Haslam: Commitment to Jackson unwavering

The restraints, metaphorically, have been removed from the brain of Browns head coach Hue Jackson.

After being sentenced to two seasons with virtually no talent at quarterback, questionable skill at wide receiver and a defense that gave up points the way candidates in a holiday parade give out candy, Jackson finally has a team with talent.

And owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam have taken notice.

“I think we’ll see the real Hue Jackson,” Jimmy Haslam said before practice on July 28 in Berea in his semiannual state of the Browns news conference. “He’s got good quarterbacks, he’s got some skill players, he’s got a veteran offensive line — now we gotta figure our left tackle — three really good (running) backs and good defense.

“I think in some ways you could say because of the talent he’s had, particularly at quarterback, particularly last year, you could view it as his first year but we don’t look at that. I know everybody’s saying Hue has to win this many games or he has to win that many games. We don’t look at it (like that).”

Haslam began his purchase of the Browns on the first day of training camp in 2012. He has fired Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski and Mike Pettine as head coaches. None produced a record as poor as the 1-31 mark produced by Jackson.

“We’re excited about Hue Jackson,” Jimmy Haslam said. “Our commitment to

him has been unwavering and still is.”

None of the quarterbacks on the Browns roster last year — Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan or rookie DeShone Kizer — ever won an NFL game. This season Tyrod Taylor, 22-21 as a starter (including a playoff loss) is starting ahead of rookie Baker Mayfield.

Jackson is not on a short leash, Haslam said. Predictably, Haslam would not name a number of games Jackson must win to keep

his job.

“We’ve already made a lot of progress and we realistically feel like we’re going to have progress this year,” Dee Haslam said. “I think we’re going to see a lot of progress among our players, I really do.”

Jackson, after practice, was naturally pleased to hear what his bosses said.

“I want to thank Dee and Jimmy for saying that,” he said. “As I said all last year, I felt like I had their full support. They were always

in communication with me, and I thank them for that. I’m glad that they feel that way.

“My job is to go out and coach this football team and get them better. We have to do it better than we’ve ever done it since I’ve been here. We have some players that I think are going to make a difference, but at the same time, it’s all talk right now. We have to go do it. We have to keep working.”

The Haslams praised

Browns fans for staying loyal.

“We’re not going to do anything that’s going to be a one-year flash in the pan,” Jimmy Haslam said. “At the same time, we feel pressure to win. We feel the responsibility that we haven’t won before. We feel the fans’ pain, too. Our fans deserve better, and hopefully starting this year, they are going to get it.”

The Browns haven’t had a winning season since they went 10-6 in 2007.