Tag: Jimmy Haslam

Browns Jimmy Haslam does not regret Deshaun Watson contract

The Browns owner still believes the fully guaranteed deal was necessary.

With everything surrounding former MVP Lamar Jackson’s contract, the fully guaranteed deal the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson remains the talk of the town. But team owner Jimmy Haslam has no regrets about giving the former Texans quarterback the record-setting deal.

“We did what we thought was in the best interest of our team. We still feel that way”

The Browns owner was and still is willing to do whatever was necessary to win in Cleveland. Only time will tell if this works out but no remorse or regret is coming from Haslam regardless of how the rest of the league might feel.

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Browns: Jimmy Haslam committed to upgrading First Energy Stadium

The stadium is in desperate need of repairs.

There have been rumors this offseason of the Cleveland Browns want to build a new stadium. However, on Tuesday the team released a statement about how Jimmy and Dee Haslam are committed to upgrading First Energy Stadium and the lakefront around it.

“Dee and Jimmy Haslam said Monday at the NFL Annual Meetings they remain committed to upgrading the Browns’ stadium — with the primary goal of renovating FirstEnergy Stadium in accordance with the City of Cleveland’s plans to upgrade waterfront area between Lake Erie and downtown.”

The current stadium is in rough shape after being built in a rush so that it could open in time for the 1999 season when the team returned. It will be interesting to see the plans and when the renovations begin or if they end up calling for a whole new stadium instead.

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Jimmy Haslam: No ultimatum for Kevin Stefanski but ‘we have expectations’

Jimmy Haslam has high hopes for the Browns but is not giving his head coach an ultimatum.

The Cleveland Browns are looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and so is owner Jimmy Haslam. Speaking to the media at the NFL owner’s meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, Haslam talked about his expectations and what he expects from head coach Kevin Stefanski.

“You all know how hard it is to win in the NFL… We certainly do. So I think everybody has a sense of urgency that we need to play well this year.” (via Cleveland dot com’s Mary Kay Cabot)

While Haslam did not give Stefanski an ultimatum to make the playoffs or he’d be fired, the owner added, “I don’t want to say that, but I think that we have expectations to go to the playoffs.”

The Browns and Stefanski are out of excuses. They rightfully moved on from Baker Mayfield, they no longer are starting a backup quarterback for 11 games and have plugged significant holes on their roster. They have a full offseason with their $230 million quarterback and all 17 games.

The time is now for the Browns.

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Jimmy Haslam officially purchases stake in the Milwaukee Bucks

Jimmy Haslam has purchased an ownership stake in his third professional franchise.

Usually, all of the news comes out after the NFL Scouting Combine. However, Jimmy Haslam, the owner of the Cleveland Browns, has now purchased stake in his third professional franchise as he is now a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. In addition to the Browns and the Bucks, the Haslams are also part-owners of Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew as well.

No financials have been released on the deal with the Bucks, but the franchise was last sold in 2014 for $550 million. If Haslam is purchasing a 50 percent stake, then $225 million feels like the floor as the Bucks have most certainly gained value in the decade since they were last sold. Hopefully, this means he is less involved with the Browns.

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Jimmy Haslam in ‘serious talks’ to become a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks

The Haslam Sports Group may be extending into a third sport.

He already owns the Cleveland Browns and is a part-owner of the MLS’s Columbus Crew, and now Jimmy Haslam and the Haslam Sports Group are in “serious talks” to expand their ownership into the NBA. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Haslam Sports Group is on the verge of purchasing a large stake in the Milwaukee Bucks.

Looking to buy out the shares of current part-owner Marc Lasry, Haslam would join Wes Edens as the second co-owner of the Bucks if the purchase were to go through. Hopefully, we get to the point where Haslam has to become less hands-on with the Browns as he continues to diversify his portfolio.

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What passing game specialists could the Browns, Kevin Stefanski target in 2023?

Jimmy Haslam wants a vertical passing attack and wants to bring someone in who can make that happen. Here are a few potential names.

Multiple NFL insiders have stated that Kevin Stefanski is safe as the Cleveland Browns will bring him back in 2023. However, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones has stated that owner Jimmy Haslam may push for Stefanski to add an air raid specialist to his staff to meld his elite run game with a more explosive passing attack in 2023.

This could mean some turnover at quarterbacks coach as Drew Petzing has been a desired name, and even at offensive coordinator as Alex Van Pelt’s role has never been clearly defined. Here, we seek out a handful of names that Stefanski and the Browns could target to add.

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Video: Jimmy Haslam reacts to York’s game winner on the sideline

Hardly “one of us” but Haslam’s reaction was caught on video and it looked a whole lot like a fan’s reaction:

There is an old, possibly outdated, saying that “there is no cheering in the press box.” The idea is that media covering the games should have no emotional attachment to what is going on during the game.

The reality is many media members have to try very hard to stifle their emotions while watching the action. Football, for example, is fun. Basketball, for example, can be exhilarating and fast-paced.

