Losing all the time is one thing, but the Browns also disgraced themselves during a falling out with franchise legend Jim Brown in recent years.
New owner Jimmy Haslam can only fix one of those things now, as he said he plans to bring the Hall of Fame running back back into the organization.
“Jim Brown and I have spent a lot of time together,” Haslam said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “We spent about an hour together last night, and I think we’ve established a really good relationship and I think sometime over the next two or three weeks we’ll formalize that relationship and Jim will play the appropriate role with the Cleveland Browns.
“I think he feels good about it and I think we feel good about it, and rightfully so. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him, not just as a great football player, but as a man.”
Haslam wouldn’t go into detail about Brown’s new role because “it’s a big deal and that’s why I want to do it right. In the next couple of weeks we’ll announce something.”
Brown was a consultant with the team before being shuffled aside by former team president Mike Holmgren in 2010 and then breaking ties.
But Haslam was wise to reach out to Brown as soon as he purchased the team. If he can’t make them win soon, he can at least allow Browns fans to remember fondly a time when they did.