SB Nation Cleveland - New Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam Introduced In Bereahttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48841/cleveland-fave.png2012-08-13T08:52:44-05:00http://cleveland.sbnation.com/rss/stream/28354482012-08-13T08:52:44-05:002012-08-13T08:52:44-05:00Cleveland Browns Execs Served Notice For 2012 Season
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<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">A change in ownership can often mean wholesale changes in a franchise's front office, and that may soon be the case with the </span><a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Cleveland Browns</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">. According to </span><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/08/12/mmqb/4.html" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Sports Illustrated</i>'s Peter King</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">, new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam may be ready to shake things up come the end of the 2012 season.</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: transparent;">King says that Haslam wants to "judge everyone fresh," and that no one in the front office should "feel secure beyond December." That could be bad news for Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur, who have been unable to change the losing tide in Cleveland. Of course, that trio still has the 2012 season to show marked improvement, and success in the NFL can often come when it's least expected.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: transparent;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">For more information on the Cleveland Browns, head over to <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #912b21; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Dawgs By Nature</a>. More news and analysis on the NFL as training camps begin can be found over at <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #912b21; font-weight: bold;" href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub</a>.</i></p>
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https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/8/13/3239371/jimmy-haslam-new-owner-cleveland-brownsJordan Sargent2012-08-04T12:39:20-05:002012-08-04T12:39:20-05:00Roger Goodell: Browns Sale Will Be Finalized 'No Later Than October'
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<p>The deal to sell the Cleveland Browns to Jimmy Haslam seemed to come together at a breakneck speed, and it looks as if commissioner Roger Goodell and the league will try to keep up that pace. <a href="http://www.foxsportsohio.com/08/04/12/Goodell-wants-sale-of-Browns-completed-s/landing_browns.html?blockID=771195&feedID=3659">From Fox Sports Ohio:</a></p>
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<p>Speaking at a youth football event in Akron on Saturday morning, Goodell said the involved parties have been "working on it" and that the sale of the Browns from Randy Lerner to Haslam will be finalized and approved "hopefully in a matter of weeks."</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>"It will be no later than October unless something unusual happens." </p>
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<p>Haslam was previously a minority owner with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the league's pre-existing relationship with him could be a factor in speeding up the process. There's a good chance the sale will be completed by the time the Browns kick off their regular season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 9.</p>
<p><i>For more information on the Cleveland Browns, head over to <a href="http://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Dawgs By Nature</a>. More news and analysis on the NFL as training camps begin can be found over at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub</a>.</i></p>
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https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/8/4/3219907/roger-goodell-cleveland-browns-sale-finalized-soonGregory Pietras2012-08-03T13:50:42-05:002012-08-03T13:50:42-05:00New Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam Introduced In Berea
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<p>On Friday, new <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> owner Jimmy Haslam was introduced to the media during an introductory press conference at the team's practice facility, where he discussed the franchise's future.</p>
<p>Via <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/08/cleveland_browns_new_owner_jim_1.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter">The Cleveland Plain Dealer</a>:</p>
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<p>"I sense there is a strong feeling here that Mike and the team have things headed in the right direction,'' he said. "I think we have to listen, learn and observe.''</p>
<p>Haslam also said, "There's no reason this can't be a winning franchise. Everything is here. If they don't, I'll accept the blame. It's our fault we didnt execute like we should. Every other piece is in place.''</p>
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<p>Along those same lines, Haslam stated that he will try to sell the naming rights to the team's stadium and will be attending Wednesday's Family Night in addition to sitting in the stands during the team's first exhibition game.</p>
<p>His main goal is to bring winning back to Cleveland:</p>
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<p> "We're 100 percent committed to making the Browns a winner again. I understand the spirit of the city rises and falls with how the Browns do and it's our job to keep it up.'' </p>
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<p><i>For more information on the Cleveland Browns, head over to <a href="http://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Dawgs By Nature</a>. More news and analysis on the NFL as training camps begin can be found over at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub</a>.</i></p>
