Just a month ago, I wrote Proof Positive that Jimmy Haslam is the Moron.
I won't make you re-read the article, but here's the money quote: "For whatever reason, (Haslam) thought that DeShaun Watson would put the (Cleveland Browns) over the top from playoff contender to Super Bowl contender. Surrounded by "yes men," Haslam swung for the fences, but didn't want to be seen as a meddling owner. Why does Jimmy Haslam want to win so bad? Because he wants a multi-billion-dollar stadium and it's harder to build one when your team is losing. How do I know I'm right? Everyone in that building still has their jobs and each one, to a man, spout cliches like "we win as a team, we lose as a team."
So your response is legal? CONJECTURE!
Here's the rest of the story. 2 years ago, the New York Jets signed future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to a 3-year, $112 million contract. Last year, Rodgers was famously injured in under one game and lost for the season.
Even before one preseason snap this year, Aaron Rodgers publicly met with RFK Jr. to discuss a possible run for vice-president as an independent. I read story after story that the Jets were pissed, especially owner Woody Johnson, who is a staunch Republican.
When Aaron Rodgers started to suck on the field, Woody Johnson suggested maybe Rodgers should be benched. Coach Saleh continued to play Rodgers and found himself fired. Johnson then looked down the hall and said "who brought Rodgers here?" Then Johnson fired General Manager Joe Douglas. The Jets fired everyone responsible for bringing Rodgers to New York. Rodgers would have been cut by now himself if he still wasn't guaranteed $75 million. Look for Rodgers to be booted at the end of the season.
What does that have to do with the Browns?
Since 1999, the Cleveland Browns have had almost a dozen coaches and almost a dozen general managers, just unheard-of turnover in the NFL. Why, all of a sudden, is Jimmy Haslam a patient man?
The DeShaun Watson contract was described, just yesterday, as the worst one in football in the last decade. Who signed that check? Jimmy Haslam. If his football people made that decision, Haslam would have gone scorched Earth and fired everyone, like Woody Johnson did.
Instead, Haslam is rewarding his loyal generals for their silence.
But, because Haslam isn't that smart, in a few months, maybe even in a year, he'll eventually fire his 'yes men' for not protecting him from his own bad decisions. He will rationalize that even 'yes men' should say no when you're about to make a historically bad mistake.
That's how billionaires roll.
(And you'll read about the 2024 Brown's Season in Kevin Stefanski's book, after his career is over, about the year 2050.)
Comments