Mike Holmgren Turns Down Seahawks GM Offer, Clearing Path for Browns Job

This is news coming down within the hour. The city of Seattle has been shining bright on the sports map these past two weeks with the acquisitions of Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee and 2008 ASG MVP Milton Bradley to the Seattle Mariners (MLB) and having Jake Locker officially announce that he would return to the University of Washington for his senior season it seemed like something from the Seahawks had to come.

Since announcing that he wanted to return to the game he left two years ago after he retired as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Mike Holmgren wanted to become the next GM/EVP of the Seattle Seahawks if they decided to offer the job.

Well after spending two days with the Cleveland Browns and their owner Randy Lerner about having Holmgren possibly becoming their "Czar" of Football Operations. Holmgren left Cleveland without a contract offer, an agreement and according to reports they did not talk money.

That left the door slightly open for Tod Leiweke and Paul Allen to offer the job to Mike Holmgren. Leiweke has become Seattle's most hated sports related player/person the last few weeks with the way he's decided to run the GM search along with Spencer Stuart, a New York firm.

It was also reported this past week that the Seahawks have a list of 10 possible candidates for their GM position and Holmgren was not on that list.

Now tonight Seattle Times reporter Danny O'Neil reported that Mike Holmgren will not rejoin the Seattle Seahawks after turning down the teams offer of a "senior leadership position" meaning their GM position.

Tod Leiweke said in the report that "Mike has declined our offer to rejoin the team given the structure we proposed. We hold Mike in high regard and wish the Holmgren family the very best with their new horizons."

As I reported last week with four possible candidates for the Seahawks GM position. Kevin Colbert was unavailable for comment about the Seahawks and their GM opening. Holmgren stated "I'd love a chance to become the GM if they decide to reach out to me" about the Seahawks GM opening. Well that can be checked off on their list.

Eagles GM Tom Heckert and Randy Mueller could also not be available for comment about the Seahawks opening.

This news clears the path for Mike Holmgren to accept the Cleveland Browns offer of "Czar" of Football.

Now the question must be asked, who are the other nine on the Seahawks supposed list of candidates. Knowing Tod Leiweke, who is becoming less and less popular in Seattle, could wind up with no other option that current interim GM Ruston Webster, who interview for the position this past week.

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