Haslams are making progress
STEVE KING
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I haven’t seen the Browns’ new uniforms yet, but the indication from every corner is that they’re going to have a real old-school look.
That will delight me, and I’m sure most of you as well.
Anyway, for the purpose of this piece, I’ll go out on a limb and assume that all the rumors are correct about the uniforms. And if that is indeed the case – and I don’t see why it wouldn’t be – then it means the Haslams are making progress and just might be right about the uniforms.
4.15.20. Noon ET.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 13, 2020
All team proceeds from our new jersey sales will go to the “Hats off to Our Heroes” fund, which will aid those persisting in the face of adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic » https://t.co/ZVH9zDKwWh pic.twitter.com/KxehO1u2NT
Again.
Two or three years ago, I don’t know if any of us ever thought that we’d say that about the Haslams. From the time they bought the team in 2012, it had been a comedy of errors. Everything they did was wrong – and not just a littler wrong, but a lot. They were novices, and it showed. Man, did it show.
It was Murphy’s Law day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year.
Then it appeared, with the way the team finished in 2018, that good things – no, make that great things, extra-special things – were finally in store for 2019. But, of course, those expectations blew up in the Browns’ and the Haslams’ faces, and they were tasked with tearing it up yet again and starting over.
Ugh.
When was this ever going to end? That was the question everybody was asking, including the Haslams, importantly so. They realized they were running out of time to prove themselves. The fans’ and media members’ patience was wearing thin, at best.
Everything they’ve done since then, however, has made sense.
In hiring Andrew Berry as general manager and Kevin Stefanski as head coach after taking a lot of time to carefully and thoroughly work through the process, they got two young, calm, smart, deep thinkers who appear to have a solid plan, and, more critically, the solid determination to carry it out.
The new guys appeared to do very well in free agency, signing, at positions of major need, the best tight end (Austin Hooper), right tackle (Jack Conklin) and backup quarterback (Case Keenum) available on the market, plus a blocking fullback and some nice pieces on defense.
Now the Haslams have listened to the fans’ complaints and gotten rid of those ugly uniforms, replacing them with something apparently a whole lot better.
Next up is the NFL Draft, and the Browns, who desperately need a left tackle to protect their projected franchise quarterback, Baker Mayfield, are expected to get one of the top ones with their first pick, at No. 10 overall.
Using common sense. Hmmm. Imagine that? A novel idea that works every time it’s tried.
Not long ago, we couldn’t have imagined that.
Now, this is not to say that, for sure, the Haslams have totally figured out this ownership thing. That would be way premature, but it’s fair to say the Haslams are making progress.
But, at the same time, they seem as if they have definitely taken some major steps in that direction.
And that’s a great thing.
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More Cleveland Browns News:
- “Don’t assume we’re going to draft an offensive tackle” (PFT)
- Browns New Uniforms Unveiled This Week (Browns Daily Dose)
- “Browns New GM Berry Prepared For Unique, ‘Virtual’ Draft” (AP)
- Myles Garrett re-ignites rivalry (Browns Daily Dose)
- “Could Cleveland Be A Good Fit In Cleveland?” (OBR)
- “When it comes to drafting Buckeyes it’s been O-H-I … don’t think so for the Browns” (BrownsZone)
