May 18, 2013

Cleveland Browns will “look” into uniform changes, say no to cheerleaders

January 16, 2013 by 46 Comments

While the Cleveland Browns officially entered a new chapter of team history by unveiling the sale of the naming rights to Cleveland Browns Stadium to FirstEnergy, team owner Jimmy Haslam III stated that the team will also “look into” changes to the team’s uniform.

Due to the glacial pace of legalese-clad updates to anything in the NFL, the team has filed the requisite paperwork that could see minor updates to the otherwise hitorical uniform as early as the 2014 season. Browns fans who cling to history and nostalgia will be glad to know that the logo-free helmets will remain so as not altering he team’s headgear was one of the four stipulations agreed to upon the transfer of ownership from Randy Lerner to Haslam 1 .

While there may  be some minor changes to the Browns’ uniforms, what will remain untouched are the current sidelines as cheerleaders will not be added to the fold. One of only a handful of teams to not have cheerleaders gracing the outskirts of the playing field, Haslam stated that they, while littering all of Dallas, “do not fit Cleveland.”

The impending changes to the team’s uniform and in-stadium accouterments has been an ongoing topic of discussion since Haslam took ownership of the team. Like every other Browns-based topic, the emotional reactions have been mixed.

[Related: Top Five Non-Essential Things Jimmy Haslam Should Do With the Browns]

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  1. One other stipulation is that the team cannot be moved — the other two are unknown [back]

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  • humboldt

    The new uniforms would have been a nice immediate symbol of the new era of ownership. Disappointing that change is delayed another year

  • maxfnmloans

    Bureaucracy, man.

  • or pick a name

    Yep. Faster, please.

  • arnold_palmer

    Does anyone know if the stipulations ever expire? Could the helmet be changed 10 years from now?

  • Webster

    With regards to the cheerleaders, Haslam’s a businessman. Couple the November/December weather in Cleveland with the sad state of our team and you end up paying 50x the league average in terms of cost per cheer led.

  • mgbode

    i’m sure they were gentlemen agreements for the most part, so he could change them at some point. however, the symbolism of the team is now tied to the helmet, so I would be surprised to see them actually change it (other than thinning or widening of stripes, etc.).

  • mgbode

    good man Haslam. no cheerleaders, helmets remain. while the uniforms are classic, I don’t mind an update as long as it’s done well (no side panels like the broncos or something ludicrous like that).

  • Tron

    The most successful uniform change they can make would be to get an exciting pro bowl player whose name I’d actually put on the back. I mean i enjoy my Joe Thomas jersey, but there ain’t nothing sexy about it.

  • BuckeyeDawg

    Same here. No cheerleaders, ever. Only helmet change I would possibly support would be putting the players’ numbers on the side. I would also be fine with some updates to the uniform as long as they aren’t too drastic and remain true to the traditional look.

  • MrCleaveland

    “Looking into” means “done deal.” These changes better be minor. Very minor. If they come up with some putrid garbage like they wear in Seattle, Denver, Carolina, and other places, I think there will be some serious backlash. I don’t know why Haslam feels compelled to change them at all. They’re classic just the way they are.

    As for cheerleaders, who needs ‘em? They would be a waste of everybody’s time and effort.

  • Natedawg86

    I could just see us having a hot cheerleader and some stooler player dating her and giving her a football after a score (Buff WR Nelson dating Cowboy cheerleader)

  • Natedawg86

    We will let you know so you can change your profile pic

  • mgbode

    i would accept a 1game per year “throwback” helmet of the white variety as well. i think 1950′s throwbacks should be worn for the GLC and anytime we play the Lions in the regular season.

  • Cruffler

    Uniform change? They are going to bring back the orange pants.

  • mgbode

    why are you hating on the Panthers jersey? that jersey is actually the one I was thinking could be a good model for a modern update while keeping true to the classic uniform.

    realize we won’t have their colors, but the stripes on the sleeve are much more “modern” than the ones we currently employ. make the blue “orange” and the black “brown” and this would be a beautiful jersey:

    http://www.cheapnikenfljerseyscc.com/uploadfiles/Product/20111221958430023.jpg

  • ToxicToast

    Irony is the hip thing. Maybe they could eliminate the color brown altogether. The hipster fanbase would shoot through the roof.

  • C_CLE

    I’m fine with uni changes, even if it ends up like the Broncos. I think working more orange into the brown or white tops would be a good thing. Also, bring back the orange pants, and also the orange alternate top.

  • MrCleaveland

    Really, m? The Panthers? With their little pointy horns on the helmets instead of stripes? And their pointy whatevers down the sides of the pants instead of stripes? These unis look like were designed by some artsy-fartsy fashion major for her mid-term. Yuck.

