Mike Holmgren holds press conference to discuss his departure from Browns organization

With the sale of the Browns approved and news of Joe Banner's hiring, outgoing President Mike Holmgren sat down with the Cleveland press for what is likely the final time.

Jimmy Haslam, Joe Banner take control of Browns; what's next for Pat Shurmur & Tom Heckert?

The Browns have a new owner and a new CEO, putting the job status of Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur in doubt. Ryan Alton addresses what all the changes might mean for the organization's top football men.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam takes out full-page ad in Northeast Ohio papers

If first impressions mean anything, it looks like Cleveland Browns fans should be embracing the future.

New Browns owner Jimmy Haslam took out a full-page ad in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Akron-Beacon Journal, telling Cleveland fans that he is excited for the future of Cleveland Browns football -- and grateful for the fans' support of the Browns.

Haslam's Browns picked up their first win of the 2012 season in Week 6, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-24. Though a 1-5 start is hardly encouraging, Browns fans can take solace in the fact that there is a new ownership in place, in conjunction with a new, young offense, featuring running back Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden.

Browns fans can check out the full-page ad here.

Any apprehensions Browns fans may have had about Haslam being a life-long Pittsburgh Steelers fan likely can be put to rest, as Haslam appears to be legitimately excited about the opportunity ahead of him as owner of the Browns.

Joe Banner introduced as new Browns executive

New Browns owner Jimmy Haslam formally introduced new CEO Joe Banner in Berea on Wednesday.

Jimmy Haslam calls Browns an 'iconic NFL brand'

New Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III addressed the media Tuesday afternoon in Chicago. Haslam was officially approved as the new Browns owner in a 32-0 vote Tuesday morning.

Haslam said during the press conference that the Browns are " truly one of the great iconic NFL brands. If you think back to Paul Brown, and then of course, arguably the greatest NFL player of all time, Jim Brown, it's a very special place."

Haslam said later in the conference that when the Browns won their first game of 2012 last Sunday, "as we left the stadium an hour or so after the game, there were still thousands of people around. And if I didn't know any better, I would have thought we won the AFC Championship instead of winning our first game in 11 months."

Haslam brings along former Philadelphia Eagles president Joe Banner, who will take over the CEO role in Cleveland immediately. Current Browns president Mike Holmgren will retire at the end of the season.

Randy Lerner, who is selling the team, will keep a 30 percent share in the franchise for the next four years. Haslam, a former CEO of the Pilot Flying J truck stop chain, will be divesting his 12 percent share in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Browns Mike Holmgren to be replaced by Joe Banner, effective immediately

With Jimmy Haslam now officially the owner of the Browns, reports are out that Mike Holmgren will be ceding control to Joe Banner immediately.

Jimmy Haslam officially approved as Browns owner

The Browns officially have a new owner!

NFL owners approve sale of Browns to Jimmy Haslam

NFL owners have voted unanimously, 32-0, to approve Jimmy Haslam as the new owner of the Cleveland Browns, according to Ryan Van Bibber. He only needed 24 votes, and there was little doubt that the deal would be approved. Haslam originally agreed to buy the team on Aug. 2 for roughly $1 billion.

Many NFL owners knew Haslam prior to the sale, and he seems to be universally respected. Said Steelers owner Art Rooney, "He'll be a great owner, but I wish he wasn't buying a team in our division."

Patriots owner Bob Kraft is also an admirer of Haslam:

"I had a chance to speak to him right before he bought it and I told him it was one of the league's great franchises," said Kraft. "He reminded me a little of myself coming in because he's so passionate and enthusiastic. I know how badly he wants that team to win, and that will become his principal focus."

Haslam has been the de facto owner of the Browns since news of the deal surfaced in August, but the mid-October meetings were needed to make it official. It comes as welcome news in Cleveland.

This story originally appeared at SB Nation.

Joe Banner, Mike Holmgren not present at NFL owners meetings

Team president Mike Holmgren and incoming executive Joe Banner are not expected to be at the NFL Owners Meetings this week, where Jimmy Haslam will take over ownership of the Cleveland Browns.

