Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam III and his wife Dee yesterday sent a letter to season-ticket holders that "apologized to fans" for "putting them through the worst season in franchise history," according to Nate Ulrich of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. They wrote, "Clearly, this season has been a painful part of our building process. You deserve the best, and you certainly deserve better than a 1-15 team." After Sunday’s loss to the Steelers in the season finale, Jimmy Haslam "accepted blame for the team’s struggles" since buying the franchise in October '12. Ulrich reports the letter "took the message a step further by including an apology." The Haslams "reiterated their support" for coach Hue Jackson, Exec VP/Football Operations Sashi Brown and Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 1/4). In Cincinnati, Michael Nyerges wrote though the Browns are the "worst franchise in the NFL," what is "worse than the incessant losing is the destruction" of the team's legacy. Under Halsam's stewardship, things have "gone from bad to worse." Nyerges: "Given patience and proper support, I have full confidence that Jackson can turn the ship around." But the Browns under Haslam have "not been known for patience." It seems like the Browns under Haslam have been "more concerned with style over substance," and that is "so not Cleveland." It "feels like the team history is a marketing tool, rather than a pillar of what it means to be a Cleveland Brown" (CINCINNATI.com, 1/3).
