Jim Brown is a Hall of Famer. He's an NFL legend and perhaps the greatest running back to ever play the game. And now he's reportedly set to become a member of the Browns front office. Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland reports that new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam will introduce Brown as a member of the team's front office at a news conference Wednesday. ?It's a big deal. It's a nice peace,? a source told Grossi. Peace is indeed nice for Brown and the Browns. The running back was previously associated with the front office as an advisor to former owner Randy Lerner. But he was offered what he called a reduced role when Mike Holmgren took over the team as president and that reduction clearly upset Brown, who said in a letter that Holmgren wanted him to be a "mascot." Brown, who played nine Pro Bowl seasons for the Browns before retiring at 29, was so mad he skipped his own Ring of Honor induction ceremony and later took shots at Lerner and the organization. The Hall of Famer also caused a stir when he said he thought that new Browns running back Trent Richardson was "ordinary" and not at all "outstanding." Brown would later come around on Richardson and the organization as a whole, reuniting with other Cleveland alumni. Now it appears things are prepared to come full circle, with Brown taking his role back with the Browns after several years away. Regardless of how symbolic it might be, it's a strong move by the current regime.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Jim is very excited." That's what Reggie Rucker said about Jim Brown returning to the Cleveland Browns in a role that will be revealed at a Wednesday news conference. Rucker and Brown are very close. They work together in Brown's Amer-I-Can program with former inmates. They also are a part of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, of which Rucker is the president. It was Rucker who received the first call from Brown in 2010 following a meeting with former Browns president Mike Holmgren. Brown was an adviser to former Browns owner Randy Lerner, and he thought Holmgren wanted to talk about his role with the team. "But Jim called and said he was fired," said Rucker. "Not much discussion. It was not how you should treat people." That led to Brown boycotting the team's ceremony to launch a Ring of Honor, along with the last two Legends Weekends, where former Browns players are brought to town to meet and attend a game. "Jim was the greatest running back ever," said Bill Glass. "It's great the owner (Jimmy Haslam) wants him back, and Jim is coming back. Life is short. Each year, there are less of us." Glass was talking about members of the 1964 Browns, Cleveland's last championship in any of the three major sports. In the past few years, Gene Hickerson, Johnny Brewer, Galen Fiss, Monte Clark and Lou Groza are some of the members of that team who have died. "We all have spats at different points in our lives," said Glass. "It's good to work through the problems. And it was not his former teammates who were the problem (between Brown and the team), so it's great they have reconciled so we can see Jim again." A member of the Browns Legends club, Glass lives outside of Dallas and is still active in prison ministry. Like Brown, Glass is 77 years old. Former quarterback Frank Ryan and center John Morrow are both 80. At the last Legends Weekend, several players said they wished Brown had attended. Rucker said new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam "deserves the credit" for bringing Brown back into "a meaningful role" with the franchise. A Browns receiver from 1975 to 1981, Rucker didn't elaborate on the specifics, but it appears Brown will help to mentor some of the players. "I remember when I came into the NFL from the projects of Washington D.C. and got about $50,000," said Rucker. "I felt like I had all the money in the world. Lot of guys get a lot more, and they aren't ready to handle it -- or know how to deal with all that comes from being an NFL player." Rucker said Brown has credibility with current players not only due to him being a Hall of Famer, "but because he doesn't kiss people's butts. He speaks his mind." Rucker had some long discussions with Haslam, "the best and most meaningful that I've ever had with any owner." They talked about what young players needed to know and how they needed mentors in the NFL. "Jim can be a real asset in that area," said Rucker. "A number of players come from the streets. Jim has worked with people from the streets for years (with Amer-I-Can), and he will have a real trust factor with them." Rucker said Brown rejoining the team is a product of "six months of very respectful talks with Haslam." Brown played in Cleveland from 1957 to 1965, his only team. "While some people think the Browns have always been great with their alumni, that's not always been the case," said Rucker. "But this shows that they are getting much better, this is a big step in the right direction."