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https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/8/3/3218121/new-browns-owner-jimmy-haslam-introduced-in-bereaMatt Brigidi2012-08-03T10:09:59-05:002012-08-03T10:09:59-05:00Steelers President Art Rooney Releases Statement On New Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam
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<p>Even though Jimmy Haslam has said before that he was a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> fan through and through for the past few years during his time as a minority owner with them, he will be doing all he can to help his new team after buying the Browns. Specifically, he said that he would be keeping the team away from any more upheavals or overhauls, and would be in it <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/08/jimmy_haslam_putting_on_my_ora.html">"for the long run</a>."</p>
<p>He was vouched for by Steelers president Art Rooney in a statement released on Friday. Rooney praised Haslam as a great partner and said that the <a href="http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-browns/cleveland-browns-1.270107/steelers-president-art-rooney-ii-issues-statement-about-jimmy-haslam-buying-browns-1.324429">Browns were getting a "strong new owner</a>:"</p>
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<p>"Jimmy Haslam and his family have been great partners in the Steelers Ownership for the past three years," Rooney said in the statement. "I am sorry that he will be leaving our Ownership group, but I am happy the National Football League is going to have a strong new Owner. I am sure the Haslam Family will bring constructive and able ownership to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a>."</p>
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<p>Haslam has spent Friday on the practice field with the Browns for his first training camp with the team and will be introduced to the media during a press conference at 1 p.m. ET.</p>
<p><i>For more coverage of the Cleveland Browns' new ownership, stay locked with <a href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/6/7/3071407/rumor-circulating-that-cleveland-browns-are-for-sale">this StoryStream</a>. Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Dawgs By Nature</a> for more Browns news.</i></p>
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https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/8/3/3217584/art-rooney-statement-jimmy-haslam-browns-steelersChris White2012-08-03T10:08:42-05:002012-08-03T10:08:42-05:00Jimmy Haslam On Scene In Berea, Attends Browns Practice
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<p>Well, this is all moving quite fast. <a href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/8/3/3217371/jimmy-haslam-browns-sale-randy-lerner-cleveland" target="_blank">Jimmy Haslam told Mary Kay Cabot that he met Randy Lerner </a>in the first week of July. Last Friday, reports surfaced that the two were in negotiations for the sale of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a>. Less than a week after that, the deal was complete. </p>
<p>Now, Haslam is in Berea, attending practice on Friday morning in advance of an introductory press conference at 1 p.m. ET. Haslam took the field donning a Browns t-shirt and mesh shorts -- a far cry from the cargo shorts and skater sneaks Randy Lerner used to sport out on the field in Berea. Andre Knott captured a great shot of Haslam walking off the field with Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren. Pic after the jump:</p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/DreKnott/status/231401383197306880" target="_blank">Via Andre Knott</a>:</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1274616/Jimmy_Haslam.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Jimmy_haslam_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1274616/Jimmy_Haslam_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1344005739374"></p>
<p>It's expected that Roger Goodell and the NFL will expedite the approval process so Haslam will not have to wait until the league's meetings in mid-October.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Browns sale and training camp, visit <a href="http://www.dawgsbynature.com/" target="_blank">Dawgs By Nature</a>. For all your preseason news and notes, check out <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl" target="_blank">SB Nation' s NFL hub</a>.</i></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2012/8/3/3217589/browns-sale-jimmy-haslam-training-camp-mike-holmgrenBrendan Porath2012-08-03T08:26:41-05:002012-08-03T08:26:41-05:00Jimmy Haslam Has No Plans To Move Browns, Will Buy Out Randy Lerner Minority Stake
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<p>New Browns owner Jimmy Haslam sat down for a one-on-one interview with <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/08/jimmy_haslam_putting_on_my_ora.html" target="_blank">The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot on Thursday night and answered an array of questions</a> about the future of Cleveland's most beloved sports team. One of the first things Haslam addressed with Cabot was the topic of moving the Browns out of Cleveland. As expected, <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/08/jimmy_haslam_putting_on_my_ora.html" target="_blank">he's here to quell any fears</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We're not moving the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a>," said Haslam, who arrived in town Thursday night. "To own a team with a such a rich tradition and history is a dream come true. Randy had four things he wanted and I won't share all of them, but No. 1 was we keep them in Cleveland. Why would we move? I've been to three games there on the other side of the field and I've seen the intensity and the enthusiasm. That thought never, ever entered our minds."</p>
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<p>Haslam was planning to have dinner with club president Mike Holmgren on Thursday night and while there are rampant reports that Joe Banner is coming to town, the new Browns owner said he's entering the situation with an "open mind" about everyone. Haslam told Cabot he will be buying a home in the area and establishing roots in the community, but that he'll keep his primary residence in Knoxville.</p>
