Holmgren officially makes first horrible decision with Cleveland
Jake Delhomme must have comprising photos of Mike Holmgren, because that’s the only logical explanation as to why the Browns are set to pay the former Panther QB $7 million in 2010.
I’m trying to give Holmgren the benefit of the doubt in his first season with the Browns, even though some of the decisions thus far have been a little head scratching. But this latest move is making it awfully hard for me to do that. There’s absolutely no reason to give a washed up Jake Delhomme $7 million, because chances are high that no other team would have. This kind of financial commitment signals that Holmgren wants Delhomme to be his starter in 2010, which is absolutely ludicrous.
Delhomme was so bad last year that he made guys like Kerry Collins, Shaun Hill and whatever puss the Bills trotted onto the field look good. While he did turn in good efforts against the Falcons (twice) and Redskins, the rest of Delhomme’s season was highly forgettable. His skills have obviously deteriorated and his 8:18 touchdown to interception ratio proves that his decision-making isn’t quite up to par these days either. He was absolutely brutal against the Eagles in the opener and in his last game as a starter against the Jets. In fact, he was so bad against New York that most people figured that he had taken his last snap as a regular starter in the NFL. Most people outside of Holmgren, that is.
I’m willing to bet that Seneca Wallace beats out Delhomme in preseason and becomes the Browns’ starting quarterback for 2010. And if that happens, then Holmgren’s decision to give Delhomme $7 mil will look even worse. I just don’t get it. I don’t get what Holmgren saw in Delhomme last year that made him believe that he could be his starting quarterback in 2010. The only thing I can think of is that Holmgren is trying to submarine Eric Mangini so that he can get rid of him after 2010. Because there’s no way Mangini will succeed if Delhomme winds up being the starter.
Oh, and Rick Smith has my vote for 2010 Agent of the Year. Delhomme will make $19.7 million this season, which is so unbelievable that I might pass out on my keyboard before I complete this sentenohowg1hglwerkgh.gr…#
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I don’t think we can rule out a Delhomme-Holmgren sex tape here.
Ha! Hilarious post
That said, I think you’re over-reacting here.
First, I don’t think the $7 million for this year is guaranteed. If Delhomme is a disaster they can cut him. Also, this is an uncapped year, so the salary is completely irrelevant from a football point of view. Owner Randy Lerner likes to waste money so this won’t faze him a bit.
Secondly, you have to take into account the fact that the Browns QB situation was a complete mess. Anderson had to go, and Brady Quinn can’t hit the side of a barn. Holmgren needed a placeholder, and this season there are very few free agent options.
Yes, Delhomme collapsed in the playoffs 2 years ago and then had a terrible 2009. But, there’s no evidence his physical skills have diminished. Also, he led the Panthers to a 12-4 record in 2008. His problems were mental – he obviously didn’t handle the pressure of the huge contract very well. Here he gets a fresh start, and it’s very possible he reverts back to being a solid QB. That would be a HUGE upgrade in Cleveland.
If he doesn’t work out, then no big deal. The Browns are starting over at QB.
You looked at Delhomme’s stats for one year, but he has a long history of success. The NFL is littered with stories of QBs who get rejuvenated in a new situation.
I have no delusions here of Delhomme being great, but given Holmgren’s other options in the short term I understand his move.
G,
$7 mil of his two-year salary is guaranteed and whether that comes in 2010 or over the course of the next two years, that’s enough for me to consider this a bad signing.
It’s fair to suggest that I’m overreacting, although I just re-read the post and I don’t think I’m being harsh enough. I think there is plenty of examples that Delhomme’s physical skills have deteriorated and his 2009 season is an example of that. And while he did a fantastic job turning around and handing the ball off to DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart in 2008, he wasn’t a great passer then either. Steve Smith bailed him out of a lot of poor throws and if I were Mangini, I’d be installing the zero pass to Joshua Cribbs right now because that’s about the only throw I’d be confident in Delhomme making on a routine basis.
I agree that some of the 18 interceptions he threw last year were due to confidence issues, but the guy also forced plenty of passes into tight coverage thinking that his arm strength would be there and it wasn’t. He’s also quick to get frustrated with his offensive line when he gets sacked and his decision making at this point in his career is questionable at best.
Even in an uncapped year, I think the $7 mil could have been invested more wisely. And when Wallace beats him out in August I’ll suggest the same thing.
I get your point about the Browns’ QB situation – I really do. But I’d rather have Shaun Hill at this point over Delhomme and I’m serious about that. You think I’m joking – I’m not joking. Shaun…Hill.
He’s a one-year stopgap who can hopefully groom whomever Holmgren tabs as his QB of the future. I’m sure you’ll say that Delhomme isn’t much of a mentor at this point, but he’ll be great in the locker room and give the young QB some time to develop.
People were saying a lot of similar things about Kurt Warner when the Giants let him go. Delhomme obviously isn’t as talented as Warner, but this clearly wouldn’t be the first time a dismissed QB rebounded with a fresh start.