Could Browns have interest in Eagles' quarterbacks?

INDIANAPOLIS - 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.

Maybe it was just spin, but Holmgren's take yesterday seemed to be that the Browns really haven't given Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn enough of a chance to really be sure either is not the answer - particularly Quinn, the former Notre Dame star the Browns drafted 22nd overall in 2007.

"Neither one of those guys has played enough football for it to reach my criteria - playing 2 years, same system, same coach, getting through the bumps, getting through the mistakes," Holmgren told reporters at the NFL scouting combine. "Then, after 2 years - that's 32 games - then you know. Then you either have it, or you don't. Brady Quinn has played, I think 12 ballgames in 3 years. I don't know how many Derek's played [34, actually]. In this business, unless you have a dominating defense, like the Jets . . . it takes some time at that position. They have to get comfortable. And not only that, whoever's playing has to believe you have his back and you're committed."

Holmgren said he thinks "it's a longshot" that both Quinn and Anderson - due a $2 million roster bonus March 19 - would return. He said he is disinclined to hold a QB competition between them, as the Browns did last year.

After declining to discuss the Eagles' quarterbacks, Holmgren was asked if he could understand, given his long relationship with Andy Reid and his hiring away of Eagles general manager Tom Heckert, why people would connect the Browns to the Eagles' QBs.

"Yeah, I could," Holmgren agreed. He did not elaborate.

The day before, with fewer microphones around, Holmgren told ESPN.com's Matt Mosley that he was "astounded" by the drumbeat in Philadelphia against McNabb, given No. 5's accomplishments. Keeping in mind that McNabb turns 34 next season, Mosley asked Holmgren if he thought McNabb could have the career longevity of a Kurt Warner or Brett Favre.

"It's looking like, physically, he could play a long time," said Holmgren. "But he's a guy that, when he loses the ability to move around, it'll probably be near the end."

One might deem that a lukewarm answer, particularly if one concluded from watching the 2009 McNabb that he seems really uncomfortable in the pocket now when he isn't getting great protection.

Eagles quarterbacks were a popular combine topic yesterday. St. Louis general manager Billy Devaney was asked about Vick when speaking with reporters.

"We haven't spoken to the Eagles about any of their players," Devaney said. "This has come up a lot in St. Louis, and I have to stick to that - I can no more talk about Michael Vick than I can talk about Drew Brees or Tom Brady. He's a member of the Eagles, and he's under contract to the Eagles."

A few days earlier, in an NFL Network interview, Devaney made the same comparison and added a little meaningless filler: "We'll explore everbody and everything. Every possibility is on the table."

That "under contract" dodge also was utilized yesterday by Vick's agent, Joel Segal, as Segal entered an information session in Indianapolis held for agents by the NFLPA.

"It's 1 day at a time," Segal said, after correctly noting that Vick is under contract to the Eagles. "Hopefully we'll talk to the Eagles here and see what's up."

Agents Peter Schaffer and J.R. Rickert seemed to be doing just that yesterday, as they headed out to lunch with Eagles president Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman. They probably weren't crafting a new deal for Jordan Norwood. Schaffer and Rickert also represent recovering center Jamaal Jackson and defensive tackle Mike Patterson, neither of whom is in line for a contract. Maybe they were plotting the comeback of Tra Thomas.

Agent Brian Mackler, by the way, said he was on his way to talk to Roseman about pending unrestricted free agent Sean Jones, when a pair of reporters waylaid Mackler coming out of the meeting. Feel free to guess that Mackler didn't hear anything real encouraging about a new Eagles deal for his client. Mackler later texted that there was "no news."

The "under contract" umbrella was stretched to fit Brian Westbrook, when a Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter asked Vikings coach Brad Childress about the running back the Eagles have said they are releasing.

"I'm just going to say he's property of the Philadelphia Eagles and he was a good player when I was there. He's a good running back in a lot of different areas," Childress said.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith took a break from briefing agents to speak with reporters yesterday.

Smith said he was telling agents that given the league's decision to proceed into the uncapped year, they should be "prepared for the lockout" in 2011.

"The message to the agents was that they have an obligation to do exactly the same thing" the union has been telling the players, which is to batten down the hatches for no football next year. "These agents and the financial advisers who represent them I believe have an obligation to meet with every player in the National Football League and ensure that the players and their families are taking stock of the economic impacts of a lockout and what it means in the uncapped year, and to prepare for it," he said.

Smith said he had "very good meetings with the league" on Thursday. "I am an eternal optimist," he said. "I always believe that until you pass the date for something to happen, there is always the opportunity for it to happen.I thought it was a very, very good meeting."

Smith said the union would be watching how teams handle free agency in the uncapped year "extremely closely" after filing suit to ensure the bottom 10 revenue teams get their supplemental revenue sharing.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow attracted the largest media throng at the combine yesterday. Tebow spoke of the changes he's making to his throwing motion, which he called "more like a tweak" than a drastic change. He said he is trying to get the "loop" out of his release.

Minutes later, Browns president Mike Holmgren stressed how much he likes Tebow as a person and as an athlete, but said the throwing motion is "the most difficult thing to change in any quarterback - particularly in pressure situations."