<p>Lastly, Haslam cleared up the issue of Lerner controlling a 30 percent ownership stake. The truck-stop magnate indicated that he will buy out the remaining portion over time as a part of the deal -- a figure reported in the area of $300 million.</p>
<p>Haslam is on the practice field this morning watching his new team and he'll be introduced at a 1 p.m. press conference in Berea.</p>
<p><i>For more coverage of the Browns' new ownership, stay locked with <a href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/6/7/3071407/rumor-circulating-that-cleveland-browns-are-for-sale">this StoryStream</a>. Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Dawgs By Nature</a> for more Browns news.</i></p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/8/3/3217371/jimmy-haslam-browns-sale-randy-lerner-clevelandBrendan Porath2012-08-02T22:42:03-05:002012-08-02T22:42:03-05:00Report: Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert 'Probably Gone' From Browns, According To Report
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<p>Reports of changes surrounding the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Browns</a> continue to surface with Jimmy Haslam taking over ownership of the team. With <a href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/8/2/3216475/report-mike-holmgren-wants-to-stay-cleveland-browns-but-joe-banner-jimmy-haslam/in/2835448" target="_blank">Joe Banner expected to join Haslam's front office</a>, presumably as team president, current president Mike Holmgren and his general manager Tom Heckert could be on their way out.</p>
<p>According to CBSSports.com's Clark Judge, sources are telling him that big changes are likely on the way:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>2 league sources confirmed Banner in Cle as team prez. Said Holmgren, Heckert probably gone. Said 1: "They're going to blow whole place up."</p>
— Clark Judge (@ClarkJudgeCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClarkJudgeCBS/status/231220851905802240" data-datetime="2012-08-03T02:52:01+00:00">August 3, 2012</a>
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<p>While Banner's inclusion in the new ownership regime would seem to put Holmgren's status in jeopardy, much less in known when it comes to Heckert. Both Banner and Heckert worked together in Philadelphia and many presumed the two could partner up again in Cleveland. Judge's sources, however, seem to think that's not the case.</p>
<p>Expectations for the Browns' season are low with inexperienced rookies <span>Brandon Weeden</span> and <span>Trent Richardson</span> being relied on at quarterback and running back, respectively. The state of the current team gives Haslam a chance to make an immediate mark on the team by making big changes to the organization. Next in line may be coach Pat Shurmur unless the Browns can get off to a strong start.</p>
<p><i>For more coverage of the Browns' new ownership, stay locked with <a href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/6/7/3071407/rumor-circulating-that-cleveland-browns-are-for-sale">this StoryStream</a>. Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.dawgsbynature.com">Dawgs By Nature</a> for more Browns news.</i></p>
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https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/8/2/3216845/report-mike-holmgren-tom-heckert-probably-gone-from-brownsTom Lewis2012-08-02T19:43:13-05:002012-08-02T19:43:13-05:00Report: Mike Holmgren Wants To Stay With Browns But Joe Banner On The Way With Jimmy Haslem
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<p>With Jimmy Haslam set to be introduced as the new majority owner of the Cleveland Browns on Friday, reports of other leadership changes in the organization continue to develop.</p>
<p>Jason LaCanfora reported earlier in the day on Thursday that former Philadelphia team president <a href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/8/2/3215627/cleveland-browns-sale-mike-holmgren-joe-banner-jimmy-haslam/in/2835448" target="_blank">Joe Banner could join Haslam in Cleveland</a>, but with Mike Holmgren still in that position, the move was not a "slam dunk." Now, according to Mary Kay Cabot, Banner will indeed come to Cleveland with Haslam, leaving Holmgren's status in limbo.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>BREAKING: Former <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Eagles"><s>#</s><b>Eagles</b></a> president Joe Banner will be joining Jimmy Haslam in Cleveland once the sale is approved, league sources told PD.</p>
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryKayCabot/status/231182054660915200" data-datetime="2012-08-03T00:17:51+00:00">August 3, 2012</a>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Prior to this tweet, <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/08/mike_holmgren_says_he_wants_to.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">Cabot reported on Holmgren</a> expressing an interest in staying with the Browns as team president, although he didn't want to comment on possibly working alongside Banner.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Holmgren is in the third year of a five-year contract that pays him about $8 million a year. Asked if he hopes to be here through 2012, he said, "I hope to, but we'll see."</p>
<p>"I've been in this business a long time and we'll just see how that goes," he said. "Right now anything like that would be premature."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Holmgren spoke with Haslam on Wednesday and mentioned the effort to keep things as normal as possible around the team despite the ownership change.</p>
<p><i>For more coverage of the Browns' new ownership, stay locked with <a href="http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/6/7/3071407/rumor-circulating-that-cleveland-browns-are-for-sale">this StoryStream</a>. Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.dawgsbynature.com">Dawgs By Nature</a> for more Browns news.</i></p>
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https://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/8/2/3216475/report-mike-holmgren-wants-to-stay-cleveland-browns-but-joe-banner-jimmy-haslamTom Lewis