Having covered both NFL and NBA games live as a member of the press, I can tell you it can be quite difficult.

That rule doesn’t apply to employees of the team and it especially doesn’t apply to owners.

Sunday, with his team down to Baker Mayfield and the Carolina Panthers, owner Jimmy Haslam prowled the sideline. His reaction to Cade York’s game-winning kick, to send the Cleveland Browns to 1-0 for the first time in his ownership, was caught on video:

You can also see J.W. Johnson come into view halfway through pumping his fist. Johnson, along with Myles Garrett, trolled Mayfield’s “off the leash” t-shirt after the game.

While Haslam has had a problematic stint as the team’s owner, it is obvious how passionate he is about the team. Like most fans, Sunday’s win was full of stress and excitement for the owner as well.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam: ‘We believe Deshaun Watson deserves a second chance’

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam says the team strongly believes QB Deshaun Watson deserves a second chance

Now that there is a final resolution on the Deshaun Watson suspension situation, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam fielded questions in a press conference at the team’s headquarters. Haslam vehemently defended the team’s decision to trade for Watson despite the sexual misconduct allegations and the resulting 11-game suspension settlement between the league and the NFLPA.

“I think in this country and hopefully in the world, people deserve second chances,” Haslam stated with his wife and co-owner Dee looking on. “I really think that.”

Then Haslam turned more broadly and altruistically with his statement.

“And I struggle a little bit — is he (Watson) never supposed to play again? Is he never supposed to be part of society? Does he get no chance to rehabilitate himself?

That’s what we’re going to do. And you can say, ‘well that’s because he’s a star quarterback.’ Well of course! But if he was Joe Smith he wouldn’t be on the headlines every day. We think that people deserve a second chance. We gave Kareem Hunt a second chance, okay? And that’s worked out pretty well.

We’re hoping this will work out and we have a strong belief that it will. That doesn’t mean we don’t have empathy for people affected, and we will continue to do so. But we strongly believe — strongly believe — people deserve a second chance. We believe Deshaun Watson deserves a second chance.”

Hunt was signed in 2019 after a domestic violence incident at a Cleveland hotel while the running back and Cleveland-area native was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Hunt assaulted a woman in a hallway in an incident that was captured on video. The Chiefs quickly severed ties with Hunt, who was the NFL’s leading rusher as a rookie in 2017. Hunt has effectively stayed out of trouble since joining the Browns.

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Haslams make statement on Deshaun Watson’s suspension

The Haslams’ statement is short and is similar to their earlier statements about Watson:

The Cleveland Browns hope that they have some certainty with QB Deshaun Watson now that Judge Sue Robinson has rendered her decision. The six-game suspension could be appealed by the NFL leading to a stronger punishment.

For now, Watson will miss the first six games of the 2022 season returning to practice with the team in Week 4 of the season. QB Jacoby Brissett will run the show until Watson returns.

While the NFLPA, in conjunction with Watson, released a statement last night that they would not appeal Robinson’s decision, we have not heard from the quarterback in a month and a half. It has been even longer since we heard from ownership. Monday, Dee and Jimmy Haslam released a statement:

The Haslams’ statement is in line with the last time they spoke shortly after Watson’s arrival in Cleveland.

While the Haslams’ statement notes Watson is “remorseful,” the quarterback has denied that he has done anything wrong in the situation:

Outside of the completion of the investigation, nothing has changed since the Browns acquired Watson. The organization was behind the move and the player at that time and, seemingly, will continue to be moving forward.

Fans, on the other hand, have not been in lockstep with the organization with many opposing Watson as a member of the team.

According to the public relations department, we will hear from both the Haslams and GM Andrew Berry after the appeals process, if the NFL decides to appeal.

Haslams comfortable with Deshaun Watson, trust legal system

The Haslams made it clear that they feel comfortable with both Watson and the legal system in answering questions to the media Friday:

The Cleveland Browns organization and Deshaun Watson finally spoke to the media following the trade that shocked the world that was initiated a week ago. Last Friday, Watson informed the Browns and Houston Texans that he had chosen Cleveland from among the other teams vying for his services.

The Texans announced the trade Friday night with the Browns following up with their announcement on Sunday.

Watson arrived in Berea on Thursday before taking a moment to step foot on the field at FirstEnergy Stadium with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Greg Newsome II.

Friday afternoon, GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski joined Watson in front of the media in Berea. The quarterback made it clear that he never assaulted or disrespected any women in answering questions during the press conference.

Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam had their time with the media over a Zoom conference call. The Haslams reported they were out of the country Friday.

During their time with the media, both of the owners made it very clear that they became comfortable with acquiring Watson and that they trust the legal process.

Both owners spent time validating the concerns of fans but repeated their comfort with both Watson as a person and the legal system. The team is also “comfortable” with Watson’s legal team deciding how to proceed with the 22 civil lawsuits.

With the press conferences complete, but the Watson addition far from settled for some fans, the team will continue to look toward improving their team in free agency as they prepare for the NFL draft.