The Browns have yet to receive a final answer on whether or not fans can attend games this yearGETTY IMAGES
Browns Owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam hope Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine "will allow some fans to attend Browns home games amid the COVID-19 pandemic," according to Nate Ulrich of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. The Haslams yesterday said that they have "yet to receive a final answer from DeWine about whether fans will be permitted in the stands at FirstEnergy Stadium." Jimmy Haslam used his annual training camp media availability to "implore Browns fans to wear masks, practice social distancing and wash their hands to combat the coronavirus." Haslam: "If everybody will do that, we have a chance at having an NFL season, a high school season and all of the other things we want to see happen." Meanwhile, Ulrich notes the Haslams also "vowed to support their players if they decide to kneel during the national anthem to protest social and racial injustice." The Browns are "prepared for any negative reaction they might receive from their followers who disagree with players kneeling during the anthem." QB Baker Mayfield "has already vowed to kneel." Dee Haslam commended Exec VP/Football Operations & GM Andrew Berry for "developing the team's #BeTheSolution campaign, which encourages people to educate themselves on social and racial justice issues before taking action aimed at positive societal change" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 8/17).
DEFENDING THEIR PLAYERS: The Haslams said that they are "prepared for any negative blow back from anyone who sees Mayfield's actions as unpatriotic." The AP noted when nearly two dozen Browns players "knelt before a home exhibition game last season, the actions triggered condemnation from some area veterans groups." But while vowing to protect Mayfield and other players, Jimmy Haslam said that "something is being lost in the debate over why people protest in the first place." Haslam: "Too much attention is called to whether somebody kneels or stands or what their statement is, and not nearly enough attention is called to what they do afterward. Dee and I can issue some great statement, but what you all really ought to look at is what ourselves, our coaches, our players are doing the rest of the week, if you will, to make this country a better place to live, work and raise a family" (AP, 8/16).
ALL ON THE SAME PAGE: In Cleveland, Mary Kay Cabot writes the "buzzword this offseason was 'alignment' and the Haslams believe they've finally achieved it, with everyone in the building rowing in the same direction, from Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta on down." Jimmy Haslam said, "It's a lot more fun, you have Paul DePodesta goes in that group, too -- three really smart, really capable individuals, low ego and who just want to win and want to do it in the right way." Cabot writes Haslam is "painfully aware he's uttered similar phrases since 2012 only to eat his words time and time again, but in the past, the organizational discord was often evident in training camp." Cabot: "This year, it's the opposite" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/17).
