The guy who put the Browns on the list of teams that former Eagles president Joe Banner could be targeting has now put Eagles president Joe Banner on the list of people who have targeted the Browns.
Howard Eskin of NBC 10 in Philly, who said that Banner would target the Bills, Browns, or Rams reports via Twitter that Banner is part of the group that will be led by Steelers minority owner Jimmy Haslam.
Eskin says there’s a “long way to go” on this one. But if Banner has a role in acquiring the team, he presumably will have a role in running it. Why, after all, would he waste those 18 years of experience leading the Eagles through the salary-cap era?
And that, of course, invites speculation as to the future of team president Mike Holmgren. Hired by current Browns owner Randy Lerner to serve as a surrogate owner of sorts, Haslam may not need a front man — and he may not need a president if Banner gets the title.
Of course, that’s not necessarily bad news for G.M. Tom Heckert or coach Pat Shurmur, both of whom worked for Banner and the Eagles.
Then again, Banner told PFT Live last month that he’s ideally looking for a place that needs a dramatic turnaround. And it’s not really a turnaround if new ownership turns around and keeps the current G.M. and head coach.
Regardless of how it all turns out, things are getting interesting in a city that hasn’t been able to generate much of it lately.