LAS COLINAS, Texas — Cleveland Browns proprietor Jimmy Haslam mentioned he’s perplexed by his workforce’s 3-10 report however will consider its efficiency in totality after the season — together with the outlook at quarterback.
He additionally expressed assist for coach Kevin Stefanski and basic supervisor Andrew Berry.
“We went from 11-6 and making the playoffs to 3-10, so it is slightly perplexing what occurred,” Haslam informed ESPN as he departed the NFL homeowners conferences Wednesday.
Asked whether or not he has the correct gamers in place with Stefanski and Berry, Haslam added: “I do. We do. We’re very supportive.”
Berry and Stefanski signed contract extensions earlier than the 2024 season and have made the playoffs collectively in 2020 and 2023.
The major situation for Cleveland is the quarterback place. Deshaun Watson is owed $92 million in assured cash over the following two years. He has struggled with accidents and poor play for the reason that workforce acquired him from the Houston Texans after which signed him to a then-record deal in 2022. He’s at present rehabbing an Achilles tear suffered in Week 7.
Cutting Watson would set off lifeless wage cap hits nicely above $100 million.
Jameis Winston has supplied a spark with Watson sidelined, surpassing 300 passing yards in three of his six begins, however the Browns are 2-4 throughout that stretch.
Asked concerning the outlook of the quarterback place, Haslam mentioned it is too early to make any choices.
“We must get by way of the season and we’ll have a look at every little thing,” he informed ESPN.
The Browns are slated to have a top-10 choose within the NFL draft — their first choice within the first spherical since 2021 — which they might use on a quarterback. Signing a veteran signal-caller can be an choice.
But the workforce’s points this season transcend the quarterback.
Last 12 months’s first-ranked whole protection below coordinator Jim Schwartz has fallen to twenty first general this 12 months. A once-elite dashing assault has fallen to thirtieth.
While Haslam mentioned the Browns have “a whole lot of wants as a workforce” and might want to prioritize them, he acknowledges the workforce has sufficient expertise to keep away from a full-scale rebuild.
“We’re all dissatisfied,” he mentioned. “We’ve bought a whole lot of work to do. We’ll return and go to work.
“I’ve discovered to not get too emotional in the course of the season. We will sit down after the season, undergo every little thing for subsequent 12 months.”
The Browns’ remaining schedule contains the Kansas City Chiefs at house Sunday, on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16, the Miami Dolphins at house in Week 17 and on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18.
