Say what you want about Jimmy Haslam’s learning curve – he says it’s been steep, with plenty of ups and downs, probably more of the latter than the former – but the Browns owner seems to have it correct now.
Yes, ultimately, the proof will be in the pudding, but at least that’s the impression you get after his annual start-of-training-camp press conference.
Right up front, Haslam said what I’ve been telling you – and what longtime Browns radio play-by-announcer Jim Donovan told me last Tuesday – and that is that this team might not win a whole lot more games this season than it did in 2016 when it went bottomed out by going a dismal 1-15. Donovan settled on an expectation of six victories, while I’ve said four or five. That’s splitting hairs. In any event, it isn’t much, but it’s better.
Those who think the Browns will contend this year are dreaming. It isn’t going to happen – not even close, really.
But just as I’ve also told you and Donovan told me, Haslam said the Browns will make dramatic improvement the next two seasons, 2018 and ’19.
That’s patience, which Haslam admitted he didn’t have when he brought the team midway through the 2012 season. Haslam said that after gutting the team last year and beginning a total rebuilding project, which, I might add, should have been done long ago, everyone needs to just step back, relax and let the process play out. It takes time, and it is why there are no grand illusions about winning this year.
But in 2018, winning, improving and contending, perhaps if it’s just mildly down the stretch, will be expected, and the Browns had better do all of that, or else the owner will not be pleased.
He said the Browns are doing it the right way by patiently – there’s that root word again – building through the draft and using free agency sparingly to fill in the cracks.
It’s the way all good teams do it.
As such, Haslam has patience – there it is once more – with his chief football men, Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson. He’s not going to panic and pull the plug on them. They will have enough time to see this thing through.
No blowing it up and starting all over again, which is exactly the last thing the Browns need right now.
He also said the Browns are in “the early stages of this rebuild,” which is what I’ve been saying for a long time. Why? Well, for starters, the Browns aren’t sure they have their quarterback. They think they might have him in rookie DeShone Kizer, but truthfully, they aren’t sure. To put it more bluntly, they have no idea, No one does, really.
And until the Browns get their franchise guy at the most important position in team sports, the party really doesn’t start.
Last year was a nightmare. Haslam admitted as much, saying it was harder than anyone thought.
This season will be less of a nightmare – but still somewhat of one, nonetheless.
Then in 2018, it should be better – much better. Now, it won’t be great, mind you, but it will improve to the point where Browns fans will really begin to get some of their pride back.
If you don’t remember anything else heading into this season, remember this. It is your user’s guide.
And the best thing of all, it comes from the top man in the organization.
