The Browns yesterday announced that the team's game against the Steelers marked Mike Holmgren's "last game as outgoing team president," according to Tom Reed of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Holmgren's "lame-duck status had been known for weeks, but a timetable for departure was unclear." He had "spoken of possibly finishing out the season in a advisory role." CBS' Kevin Harlan, who called yesterday's Steelers-Browns game, "mentioned Holmgren's imminent departure at the end of Sunday's telecast." Holmgren recently said that he "would consider a return to the sidelines" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/26). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote Holmgren's time with the Browns "fairly should be regarded as a failure." The question "now becomes whether he'll cap his career with one more appearance as a coach" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 11/25).
TOP DAWG: In Akron, Stephanie Storm writes Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam III prior to yesterday's game spoke with Steelers President Art Rooney II, but "it's clear where Haslam's loyalties now lie." It is "clear that Haslam gets his new adopted town." Browns CB Joe Haden said of Haslam, "He’s just so into it. He comes down here and we’re so happy to see that positive energy. (We) just like to be around the dude." Haslam after the game said, "The biggest thrill was to see who was leaving early -- the Steelers fans." Meanwhile, Haslam said he was “not involved” in the decision to cancel the team's white-flag promotion yesterday. Haslam: "To me, that’s much ado about nothing. The important thing is we won a very important game against one of our big-time rivals" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 11/26). In Pittsburgh, Mark Kaboly writes Haslam "took a page out of the Rooneys’ book when he greeted nearly every player in the locker room immediately following the game" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 11/26).
