In terms of experience and personality, Jimmy Haslam is better equipped to deal with the NFL's demands than Lerner.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Well, that was a quiet week, wasn't it? Let's start talkin' ...
About Jimmy Haslam ...
The new Browns owner easily won over the majority of the fan base with his enthusiasm, something that was always difficult for Randy Lerner to display in public -- and that will always be mentioned as the team changes ownership.
To Lerner, the Browns were an honor and a burden. He grew up a Browns fan, but not wanting to be an owner. His father's death in 2002 pushed Lerner into the owner's chair. He came across as painfully shy at news conferences. Then, he simply stopped appearing at them. Some fans took that to mean he really didn't care about the franchise.
Lerner did care. But he just couldn't find a business model that worked for him, or a public role that fit.
If the Browns had won, no one would care if they ever heard a single word from the owner. He would have been praised for staying out of the way and letting the football people do the job. But they had one winning season in his 10 years as owner.
Enter 58-year-old Jimmy Haslam. He worked as a teenager is his father's business, what we now know as Pilot Flying J. At 14, he was pumping gas and cleaning windshields at a Pure Gas Station. He climbed the business ladder over the decades, becoming a very public and well-known businessman in Tennessee. His brother, Bill Haslam, was the mayor of Knoxville and is now governor.
Jimmy Haslam said his best friend is Bob Corker, a U.S. senator from Tennessee. They were college roommates. Haslam worked for Corker's election -- as he also did in his brother's political campaigns. Haslam knows the public battles that come with running for office and running a major business.
He is in the world of retail and selling, and will bring those skills to the Browns.
I asked Haslam about his greatest fear when buying the team. He said it would be failing to turn the team into a winner, because the fan base so deserves one. I don't think he's scared or intimidated by the task. He just knows it's an enormous challenge. It's also played out in stadiums, on television, radio and the newspapers. The criticism will come and it will be sharp.
In terms of experience and personality, he is better equipped for that than Lerner. He knows a lot of people are counting on him. He believes things can change here, and he can be a part of it.
About the Browns on the field ...
1. The coaches are excited by Brandon Weeden's play. When he struggled early, they thought it was due to the rookie worrying so much about the new offense, the new receivers and simply adjusting to the pro game. As his comfort level has begun to rise, his passes have been on target.
2. And yes, the coaches are very pleased with Colt McCoy, but they view him in the context of being a solid backup. I don't have the exact numbers, but it seems clear at most practices that McCoy is getting nearly twice as many snaps as Seneca Wallace. Weeden obviously is receiving the most as he practices primarily with the starters.
3. Not much has been said, but Ben Watson has been impressive at tight end. Watson had three concussions last season. In 2010, he caught 68 passes, so he can be a big part of the offense. The depth at tight end is encouraging, as Jordan Cameron continues to impress -- although the Browns want him to concentrate on his blocking. Evan Moore hasn't shown much. Alex Smith is in camp, but he's mostly a blocker. Seventh-rounder Brad Smelley has a very good chance to make the team because he can play tight end, H-back and special teams. He even could play a little slot receiver.
4. Montario Hardesty seems healthy and certainly is in better shape. He has shown some speed and ability to make sharp cuts, something that was not evident in the past two seasons as he battled injuries. But will he stay healthy? The key could be whether he can help on special teams, which is what he'll need to do to keep a roster spot as a reserve running back.
5. Brandon Jackson is a very capable receiver out of the backfield, something he was expected to be before last season's injuries after catching 43 passes for Green Bay in 2010.
6. The coaches aren't surprised by the speed of Travis Benjamin. That was expected when they picked him in the fourth round. But he also is "quick," meaning he changes direction swiftly. He also has shown good hands, especially on low passes.
7. Pat Shurmur on Josh Gordon: "Physically, he's like a tight end running around but athletically, he fits into the wide receiver mold." The Browns are anxious to watch the 6-4 Gordon on some fade patterns in the end zone where he has a chance to out-leap a defensive back.
8. This email came from Craig Gerlock: "While the Browns' performance with the Lerner family as owners has been lackluster and frustrating at times, I would still like to extend my thanks to the Lerners for their charitable support of the Cleveland Clinic. It was in walking the halls of the Cleveland Clinic, after the doctors of the clinic saved my father's life in February, that I saw the Lerner name on the walls of the clinic. While the Browns fan in me may look forward to the new ownership team, the 'Dad fan' in me has a thank you to extend to the Lerner family today."
About the Cavaliers ...
AP fileC.J. Miles (34) should give the Cavaliers some bench depth at the wing positions after signing a free-agent contract with the team, says Terry Pluto. 1. The Cavs signed C.J. Miles to a two-year deal, and they are intrigued by the 25-year-old who has been in the NBA for seven years, playing most of it for former Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. He clashed with coach Tyrone Corbin last season, averaging 9.1 points, shooting 38 percent from the field and 31 percent on 3-pointers.
2. The Lakers and other teams had an interest in Miles. Obviously, no one was offering big money, or the 6-6 shooting guard/small forward had a sincere interest in playing for Byron Scott and with Kyrie Irving. He worked out for the Cavs at their practice facility in June, met some of the players and came away impressed.
3. Miles saw playing time available. Rookie Dion Waiters is set at shooting guard, but they really have no one of consequence behind him. Restricted free agent Alonzo Gee is the starting small forward, along with Omri Casspi. The Cavs were interested in signing a "younger free agent" with a fair amount of experience. That's why they preferred Miles to Carlos Delfino, who will be 30 on Aug. 29. They considered both players.
