You know what I will predict? That if we lose 11 or 12 games this year and start firing people it will be a big mistake. With new O coaches,an unsettled QB situation and all our injuries it will be tough to win more than 5 games unless everything comes together for us. We are do for some good luck but our track record says otherwise. We can hope.
Haslam says no:
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam on 2015: 'We're not going to blow things up'
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/08/browns_owner_jimmy_haslam_on_2.htmlBy Mary Kay Cabot, Northeast Ohio Media Group on August 01, 2015 at 1:47 PM, updated August 02, 2015 at 10:07 AM
BEREA, Ohio -- Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who was ridiculed from coast to coast for firing Rob Chudzinski after one season, has vowed not clean house despite what happens in 2015.
"We're not going to blow things up, okay?'' Haslam said during a press conference at Browns training camp Saturday. "I think we're on the right track so we're not going to blow things up. I understand why people might ask that after a couple of bumps in the first couple of years, but we are not going to do that. I think we're putting a good foundation in place.''
Haslam cited the last two drafts as reasons for optimism -- providing Johnny Manziel and Justin Gilbert rebound from their lost rookies seasons.
"The first year we were here, the draft was not what we wanted,'' he said. "I think the second year was better, and a lot depends on how the two first rounders do, right? If they turn out to be really good players, then we had a tremendous draft two years ago. If one of them makes it, we had a good draft; if neither of them make it; it's ok or just so-so.
"I think this past year we had a really good draft. We added 12 players, two of them might be redshirts, and we have 11 picks this coming year. If you have that many picks and you pick good talent and can coach them, over a period of time we're going to be successful."
So regardless of the record, he won't detonate his fledgling crew after the year?
"I think we have the right people in place to over a period of time be successful,'' he said "We're clearly focused on doing that."
That's not to say that Haslam, who's admittedly impatient, is fine with mediocrity.
"I think (Mike Pettine) Pett says it best, 'In this game, you are judged by wins and losses,' and as he says, it is a pass/fail league,'' said Haslam. "I think we came in with three goals. We will save the wins for last. Be a good participant in Northeastern Ohio. With (Owner/President of the Cleveland Browns Foundation) Dee (Haslam) leading the charge, we have done a nice job there. I think we said we wanted to provide our fans with a great experience. We spent $120 million on the stadium and we are changing uniforms, playing in Columbus and playing in Akron last year. We are doing a lot of things like that.
"The ultimate goal is winning, and until we consistently win in our division, which everyone knows is a challenge, none of us, including me, are going to be happy. We understand that we have a long way to go there."
That's why Haslam isn't resting easy heading into the season.
"I think you're always anxious because I worry about getting better,'' he said. "The first year, we came in the middle of the year so it was a little challenging. I would say the year before last was our first year (4-12), and it was a challenge. We got better last year. We went from winning four games to seven games. I can assure you nobody in this building is happy winning seven games, but at the same time, we are realistic that it takes time to build a good football team."
Haslam disagreed with the notion that he's willing to be patient this year because the Browns are poised to start a bridge quarterback in Josh McCown.
"Pett and (GM) Ray (Farmer) have said quarterback is important, but you can't put everything on one position,'' he said. "Listen, I'm not a football person. I'm a business person, but I think we have better talent than since we got here. We have a lot of young talent. We have some veterans to help teach them how to work and lead and improve the culture like Donte (Whitner) and Karlos (Dansby) and some of the guys did last year. I think we have a good blend of experienced people and younger players.''
Haslam indicated that McCown should be able to win games while the Browns determine if Johnny Manziel can cut it in the NFL.
"I think in Josh you have a guy who's played in the league and who is experienced,'' said Haslam. "We are clearly putting together a team that is not totally reliant on great play out of the quarterback. We think we are going to be very competitive this year. Despite what everybody reads and says, we haven't given up on Johnny. We think he has potential to be a good football player. Having the potential to do it and doing it are two different things.
"I think we have said numerous times that you are not going to win consistently in this league without a good quarterback. We are trying to make that happen."
Haslam scoffed at a recent report that Pettine and Farmer are at odds, something the coach and GM have also denied. Granted, the two had their differences last year and those came to a head during the Textgate scandal, which resulted in a four-game suspension for Farmer. But Haslam took the top brass offsite for team-building, and things have been considerably better since.
"The reports of them not getting along are just totally inaccurate,'' said Haslam. "They work together well. I am with them every day I am here. They work together exceptionally well."
Haslam is more confident than ever that Pettine and Farmer are the right men for the job.
"They're quality people, they're smart, they work hard and they have been around football all of their lives,'' he said. "If I had said this time last year we were going to be 7-9, you all would have said that's pretty good. The problem is we lost our last five and we get that and understand that. We're not pleased with it, and I don't want to say that. At the same time, I think it's unfair to say you have to win X amount of games, because injuries happen, schedules are harder, it's a tough league. You have to look at the body of work over a period of time. I feel good about where we are versus two years ago or even a year ago."
After wiping out the regime of Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur when he first took over, and then Chudzinski a year later, Haslam has learned the importance of stability. When it came time to replace Chudzinski, plenty of candidates were worried about job security. He knows he can't afford to display a quick trigger again.
"I think there's no question about it,'' he said. "At the same time, it's important to get the right people in the building. Maybe we did or maybe we didn't at first, but I feel good that we have the right people in the building now.''
Pettine said he knew he was on the right track with Pettine and Farmer when he watched the team go into Baltimore shorthanded for the finale last season and fight hard until the end.
"NFL coaches, one of the things they have to do is get their players to play hard all year,'' he said. "It's a grind. We're here on August 1 and we'll be talking again whenever our last game is January 3 and it'll be cold. That's a long time from now. People get hurt, things happened and you're under a lot of criticism. I think the testimony to Pett is that we go into Baltimore 7-8, (QB) Connor Shaw playing quarterback and a lot of people hurt. We lost the game, but we're ahead 10-6 going into the fourth quarter and the guys played their tails off. I think that's what head coaches have to do, and I think Pett did a great job with that."
The Browns close out the season this year against Pittsburgh, which has not been kind to the last two Browns coaches on the hotseat. Shurmur and Chudzinski were both fired after season finales in Pittsburgh, in 2012 and 2013.
But if Haslam holds true to his word, Pettine and Farmer will make it safely out of the matchup on Jan. 3.
(end)
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SB you crack me up!