Joe Banner could be introduced as Browns executive this month, according to report

Former Philadelphia Eagles president Joe Banner could be officially named as an employee of the Cleveland Browns as soon as Oct. 15 or Oct. 16 during the NFL meetings in Chicago, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports.

Long said to be a target of new owner Jimmy Haslam, Banner is expected to be named the CEO of the Browns. Haslam has not commented on such a move, and current president Mike Holmgren has not been informed of any such changes in the front office.

The hiring of Banner would likely mean the end of Holmgren's tenure with Cleveland. Holmgren was hired in 2010 by former owner Randy Lerner, and the team has struggled to produce under the current president.

The Browns have won nine games since the hiring of Holmgren, and they are 0-4 this season.

While Banner's position title is not confirmed, he is expected to directly report to Haslam, La Canfora reports.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III says no personnel decisions until after the season

New owner Jimmy Haslam does not appear eager to make any personnel decisions until the Browns finish their 2012 slate.

Jimmy Haslam Exploring Possibility Of Adding Dome Roof To Cleveland Browns Stadium

New Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam Ready To Take Hands-On Role With Franchise

When new Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam took over control of the team last month, he told reporters that he planned split his time between the Browns and Pilot Flying J, the truck-stop chain of which he was CEO. But with Haslam now stepping down as the chief executive of the company that made him a billionaire, it's obvious that those plans have changed. What spurred that on? ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi has an idea:

The only reasonable conclusion you can reach is that Haslam has spent enough time walking the halls of Berea, examining the books, and, yes, sitting in on personnel meetings, to realize there is a lot of work to be done immediately with the Browns.

According to Grossi, Haslam has gotten in the trenches with his front office, picking the brain of general manager Tom Heckert on individual players and making appearances at personnel meetings. He also showed up for head coach Pat Shurmur's press conference on Sunday after the team's 17-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, which surprised Grossi.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature or stick with SB Nation Cleveland. For more on news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam Steps Down As CEO Of Pilot Flying J

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is stepping down as CEO of Pilot Flying J after roughly 18 years filling the role, as Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan reports. He's being replaced by John Compton, who stepped down as president of PepsiCo Inc. last week.

For Browns fans, this could be considered a positive development, as Haslam should now have significantly more time to run his new football franchise. That could be a stark contrast from the team's previous ownership headed by Randy Lerner, who never had a reputation for being deeply committed to running the organization.

Since agreeing to purchase the team from Lerner on Aug. 9, Haslam has already shown a serious commitment to Browns football. Beyond hiring former Eagles president Joe Banner and stepping down as Pilot Flying J CEO, Haslam was present during coach Pat Shurmur's post-game press conference last Sunday.

Pilot Flying J is a company based in Knoxville, Tenn., that operates a chain of truck stops across North America that generates more than $30 billion in revenue annually.

Dawgs By Nature has you covered for all the latest on the Browns while Bleeding Green Nation has all the latest news and analysis on the Eagles. Check out SB Nation's NFL hub for coverage around the league.

Cleveland Browns To Name Joe Banner Top Executive Under New Ownership

The Cleveland Browns will name Joe Banner the team's top executive when Jim Haslam officially takes over as owner next month, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. The league still has to approve of Haslam's purchase of the team at meetings next month.

Over the summer, Banner left the Philadelphia Eagles after roughly 18 years in the organization, spending the last decade-plus as president. He helped to turn Philadelphia into one of the marquee franchises in the league, a major landing place for key free agents each offseason.

La Canfora says that Banner has been working with Haslam since the initial meetings between him and former owner Randy Lerner, so he's already becoming increasingly involved in the team's business. He will report directly to Haslam once officially hired.

Dawgs By Nature has you covered for all the latest on the Browns while Bleeding Green Nation has all the latest news and analysis on the Eagles. Check out SB Nation's NFL hub for coverage around the league.