4. Over the past three years, Miles averaged 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 23 minutes a game, shooting 42 percent from field and 33 percent on 3-pointers. While he shoots 78 percent at the foul line, he only goes there about twice a game.
5. Yes, the Cavs do have Kelenna Azubuike, who was part of the Tyler Zeller deal (for salary cap purposes). They have no idea if the 6-5 guard can play after major knee issues. He's played only 12 games in the past two seasons. He has averaged 10.5 points a game, but also had the dreaded microfracture knee surgery.
6. The Cavs are very pleased with how Irving is recovering from surgery on his hand. They expect him to be ready by training camp.
7. So far, the Cavs and Gee have been far apart in contract talks. Gee's agent saw the three-year, $20 million offer by Toronto to restricted free agent Landry Fields. The contract was so zany, the wealthy Knicks declined to match it. He averaged 8.8 points and shot 46 percent from the field -- only 56 percent at the foul line. But the Cavs have no interest in three years for Gee unless the dollars are very modest.
8. The Cavs view Gee as a starter for now, but a reserve on a good team. Signing Miles also is an indication that they are willing to let Gee sign a one-year, $2.6 million qualifying offer for 2012-13, then become an unrestricted free agent next summer -- unless they can strike a compromise.
9. The Cavs say Waiters is working hard with a strength coach and knows he's got to be in better condition by the opening of camp. Irving has been telling several new Cavs what to expect from "Camp Scott," where the coach pushes the players very hard the first few days.
10. Samardo Samuels arrived at the summer league in the best condition of his two-year career. With the addition of Zeller and Jon Leuer to a frontcourt that already had Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao, Samuels does not have a guaranteed spot. The Cavs also are expected to bring 6-foot-10 Michael Eric (from Temple) to training camp.
About the Indians ...
Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJustin Masterson was considered by most Indians fans -- and the front office -- as one of the more reliable members of the starting rotation when the 2012 season began. But his struggles have matched the troubles caused by a very disappointing segment of the team. 1. This could have been the summer owned by the Indians. After July 1, the Tribe played 16 home games. They had three crowds above 30,000, four more above 25,000 and only two under 20,000. This is not the old days of a sellout every night, but they were averaging nearly 26,000 in their last 16 games. They were 8-8 at home, and playing close to .500 overall.
2. The point is the fans were beginning to pay attention, and larger crowds probably were looming. Then came ... this! Heading into Sunday's game in Detroit, the Tribe is 0-8 on this road trip. It's been embarrassing, being outscored, 64-20, at division rivals Minnesota, Kansas City and Detroit. Only the Tigers are having a decent year.
3. When the team returns home Monday, there still will be some nice crowds attached to promotions. But the casual fan who may have started to become engaged with the team in the last six weeks has every right to be discouraged. The team can't spent much time demanding bigger crowds, given how it has played. And a certain football team opens its season soon.
4. The Indians are last in attendance, averaging 20,486. Next comes Tampa Bay (20,609) and Oakland (20,973). The fans became disheartened watching Johnny Damon and Derek Lowe disintegrate. At least Lowe was good for two months. The Damon experiment was doomed to failure because a 38-year-old trying a comeback with no spring training ... well, fat chance that would work. And the fans knew it.
5. The real culprit is the starting pitching. Looking back at my preseason preview, I picked the Tribe at 76-86 because of concerns about the starters, especially Ubaldo Jimenez. But I was shocked that Jeanmar Gomez collapsed. I thought Lowe could be close to a .500 pitcher. And I thought Justin Masterson could have a breakthrough season.
6. The struggles of Jimenez and Lowe have covered up how Masterson has a 7-10 record with a 4.78 ERA. In six starts since July 1, his ERA is 6.02. Masterson and Jimenez are tied for the AL lead with 11 wild pitches. Jimenez was first in walks, Masterson was fifth. The starting rotation is been in such shambles that Lowe is tied with Masterson for the team lead with 13 quality starts (at least six innings with three or fewer earned runs).
7. Lowe was cut after having an 8.80 ERA in his last 12 starts. But guess what? Boston is interested in signing him. Pitching is that hard to find.
8. When Aaron Cunningham was mercifully sent to Columbus, I had forgotten the Indians traded Cory Burns for him. Burns was a ninth-rounder in the 2009 draft, and he was just promoted to San Diego. The side-arming reliever had a 2.63 ERA for Class AAA Tucson. He has a 2.20 ERA in his minor league career.
9. The one good thing about this trip has been Cody Allen, who has allowed only one hit in 7.1 innings (entering Saturday) since being promoted from Columbus. He was a 23rd round pick out of High Point University in 2011, so it's an amazing rise. With a 95 mph fastball, he could stick in the bullpen.
10. The first Indians Hall of Fame Benefit Luncheon will be at the Progressive Field Terrace Club on Aug. 11 starting at 11 a.m. This event will feature 2012 inductee Gaylord Perry along with Hall of Famers Sam McDowell, Andre Thornton, Mike Hargrove, Sandy Alomar and Kenny Lofton. The cost is $50 per person. Tickets can be purchased at indians.com/hoflunch. Proceeds benefit Cleveland Indians Charities and the Baseball Heritage Museum in Cleveland.
Looking for high school football slogans ...
I will be writing a story on the different high school slogans used by football teams this season. If you have one, I'd love to hear it. And also, why it was picked. I'm especially looking for input from coaches. Email it to me at tpluto@plaind.com