  • MrCleaveland

    CLE, I’m reaching out to you for your own good. Please consult an ophthalmologist.

  • thepaledragon

    Given Haslam’s Tennessee roots, I would bet good money that any uniform change would incorporate more orange, either in the jersey or pants. Jimmy has worn the same orange tie in every public appearance since he’s owned the team.

  • MrCleaveland

    I noticed that Chud was also wearing an orange tie at his press conference. (And Banner was wearing NO tie.)

  • C_CLE

    Say what you want. I know it’s not a popular opinion. But I liked the orange alternates we had and honestly…I’d like to see the Browns have a some what exciting design. We’re kinda bland right now. I know it’s “tradition” and all that jazz…but for the last 20 or 30 years, our tradition is losing. It’s time for a culture change.

  • Harv 21

    Gimme 4 consecutive seasons of something like 8-8, 10-6, 11-5 and 10-6, go to the playoffs and the AFC Championship game a few times and the SB once, and do whatever the hell you want with the stupid externals.

    Brown pants, rainbow racing stripes on position players, clear helmets, male zombie cheerleaders in black with purple codpieces. I don’t care. There is no existing tradition except godawfulness. Win some freaking games.

  • mgbode

    our helmets are not changing – so no worries there.

    and good point on the pants, I was focused on the jersey (have a buddy here at work that wears his Panther jersey and it’s very nice looking – take a look at the link and substitute the colors, it’d be sharp)

  • mgbode

    ” male zombie cheerleaders in black with purple codpieces”

    baltimore already has them

  • Garry_Owen

    And we’ve uncovered condition #3 to the sale agreement.

  • http://twitter.com/bbo13 B-bo

    Um, Phil Dawson?

  • Harv 21

    … and they’re still playing.

    Wardrobe!

  • mgbode

    Josh Cribbs, Joe Haden

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    You are quite the fashionista six comments on not much! ;-)

  • Harv 21

    must have missed Haden’s pro bowl. Must be the one he’s inevitably going to.

  • mgbode

    counting this season actually. he was disqualified for the suspension, but he played like a pro-bowler (and as a Browns fan, we need to be able to cling to anything we can).

  • MrCleaveland

    Changing uniforms has not an iota of effect on winning some freaking games.

    Sir, I will fret unfettered.

  • TSR3000

    Our colors are orange and brown. Any attempt to make us look “cool” will fail. Keep the uniforms as-is.

    I love our current uniforms. Do you think the Packers or Bears would change their uniforms?

  • Jay

    I’m with you in the unpopular boat. I’d love brown jerseys with orange pants. Or orange alternate jerseys with the white pants. I just hope we don’t get another full season of white on white for 16 weeks.

  • C_CLE

    yeah buddy! I think orange jerseys with brown pants would be a good combo too. I’ll go against the grain. I’m not afraid of downvotes.

  • Harv 21

    wait … what?

  • Jay

    I’m probably more unpopular because i wouldn’t mind a change in the helmet either. I like the idea of numbers on the helmet, and wouldn’t be opposed to Brownie the Elf on there for a game or two.

  • Jaker

    That’s a great idea

  • http://twitter.com/Dennymayo Denny

    I bet a giant FIRSTENERGY logo would fit perfectly on the helmuts.

  • Tron

    Nothing says Cleveland quite like my pro bowl special teamers jersey from 3 years ago. Apparently you missed the jest in my comment, I was trying to say they need more exciting players, aka draft better, produce better results. Not “check out my kicker’s jersey”. Half the people at browns games are still rocking Kosar jerseys….

  • mgbode

    eh, well we could be like KC and have more pro-bowlers than wins :)

  • NEMO

    MOST OF YOU SOUND LIKE A BUNCH OF WOMEN AT A COFFEE CLUTCH ( YOU KNOW MILDRED, YOUR RED PUMPS DON’T GO WITH YOUR SKIRT AND PURSE) GROW UP , IT’S ALL ABOUT WINNING AND LOSING…FACT BE KNOWN, THE ORIGINAL BROWNS UNIFORMS WERE ALL WHITE WITH WHITE HELMETS…SO LATER THEY ADDED SOME COLOR….THE BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER ANYWAY….WE JUST NEED THE RIGHT COACHES AND THE RIGHT PLAYERS, SOLID FOOTBALL MENTALITY AND CREATIVE WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIES THAT FOOL THE OPPOSITION, THAT’S HOW PAUL BROWN DID IT……CASE CLOSED!!! ( NINO)

  • LazyDawg

    I agree with keeping the classic good looking helmets, but no cheerleaders? Do you not like women? I for one do!

  • LazyDawg

    Clear helmets! Genius, pure genius!!!

  • mgbode

    I have a beautiful wife, I don’t need 3 seconds of cheerleader shots before commercial breaks. thanks.