Jimmy Haslam III
FILE - Former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson speaks during the first day of the House of Athlete Scouting Combine in Plantation, Fla., March 3, 2021. The Browns have spoken to an NFL investigator looking into claims by Jackson, who said the team intentionally lost games in 2016 and 2017. Jackson, now coaching at Grambling State, was fired by Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam eight games into the 2018 season with a 3-36-1 record. He has said the team paid him bonuses to lose and that he believes he was set up to fail. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
NFL clears Browns after former coach said team tanked games

By Tom Withers May. 02, 2022 07:12 PM EDT

Cleveland Browns new quarterback Deshaun Watson holds his jersey during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Deshaun Watson reports to Browns for first offseason program

By Tom Withers Apr. 19, 2022 10:56 AM EDT

FILE - Former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson speaks during the first day of the House of Athlete Scouting Combine in Plantation, Fla., March 3, 2021. The Browns have spoken to an NFL investigator looking into claims by Jackson, who said the team intentionally lost games in 2016 and 2017. Jackson, now coaching at Grambling State, was fired by Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam eight games into the 2018 season with a 3-36-1 record. He has said the team paid him bonuses to lose and that he believes he was set up to fail. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Browns speak to NFL on 'tanking' claims made by former coach

By Tom Withers Apr. 18, 2022 08:42 PM EDT

Cleveland Browns new quarterback Deshaun Watson, center, speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility as general manager Andrew Berry, left, and head coach Kevin Stefanski listen, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Court: Browns QB Watson must address history with therapists

Apr. 06, 2022 12:18 AM EDT

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry, left, new quarterback Deshaun Watson, center, and head coach Kevin Stefanski pose for a photo during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Browns' QB Deshaun Watson: "I've never assaulted any woman"

By Tom Withers Mar. 25, 2022 02:26 PM EDT

FILE - Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson warms up before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Houston. Deshaun Watson stepped away from legal depositions and allegations of sexual misconduct on Thursday, March 24, 2022, to meet his new team. Watson arrived at Cleveland's headquarters in Berea, Ohio, the first step for him and a franchise investing in a player who has been accused by 22 women of sexual misconduct. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File)
Watson visits Browns as 2nd grand jury declines to indict

By Tom Withers Mar. 24, 2022 01:54 PM EDT

FILE - Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scrambles against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Houston. Cleveland's blockbuster trade for the legally entangled quarterback became official Sunday, when the Browns finalized the complex deal and released statements from owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam explaining their decision to add him to their roster following the team's own extensive investigation. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, FIle)
Trade for Watson ends up costing Browns a little more

By Tom Withers Mar. 22, 2022 12:13 PM EDT

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) practices with the team during NFL football practice, Aug. 2, 2021, in Houston. Watson's complicated past didn't dissuade the Cleveland Browns from betting on the quarterback's future. He's on Cleveland's roster, and at this point that's the only certainty with the talented yet controversial QB. Watson's stunning trade to the Browns became official Sunday, March 20, 2022 capping a whirlwind few days during in which the three-time Pro Bowler — accused by 22 women of sexual harassment or assault — agreed to come to Cleveland after initially telling the team he wouldn't. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Deshaun Watson trade done, Browns defend decision to add QB

By Tom Withers Mar. 20, 2022 12:03 PM EDT

FILE - Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrates a touchdown during the team's NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 20, 2020, in Indianapolis. Several teams are scrambling to find a quarterback. Some of those, including Carolina, New Orleans and Cleveland, have been in discussions with Watson, who sat out last season. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger, File)
Deshaun Watson changes mind, QB accepts trade to join Browns

By Tom Withers Mar. 18, 2022 04:08 PM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield watches teammates warm up for an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 9, 2022, in Cleveland. Knowing he's probably done with the Browns, Mayfield posted a long note on social media, thanking Cleveland and its fans for embracing him and his wife, Emily.(AP Photo/David Richard, File)
AP source: Mayfield requests trade after Browns chase Watson

By Tom Withers Mar. 17, 2022 04:24 PM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam watches players warm up for an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. Haslam denied paying former coach Hue Jackson for losing games and said his one-time employee is only good at “pointing fingers” and needs to accept some blame for his dreadful NFL record. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Browns owner: Hue Jackson "never accepted" blame for losing

By Tom Withers Feb. 03, 2022 09:07 PM EST

FILE - Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson watches during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Aug. 23, 2018, in Cleveland. The Cleveland Browns have called suggestions by former coach Hue Jackson, who went 1-31 in a two-year span, that he was paid to lose games as “completely fabricated.” Jackson, who is now coaching at Grambling, made several posts on Twitter inferring that he received bonus payments from Browns owner Jimmy Haslam during his two-plus seasons with the team.(AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Browns refute tanking claims by former coach Hue Jackson

By Tom Withers Feb. 02, 2022 05:59 PM EST

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, center, reacts to a call during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in New Orleans. Fired Miami Dolphins Coach Brian Flores sued the NFL and three of its teams Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022 saying racist hiring practices by the league have left it racially segregated and managed like a plantation.(AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)
Flores says he won't drop lawsuit even if hired as coach

By Teresa M. Walker Feb. 02, 2022 10:02 AM EST

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb, second from left, is stopped during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns 11/21/2021

Nov. 21, 2021 01:19 PM EST

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, right, hands the ball off to running back Nick Chubb during an NFL football practice, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
AP source: Browns, RB Nick Chubb agree to 3-year extension

By Tom Withers Jul. 31, 2021 08:08 PM EDT

Tim "Pitdawg" Purchase cheers for the Cleveland Browns during an NFL football practice, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Browns owners Haslams realistic about team's chances

By Tom Withers Jul. 31, 2021 03:13 PM EDT

Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt catches a pass during an NFL football practice, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Browns, QB Mayfield not yet talking contract extension

By Tom Withers Jul. 30, 2021 07:08 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans cheer after Tampa Bay picked Kyle Trask, from Florida, in the second round of the NFL football draft Friday, April 30, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
The Latest: Broncos end 3rd round with Ohio State's Browning

By The Associated Press Apr. 30, 2021 05:47 PM EDT

The Cleveland skyline is shown, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Cleveland. After going all virtual in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-day NFL Draft, which has grown into one of America's biggest, non-game sporting events, returns with an outdoor event and thousands of fans. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Browns owners finally in good spot after years of misery

By Tom Withers Apr. 28, 2021 02:27 AM EDT

FILE - Former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson speaks during the first day of the House of Athlete Scouting Combine in Plantation, Fla., in this Wednesday, March 3, 2021, file photo. Jackson said owner Jimmy Haslam gave him a contract extension midway through a winless season and that he was lied to about the team's rebuilding plans. During a wide-ranging interview Monday, March 29, 2021, on ESPN 850, Jackson, who went 0-16 in 2017 and 3-36-1 in two-plus seasons with the Browns before being fired, said the team's efforts to improve while he was with the team were flawed by philosophical differences.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Ex-Browns coach Hue Jackson says team lied about rebuild

By Tom Withers Mar. 29, 2021 02:47 PM EDT