Tony Grossout - AP In the battle of the Browns quarterbacks, fans will be interested to know that jason cambells displayed his veteran savvy in the cafeteria by consuming more protein with less calories and fat than Brandon Weedon. But the news of the day may have been Brian Hoyer. Jason Campbell made a veteran move of grabbing two low fat yogurts and a grilled chicken & sundried tomato wrap, while Brandon Weedon chose a turkey sandwhich on wholle wheat. Weedon added light maynoaise probably not realizing that even light maynoaise has a significant number of saturated grams of fat. He compounded the error adding reduced fat swiss cheese. Campbell ended the session with 60 grams of protein to Weedens 55 but with fewer fat grams and calories. Weedon did best him on fiber. In a move of note, Brian Hoyer showed his promise by opring for hummus and fruit.
For the last time Bluez, I won't give you 10 bucks for doing that. You'll just have to check for change under the couch cushions.
Happy Humpday Lounge Houndz *WASSUP* Time to go in and get fitted for some new I?d buy the next round, but I guess I?ll take another supersized mug of Bluez?s Makers Mark. *DRINK* I know it's a very loooooong offseason. Rather than dwell on the negativity surrounding the FO and the owner. Here are four reasons to believe Cleveland will take off in 2013: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...n-cleveland-browns-offense-poised-to-surprise 1) Trent Richardson will be the bedrock of the offense. 2) Brandon Weeden is a perfect fit for Norv Turner's vertical attack. 3) Josh Gordon and Greg Little could form an impressive 1-2 punch. 4) Jordan Cameron is the X-factor to the Browns' offensive success. *THUMBSUP*
I get that the owner might (allegedly) be a scumbag... but what's wrong with the F/O? I happen to like the Banner/Lombardi team.
*WALL* Let's see... The iggles fell apart with Banner "calling the shots" the last few years he was with them. Lombatard hasn't proven that he has an eye for evaluating players. How many first round busts has he been a part in selecting vs. solid productive starters that had potential to reach elite status? I honestly hope that they can get it right and turn this franchise around, but for now the Jury is OUT.
I wanted Paul Stanley. Instead, Browns fans are getting Michael Stanley. Oh, and Jon Bon Jovi. Stanley, a local music legend who most people not in Cleveland have never heard of, and Bon Jovi will be performing at FirstEnergy Stadium on July 14, to launch the Browns? season. It?s part of an apparent plan to use the so-called Factory of Sadness for more than ?10 miserable games per year including two preseason games that I have to pay for and one sh-tty Kenny Chesney concert.? ?I think, over time, you?ll see the stadium more active than it was in the past,? Browns CEO Joe Banner said during the press conference announcing the event. Stanley and his band will play for roughly an hour before yielding to Bon Jovi. If you?d still prefer to see Paul Stanley and his face-painting cohorts that night, you?ll have to make the trek to Saskatoon. Who?s with me?
I do have to say that this is my favorite [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7b-_YcACuQ[/video] [:} [:}
The young, aggressive prosecutors who are investigating the company run by Browns owner Jimmy Haslam previously had been quiet. On Wednesday, they broke their silence in a big way. According to John Caniglia of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, a pair of Pilot Flying J sales executives have pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with the alleged customer fraud scheme. The guilty pleas officially mean that the scam no longer is ?alleged?; the question is whether and to what extent others will be prosecuted. Per Caniglia, Arnold Ralenkotter and Ashley Judd (not that one) pleaded guilty in Knoxville on Wednesday to ?conspiracy to commit mail fraud? in connection with sending fraudulent rebate checks ?to certain targeted Pilot customers.? Ralenkotter was a regional sales director, and Judd was an account executive. Here?s the tidbit that should make Haslam and other key Pilot Flying J employees lose sleep indefinitely: Ralenkotter?s lawyer reportedly said ?his client is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.? It?s possible, if not likely, that Ralenkotter and Judd struck deals to plead guilty and cooperate, in exchange for some degree of leniency. While Haslam has denied involvement in or knowledge of the rebate fraud scam, Ralenkotter, Judd, and others may testify differently; already, at least one Pilot Flying J employee has said while being secretly recorded that Haslam was aware of the rebate fraud scam. Regardless of whether the prosecution makes its way all the way to Haslam, it?s safe to say that the prosecutors will swim as far upstream as the evidence harvested from folks who plead guilty will take them.
