Can the Cleveland Browns get anymore screwed up? On the day of the 2017 NFL Draft, rumors are flying that not only has the team decided on their first pick, one that will excite some and disappoint several, but they also have left head coach Hue Jackson in the lurch.
Adam Schefter of ESPN, the network that just laid off over 100 employees reportedly to satisfy their Board of Directors dividend checks, is saying this morning the Browns will turn away from the consensus number one pick in Myles Garrett of Texas A & M, and go with the flier in Mitch (oh excuse me, Mitchell!) Trubisky. As I stated in my story earlier this week, this switch, if indeed true, smacks of the owner looking to sell jerseys and more promotional items. Just like he was able to do with Johnny Manziel.
I remember my father complaining about Art Modell, the man that fired not one, but eventually TWO Hall of Fame coaches in Paul Brown and the upcoming induction of Bill Belichick, for being the worst thing to ever happen to the Browns organization. It led him to abandon the Browns and almost entirely the NFL. Now, at the same age of my father at the time, I am close to the same conclusion.
Yes Modell fired those two coaches. Yes he ran the team into financial ruin. Yes he had to move the team to Baltimore in order to keep it and win a Super Bowl. He is arguably the most hated man in Cleveland. Yet Jimmy Haslem is becoming a front runner to take his place. Haslem is a meddler in an organization he knows nothing about. He has never worked in a front office, scouted players, put a team together. And, from all indications, learned nothing from recently deceased Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney when he was a minority owner their.
Haslem has put his stamp on this team, and none of it good. Manziel, firing coaches, skimping on the salary cap. It’s obvious Haslem has no idea on how to run a football team. Tonight might be the final blow. Meanwhile Hue Jackson reportedly is sitting in the team’s war-room wondering what the team he coaches is going to do.
Reports out of 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland this morning are Jackson isn’t even privy to who the first pick will be. Jackson is the only pure football man in the building, yet the front office and owner aren’t looking to him for his input? This is how a Haslem run team operates.
Let me be clear, just in case it’s not obvious. I am not a fan of Jimmy Haslem. To me he should go back to Tennessee and allow this front office, that he hired, to run the football team. Stay out of their draft room Mr. Haslem. Go home and worry about the trouble of your gas company. Or at least just stay quite. However he is the owner, and his opinion is worth more than anyone else. It is his name on the checks. But Haslem needs to see his ideas have been catastrophic.
So when the card is sent to the podium tonight, we will know who is running this organization on and off the field. If the pick is Myles Garrett, Sashi Brown, Hue Jackson and Paul DePodesta have control so far. If the pick is Trubisky, then Haslem has made his mark.
For me, Mr. Haslem, this pick means more. It tells me if I should continue being a fan of the Cleveland Browns, or follow my father and leave the ranks for good.
Dave Mitchell co-hosts with Mark Donahue the UST talk show “Ohio Baseball Weekly,” highlighting the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. The Show is at 9pm every Monday evening. He also provides play by play of sports. If you have a comment on this or any other article,email Dave at dmitch@ultimatesportstalk.com or on twitter @ohbbcohost or @ultsportstalk.
