New stars like Odell Beckham Jr. could help the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since '02getty images
Browns co-Owner Jimmy Haslam admitted "it's been painful" for most of the seasons since his family bought the team in '12, but said "we have learned a lot as we have gone along," according to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The Browns have an "established GM in place" with John Dorsey. They also have a "likely future Pro Bowl quarterback under center" in Baker Mayfield, and a "promising young coach" in Freddie Kitchens. Pluto: "This is a general manager/front office driven franchise. That's how it should be. No longer do the Haslams have that business model where the coach and general manager were on the same level -- both reporting directly to ownership." Haslam said Dorsey has a "track record of putting together good teams." He added, "But as John will quickly tell you, we haven't done anything yet. We have to prove it on the field." Pluto notes "challenges and disappointments are coming," and how the Haslams and Browns "handle that will determine if this is the season they finally return to the playoffs for the first time" since '02 (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/29).
CHANGING THE CULTURE: Browns co-Owner Dee Haslam said, "The expectation is to win. I think that is everybody's expectation. We feel like we're off to a great start. We can't help but be excited for the fans. It's a big deal for Cleveland. It's tremendous." The AP's Brian Dulik noted in addition to improving their football personnel, the Browns' "business pursuits were addressed," including their "desire to extend the lease on their suburban Cleveland practice facility" through '39. Dee Haslam said that the "long-term plan to develop property around FirstEnergy Stadium is moving slowly" (AP, 7/28).
NEW THREADS: In Akron, Marla Ridenour notes the Browns will "unveil new uniforms next spring." However, Dee Haslam said that there will be "no tinkering with the iconic helmet." She said, "No, no, never. Absolutely never." She added on the '20 uniforms, "We talk all the time about kind of [how] Cleveland has a certain way about them and I think the uniform that we're in development [with] will fit our team really well, our look and our feel of who we are." Ridenour notes the Browns have "applied to the NFL to wear their popular Color Rush uniforms more than the allotted three times this season," but they "await the league's response." Dee Haslam: "Hopefully that will work out. It's a pretty good uniform. I think the players would be excited to wear it if it works out" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 7/29).
With Mayfield, the Browns have become one of the hottest teams both locally and nationallygetty images
THE MAYFIELD EFFECT: In Cleveland, Tim Bielik writes with Mayfield as the "new face of the franchise, the Browns have quickly transformed into one of the hottest teams both locally and nationally." Former NFL VP/Consumer Products Josh Feinstein said that sales of Browns gear "increased" by 163% between the '18 Draft and last summer. But sales "took another massive leap following Mayfield's Week 3 debut vs. the Jets last season," when he led the Browns to their first win since '16 (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/29). Also in Cleveland, Dan Labbe notes the "emergence of Mayfield and the Browns' strong finish" to last season has "made its mark on ticket sales." Before training camp opened, the team "announced that all single-game tickets had been sold," as have "all tickets to the public training-camp sessions." The Browns now have a "season-ticket waiting list, and each fan on that list has put down a deposit of at least $100 per ticket to stay on it." For "everything the Browns have had to pull on to sell tickets during the tough years, having Mayfield stabilize the quarterback position presents them the opportunity to sell the most important thing." Browns VP/Ticket Sales & Service Bob Sivik said, "We are always looking for new ways to improve our fans' experience, and year after year, the feedback we get most often is that our fans want to compete for and win a championship" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/29).
