"Browns President Mike Holmgren said that trade talk for Brady Quinn is "a little premature," but he indicated that Quinn's future with the club depends on acquiring another quarterback.

"It all depends on what else we can do," Holmgren told The Plain Dealer on Friday. "We are continuing to look for and evaluate quarterbacks."

Holmgren said that he has not closed the door on signing free agent Jake Delhomme, who left the Browns without a contract to visit the New Orleans Saints. Delhomme, 35, is undecided about whether he wants to compete for the Browns' starting job or finish his career as Drew Brees' backup with his hometown team.

"Delhomme is an ongoing discussion ... he still is on radar," Holmgren said. "But I did tell this to Jake: while you're debating what you want to do, I've got to keep going. We're not just sitting on our hands waiting for something to happen.

"I don't want to be left standing at the altar."

Holmgren insisted he did not -- and would not -- promise Delhomme a starting job.

"I told him when I met with him that we'll never say that to a free agent guy, tell him, 'You're the starter,'" Holmgren said. "I think if you promise guys those things, and then something happens (to change that), then you have a disgruntled player. We're not going to do that.

"I think if we're competing with New Orleans, I think it's safe to say he will not be the starter in New Orleans. I think he certainly has the potential to be the starter here."

Although the Browns have signed three free agents -- offensive tackle Tony Pashos, linebacker Scott Fujita and tight end Ben Watson -- reshaping the quarterback roster continues to be the central focus of the club.

So far, the Browns traded a conditional seventh-round pick in 2011 for Seattle backup Seneca Wallace and then parted ways the next day with Derek Anderson.

Holmgren said another trade is possible -- if Delhomme isn't signed -- and "anything we do in free agency does not preclude drafting one. I'm kind of keeping all the avenues open.""