WILL THE REAL HUE JACKSON PLEASE STAND UP

By STEVE KING

Jimmy Haslam says that we’ll see “the real Hue Jackson” this season.

Never have truer words been spoken, but not totally in the way the Browns owner intended in regards to his head coach.

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What Haslam meant fully is that with a general manager in John Dorsey who knows what he’s doing, and with a slew of proven veterans, particularly at quarterback in Tyrod Taylor, and some promising rookies led by Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, Austin Corbett and Nick Chubb, at it will become evident why Jackson was hired in the first place in 2016. And moreover, the owner hopes but certainly didn’t discuss for obvious reasons, it will also become evident why Haslam decided to retain Jackson despite the fact the Browns were a nightmarish 1-31 the last two seasons, including a historically terrible 0-16 in 2017.

That possibility definitely exists. If the Browns have a decent season –that is, if they win between five to seven games, which would represent a huge improvement over the last two years – then Haslam’s faith in Jackson will be vindicated. The owner will have indeed made the right move to hire him in the first place, and also to stand firm and resist the urge to fire Jackson.

To be sure, nobody – absolutely, positively nobody – would have raised an eyebrow if Haslam had removed Jackson. Most people – almost everyone, really – thought he would do so. It was a foregone conclusion.

But Haslam kept Jackson, and that raised a lot of eyebrows.

However, in seeing “the real Hue Jackson,” it could also be that a lack of head-coaching ability will be revealed. That would happen with another dismal season.

Only this time, there will be no excuses. Sashi Brown is no longer here, and the quarterback room doesn’t look like it belongs at nearby Baldwin-Wallace University instead of the NFL. And there is a lot more talent elsewhere on this team. The pieces are there for better results.

As such, Jackson, if he is the coach Haslam believes him to be, must produce. He has to win some games.

Or else Jimmy Haslam will have no alternative but to fire him and admit that he was wrong about Hue Jackson.