Holmgren: Browns couldn't get past Redskins for Rams' pick

Published: Mar 15, 2012 at 10:50 AM

Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren said his team made an offer to the St. Louis Rams for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft that was "every bit" as good as the Washington Redskins' package, intimating cronyism between the Rams and Redskins.

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Holmgren disputed reports that the Browns did not include a second-round pick in their offer. The Redskins gave up the No. 6 overall pick this year, two additional first-round picks and a second-round selection to move up four spaces this year.

"There are reasons it didn't happen,'' Holmgren said on a conference call with season ticket holders, according to The Plain Dealer. "There's a very close relationship with'' the parties involved in the trade.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher and Redskins coach Mike Shanahan have a long-standing relationship, as NFL Network's Michael Lombardi noted before the trade. Redskins general manager Bruce Allen and Rams COO Kevin Demoff are also close.

Holmgren said he did not want the team to move back in the first round of the draft, as it did in 2009 and 2011.

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