The Ubaldo Problem
March 20, 2013In fun and fire: Cavs’ video production team steals the show
March 20, 2013The Cleveland Browns will welcome back Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown as the one-time estranged legend will resume a new role under Jimmy Haslam III.
Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer reports that Brown, who was a consultant with the team before being demoted by team President Mike Holmgren in 2010 prior to his resignation, met with Haslam in Cleveland on Monday night where the two men finalized plans for a new role with the team.
“Jim Brown and I have spent a lot of time together,” Haslam told Cabot. “We spent about an hour together [Monday] 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 … 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’s recent history with the team has been contentious at best, whether the former back was involved in a back-and-forth with Holmgren, Art Modell’s Hall of Fame candidacy, voiced his opinion on LeBron James, told fans to “get over” the team’s move to Baltimore and called recent draft selection Trent Richardson ‘ordinary.’ Goodwill with fans has depleted drastically, so it will be intriguing to see in what capacity, exactly, Brown will be engaged.
29 Comments
“Goodwill with fans has depleted drastically”
Goodwill with this fan will never be depleted. Jim Brown is greatest athlete to walk the earth and he is a proud and loyal Brown. He simply has his own opinions, and I am glad he speaks them honestly even if I sometimes disagree. I am also glad Jimmy H is bringing him into the mix. He is such a valuable asset to the organization.
Yes, he is a blowhard. But, he’s OUR blowhard and doubles as the best RB of all time. I get sick of his schtick at times, but will always welcome him back.
Agreed. If I’m tired of anything it’s the lazy journalism by some at the PD who have Jim Brown, Daddy McCoy, et al on speed dial to get a cheap, click-generating headline any time there’s something even remotely controversial. Easier than real reporting, I guess.
Jim’s job will be to stand next to Joe Banner and glare at people, thus making Banner look warm and cuddly by comparison.
Okay, that’s dumb.
Glad to hear that Jim’s back in the fold. I’m not sure exactly what expertise he brings, but he obviously won’t be just a show pony. As I recall, he was one of the first to say that Phil Savage could use some help because he wasn’t getting it done all by himself. And he was right.
right on. Time and again, Jim Brown has said something, people get all uppity about it, and in the end, it turns out he’s right more often than not. Just because he’s saying something a lot of people may not want to hear does not necessarily mean he is wrong.
Banner wants to know Jim will be close when the aliens attack.
Yep. It is all media-driven.
The people want to know where our CB2 is!!!!!
Am I the only one who wants him to wear his “Fireball” costume and fly the game ball into the stadium via jet pack every week?
Did you not hear? WE’RE BRINGING BACK JIM BROWN!
Or the Nazis.
But can he kick?
C’mon, Jim! Hit him back!
Did you have to go and ruin my day? Nothing upsets me more than the rest of the remaining Dirty Dozen not covering Jim Brown as he does all the dirty work. Instantly makes me mad.
Good point. Almost as bad as what happened to SGT Elias.
Rage.
“I’m headin’ back to Flyin’ J, Joe, but wait to ya see what ah brought ya. Now pull that string there, honey … Surprahz!! A legend. I gotta feelin’ you boys are gonna get along fahn. Give ’em somethin’ to do, Joe. Ah already called the reporters … is that a smile, Joe? It ain’t? Well, ah gotta go. Later!”
I almost am at the point where I don’t read PD coverage of the Browns – it is abysmal.
However, you have to give Mary Kay some credit on the Brad McCoy story. Giving him a platform while Holmgren et al were trying to minimize the situation made the mishandling of Colt’s concussion a story of national prominence and ultimately led to changes in league policy that appointed an independent neurologist for each team. Players are unequivocally safer for that policy being in place.
Credit where credit is due.
Just give him a statue already will ya!
LoL nice need a create a caption contest for what is going through Brown’s mind the moment that photo was taken.
it had a beat, I could dance to it…but no mention of the word “candidly”…I’ll give it an 85
“he touches the ‘stache, and this is gonna get ugly”
I’ll take it and slither out
I prefer Modell’s mind:
“I donate $100k every year to your shady foundation … damn right you’re happy to see me. Now go sit next to Dieken, get your picture taken and try not to piss anyone off in the next ten minutes.”
I still don’t understand this sentiment. Maybe I’ve missed it over the years but what exactly has he contributed to the team that any other opinionated fan couldn’t? (besides the PR aspects) Has he contributed to the team making it to the playoffs? Has he pushed players over the edge into being Pro-Bowlers or all-stars?
It sure seems to me that he wants to be involved in some capacity with the team rather than the team wanting to be involved with him and his legend is what the team signs on for.
Maybe if I could get an concrete explanation of what it is he actually does I could get on board with this. I still say we should let him go on his way.
Well, he never scouts like Warfield did when he found Webster Slaughter in California. He doesn’t break down tape like Ozzie did for Belichik. He gives his opinions to whoever they let him get near, because he’s Jim Brown. Randy didn’t mind; Holmgren and Heck weren’t impressed. Consider it hush money: if they ignore him he goes to Mary Kay Cabot or any national writer with his expert critiques of the team, and fans go nuts – “how can you shun the greatest player ever?” What skills might help the team, you ask? How dare you – he’s Jim Brown and he has strong opinions.
…but doesn’t he go to the media anyway. I mean, it seems like he says what he wants to whoever will listen regardless of whether he’s “on staff” or not.
actually, I don’t remember him spouting off while he’s being paid. He kept saying nice things about Randy while on payroll. Once he went off (I think before then) about the team after the Browns cut their donations to his youth foundation. I’ve come to believe that, in addition to not like being ignored, Jim Brown thinks this organization, in any iteration, owes him a continuous salary for past services rendered.
i have always been a jim brown fan, and remain so. too many people get too prickly over his words. he speaks like a man; and most of the time, not like a deranged one.
@disqus_Em4sTcyEaD:disqus I totally agree. In fact, THAT is journalism done right.