‘Setting record straight’
Ex-Browns boss Jackson disputes reason for firing
CLEVELAND — Hue Jackson didn’t lose his nerve.
Fired this week by the Browns after winning just three of 40 games in two plus-seasons, Jackson on Friday disputed owner Jimmy Haslam’s assertion there was “internal discord” on the coaching staff that made his dismissal — along with offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s — necessary.
Days after being let go, Jackson appeared on ESPN to defend his record, describe regrets and essentially audition for another job.
On Monday, Haslam, who has fired four coaches in six years, intimated that in-fighting between Jackson and Haley was at the root of his decision to make a change halfway through the season.
Jackson disagreed with his former boss and said he wanted to “set the record straight.”
“I don’t really think it was truly just about internal discord,” said Jackson, who went 1-15, 0-15 and 2-5-1 with Cleveland. “I think that’s a strong word. I think you have disagreements with coaches — with Todd, with (defensive coordinator) Gregg Williams, with Amos Jones, who is also the special teams coordinator. I don’t think that’s internal discord. I think when you look at it, the organization made a decision to go in a different direction.”
Jackson knows he didn’t win nearly enough, and he has some misgiving about the way he handled things. Following a recent loss to Tampa Bay, a frustrated Jackson said he intended to “dive in” and help Haley. Jackson said he was only trying to help, but the comments widened a rift with Haley and sent a shock wave through the team’s front office.
Jackson feels that ultimately the decision to let him go was to protect rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, who may finally end the franchise’s search for a long-term QB.
“I think when you really stop to look at it, it’s truly really about Baker Mayfield,” Jackson said. “I think they want to do everything they can to put him in a situation. You got the first pick of the draft, who I think is going to be a franchise quarterback who is going to be a sensational player, and he’s not playing as well. So again, here is a perfect storm to move forward and move on. And I have to respect the decision that they made.”
Jackson said he was the one who hired Haley, who spent the previous six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson didn’t want to relinquish play-calling duties — he was also Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in his first two seasons — but he felt it would be better if he got help.
Jackson now admits he should have never “given away the offense.”
BRONCOS: Denver will be without starters Bradley Roby, Darian Stewart, Brandon Marshall and rookie returner DaeSean Hamilton for its game against Houston on Sunday.
The Broncos activated safety Su’a Cravens off injured reserve and replaced receiver Isaiah McKenzie with River Cracraft on Friday.
With right tackle Jared Veldheer returning from a knee injury, the Broncos finally have the luxury of giving left tackle Garett Bolles some plays off to try to settle him down and break his holding habit.
COWBOYS: Former player personnel director Gil Brandt is headed for the team’s ring of honor.
Owner/GM Jerry Jones announced his latest choice Friday.
The 85-year-old Brandt will be the 22nd person to earn the Cowboys’ highest honor. The ceremony will be at halftime of Dallas’ game against New Orleans on Nov. 29.
Brandt, GM Tex Schramm and coach Tom Landry were with the Cowboys for their first 29 years before Jones bought the team and eventually fired all three.
TITANS: Derrick Henry possibly is running out of time with Tennessee.
The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner talked a month ago about needing to run better and be more physical. Three games later, nothing much has changed — for now. Henry is still the starter at running back, though Dion Lewis is making a case for that spot. It’s Lewis who is coming off the best rushing game this season by a Tennessee running back.
Henry is in his third season after being the Titans’ third pick in the 2016 draft out of Alabama. Lewis is the free agent general manager Jon Robinson signed in March to a four-year deal.
Tennessee will play at Dallas on Monday night.
GRUDEN: The Oakland Raiders’ defense can’t stop anybody, even a third-string, undrafted free agent quarterback making his NFL debut.
The banged-up offensive line is providing no protection for Derek Carr, leaving coach Jon Gruden so concerned about his quarterback’s health that he was unwilling to call any down-field passes.
The problems for the Raiders run deep and they were all exposed in a 34-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers that was the most lopsided of Gruden’s 12 years as an NFL head coach.
“I didn’t have any problem at all with the effort,” Gruden said. “I think what I had a big problem with is we had two guys in the same gap and we got outflanked immediately and their back was faster than I think we anticipated. That was my big problem with the long run.”
BILLS: QB Derek Anderson is questionable for Sunday’s game against Chicago after missing practice all week because of a concussion. If he can’t go, Nathan Peterman will start.
CHARGERS: Running back Melvin Gordon is questionable for Sunday’s game at Seattle (hamstring).