsh regarding my thoughts on the NFL Scouting Combine.  And no, I still don’t care that Sam Bradford has been chugging gallons of Weight Gainer at a pace that would make Brady Quinn drool.  Rather, perhaps the only redeeming quality about the Combine is it gives NFL power players a chance to speak – no doubt in cryptic tones – regarding their team’s pending offseason activity.

For the Browns, new team czar Mike Holmgren gave us plenty to chew on yesterday, as he addressed the franchise’s burning issue.

Holmgren Eyes One-Man Show at QB

Team president Mike Holmgren says the Cleveland Browns don’t intend to undergo a quarterback competition for their starting position, and said it was a “long shot” whether they would have both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn when next season starts.

“They did that last year. And that didn’t work out,” Holmgren said Friday, according to The Plain Dealer of Cleveland.

“Somebody’s got to play a full season. Not two games here, out two games, in three games. . . . It doesn’t work,” he said, according to the Cleveland newspaper. “So pick one, commit, coach him up, build confidence, make him better and then surround him with good people.”

Agreed.  It’s obvious that Mangini’s Great QB Drama of last offseason, which was followed by the Great QB Switch of October and then the Great Take the Ball Out of the QB’s Hands during the month of December, which was preempted by the Below Average QB Getting Injured – which is actually an annual occurrence, didn’t exactly generate positive results.

And while Holmgren’s strategy is indeed a sound one, the sinister truth lying behind his directive is that we could be facing a 2010 season that exclusively features either Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson. 

Anyone relieved by this?

Although DA will more than likely become a cap cut in a few weeks, the issue still does not reach a satisfying conclusion.  If last year proved anything, it is that Quinn is perhaps the most inaccurate passer in the league.  Having said that, part of me longs for the halycon days of 2009.

So, the question now becomes, if not Quinn or DA, then who?

There’s always this… 

Could Browns Have Interest in Eagles’ QBs?

New Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren said yesterday he couldn’t talk about any possible interest in the Eagles’ quarterbacks, for obvious reasons. But Holmgren talked a lot about the Browns’ quarterbacking situation, and about his philosophies. The overall sense was that Holmgren is looking to develop a long-term starter, and is not inclined to bring in a stopgap veteran.

Obvious conclusion: That would make adding either Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick unlikely. Kevin Kolb? Probably something the Browns would have to think about. But ask yourself: Why would the Eagles trade Kolb? They haven’t seen fit to extend McNabb past 2010; to trade his designated successor, surely they’d have to be bowled over by an offer. Cleveland, embarking on a rebuilding project that will be predicated on the seventh overall pick in what is said to be a strong NFL draft, seems an unlikely bowling partner.

Is this as “obvious” a conclusion as the Enquirer would like you to think?  Have beat writers basically become agents for the teams they cover?  Wait – are those two questions related?

Here’s something more “obvious” – adding McNabb would clearly signal a huge upgrade at QB.  However, two most alarming questions have to be asked regarding this potential move.  First, what would it cost to get him, and second, how long can he still play at a high level?

A McNabb trade would certainly involve losing at least two high draft picks on the Browns’ end.  For a team with as many holes as the Browns currently have, it’s probably not in their best interests to enter the 2010 draft down a few draft picks.  Also, you have to consider that regardless of any trades that are made, the Browns are still clearly in a rebuilding mode.  How much could McNabb actually help?

This makes sense to me, but then again…

Browns Consider Trading Up For Bradford or Other Players

When the Browns won their final four games to finish a 5-11 season in 2009, most thought it eliminated any chance of them drafting Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner.

But speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, Browns General Manager Tom Heckert didn’t rule out trading up from No. 7 in the April 22-24 NFL Draft. That might be necessary if the Browns covet Bradford, who could go as high as No. 1 to the St. Louis Rams despite injury issues, or perhaps Tennessee free safety Eric Berry.

”I don’t think we’re closing the door on anything,” Heckert said at Lucas Oil Stadium. ”We’re not shutting the door on moving up or even moving back. We’re listening to a lot of different teams. It’s still early. We have talked to teams about moving up and moving back. We’re not closing the door on any position.”

Just when you think you know somebody…

There are a few players at the very top of the draft who I would love to see in a Browns’ uniform come September.  I think Nebraska’s Suh could become the most dominant 3-4 end in the league, and obviously Tennessee’s Berry could solve a variety of needs in the Browns’ secondary.  However, considering – yet again – the staggering number of overall team needs, the Browns could be going backwards if they unload more draft picks than they keep.

Considering the overall depth of this year’s draft, it’s possible that the Browns could find eventual starters from the second round on.  To take a risk on a Top 3 pick could prove to be devastating towards the team’s overall depth.  At Number Seven, the Browns have a little more flexibility in terms of hitting on a player – not literally – but if a move is made to crawl into the first few spots, the selection becomes more critical.

And enough about Sam Bradford. 

Which means that this could be the alternative…

Free Agents to Boost Browns’ Rebuilding

Doerschuk’s list is not exactly awe-inspiring, but such is the 2010 state of NFL free agency.  Of his first ten players, the best bets could be Mike Vrabel or Tony Pashos for a year, or Ryan Clark and Chris Chambers for a couple more.  However, because of the limited nature of free agency this offseason, it’s likely that few players would come cheap. 

As for the quarterback situation, things don’t improve much.

Holmgren always thought one of his strengths was tapping the maximum out of any quarterbacks ability.

Carr, Boller and Grossman are basically damaged goods.  The irony here though is that all three are perfectly healthy options.  If the decision comes down to Quinn versus one of these three, I may just have to swallow my pride – along with some valium – and admit that maybe we should “go down this road” one more year with what we have.

If he signs David Carr, Kyle Boller or Rex Grossman and makes one of them work, he would be the first to turn those former first-round picks into steady producers. The guess is Holmgren won’t be betting he can do with Carr, Boller and Grossman what the Texans, Ravens and Bears could not achieve.

Veteran Chad Pennington, though, could be a different story.

However, Pennington could be intriguing.  When he’s healthy, he’s productive.  Of course, that’s his problem.  Signing Pennington would signal that whoever the backup is come September will become the starter by November. 

Which could bring us right back to where we started.