The Jimmy Haslam Thread

[Chris]

Last I heard, it's a company policy to pay the legal expenses of the employee. I believe Haslam addressed this the day Dorsey was hired, because someone asked him about it then.

Not a fan of Haslam's ownership, but it has nothing to do with this incident. Has everything to do with what I see on the field. People are going to blame everything that happens on Haslam because he is a very easy target right now.

Certainly a bad look, just like everything else. Anyone who has ever been in a management position before, no matter how nominal, has probably had people under them say absurd, embarrassing and offensive things when they weren't around.

 

[Ohio]

I absolutely think there will be pressure from New York on Haslam to get out.

The good old boys aren't kicking Haslam out without indisputable incriminating evidence, sadly.

 

[Lee]

Haslam wasn't in attendance, but Haslam has vouched for Hazelwood's character and is paying his legal expenses.

Whether you believe Haslam is guilty or not in the "Trucker Fraud" scheme (multiple employees say he was aware), between Flying J having to pay the government $90M in penalty fees, and settling with trucking companies for $85M, now combined with Haslam's chosen President of his company saying these things.....cumulatively, its an awful look. I absolutely think there will be pressure from New York on Haslam to get out.

Wasnt Hazelwood fired though?

If Haslam wasnt there this has zero to do with Haslam then.

And he is paying his legal fees as a CYA situation. Haslam is just trying to cover his own ass and make the mess go away as quick as possible. He needs to pay for the legal fee's to make sure he has the best console possible and nothing leaks about him.

That all said Haslam is a very bad person. I dont want him owning the Browns. My SVP is a Tenn alumni, very active and a contributor. He says Haslam is the worst to and kind of knows him. I am not defending Haslam, but this is not even close to a Sterling situation or even a Ferry situation. It will have zero impact on how the league views Haslam.

 

[billmac91]

Wasnt Hazelwood fired though?

If Haslam wasnt there this has zero to do with Haslam then.

And he is paying his legal fees as a CYA situation. Haslam is just trying to cover his own ass and make the mess go away as quick as possible. He needs to pay for the legal fee's to make sure he has the best console possible and nothing leaks about him.

That all said Haslam is a very bad person. I dont want him owning the Browns. My SVP is a Tenn alumni, very active and a contributor. He says Haslam is the worst to and kind of knows him. I am not defending Haslam, but this is not even close to a Sterling situation or even a Ferry situation. It will have zero impact on how the league views Haslam.

I honestly disagree. When Jerry Richardson is being forced out over contested comments he made in the mid to late 90's, I think they'll be proactive on the Haslam front. Granted Richardson paid settlements, but plenty of people within the organization have defended Richardson and said the whole thing is being blown way out of proportion.

Haslam has been a terrible owner, got caught up in a fraud scheme shortly after taking ownership, and now has employees at his company making racist remarks as well as making fun of the Cleveland fan-base. I don't think he'll be owner much longer....

 

[Los216]

I wonder if Haslam paying these legal fees and penalties has anything to do with not wanting to fire Hue and be paying multiple coaches at the same time?

 

[Soda]

Haslam wasn't in attendance, but Haslam has vouched for Hazelwood's character and is paying his legal expenses.

Whether you believe Haslam is guilty or not in the "Trucker Fraud" scheme (multiple employees say he was aware), between Flying J having to pay the government $90M in penalty fees, and settling with trucking companies for $85M, now combined with Haslam's chosen President of his company saying these things.....cumulatively, its an awful look. I absolutely think there will be pressure from New York on Haslam to get out.

It's pretty standard for these people who were placed under investigation while still employed to have legal expenses paid by the employer. The trucker scheme has been in the hands of the NFL for a while and the statute of limitations on Jimmy himself ends in April. Unless it's Haslam family member saying it, it won't move the needle.

I think this is plainly looking to pile-on.

 

[billmac91]

It's pretty standard for these people who were placed under investigation while still employed to have legal expenses paid by the employer. The trucker scheme has been in the hands of the NFL for a while and the statute of limitations on Jimmy himself ends in April. Unless it's Haslam family member saying it, it won't move the needle.

I think this is plainly looking to pile-on.

I think you're underselling the environment we're in right now. When I say there will be pressure from New York, it's not my hope, as much as it is what I think will happen.

Honestly, I do wish there was a different owner, but regardless of that, having this situation roll out on top of the fraud scheme.....it's a growing snowball. I don't think the NFL wants the added drama of an owner caught up in all of this.

And it puts Cleveland at a competitive disadvantage....Agents, other owners, GM's, socially aware players....they're all aware of these Flying J issues in combination with the toxic Browns organizational environment. Which is something the league can also fall back on if it wanted Haslam out. They'd state the Cleveland franchise became an untenable situation since players no longer viewed it as a viable destination due to ownership.

 

[Soda]

I think you're underselling the environment we're in right now. When I say there will be pressure from New York, it's not my hope, as much as it is what I think will happen.

Honestly, I do wish there was a different owner, but regardless of that, having this situation roll out on top of the fraud scheme.....it's a growing snowball. I don't think the NFL wants the added drama of an owner caught up in all of this.

And it puts Cleveland at a competitive disadvantage....Agents, other owners, GM's, socially aware players....they're all aware of these issues in combination with the toxic Browns organizational environment.

No, I'm not underselling the environment we're in right now. I'm saying that a disgraced former employee being caught saying unsavory things about the Browns doesn't change the landscape of that environment. If there's pressure from the league office, it's already been there and hasn't changed due to what you're talking about.

 

[Los216]

No, I'm not underselling the environment we're in right now. I'm saying that a disgraced former employee being caught saying unsavory things about the Browns doesn't change the landscape of that environment. If there's pressure from the league office, it's already been there and hasn't changed due to what you're talking about.

I think you have to wait until the fans and the general public becomes more aware of the situation. This is a big deal to Cleveland fans but outside of Cleveland there's not much buzz. The pressure will come once this story and the ones that will come after get out to the masses. Especially during these slow days in the offseason in the weeks leading up to the draft. With us having these picks we'll be the topic of conversation and that will be the perfect time to shine light on this investigation. Then pressure will commence.

 

[billmac91]

No, I'm not underselling the environment we're in right now. I'm saying that a disgraced former employee being caught saying unsavory things about the Browns doesn't change the landscape of that environment. If there's pressure from the league office, it's already been there and hasn't changed due to what you're talking about.

I just wholeheartedly disagree. It's one thing to be in the middle of a "fraud scheme" and keeping the NFL at bay as you run out the clock on statue of limitations.

It's another thing when while running out the clock, your former hand picked President, is on tape singing about "n_____s" and crushing the fanbases of Oakland and Cleveland.

If this were some lower level employee at Flying J, I'd agree, but this was the President, with other executives, at a Flying J meeting (the company he owns). I just think this is a bigger deal than you view it.....

 

[Los216]

I just wholeheartedly disagree. It's one thing to be in the middle of a "fraud scheme" and keeping the NFL at bay as you run out the clock on statue of limitations.

It's another thing when while running out the clock, your former hand picked President, is on tape singing about "n_____s" and crushing the fanbases of Oakland and Cleveland.

If this were some lower level employee at Flying J, I'd agree, but this was the President, with other executives, at a Flying J meeting (the company he owns). I just think this is a bigger deal than you view it.....

It will be a huge deal once there's not a lot of stories in the NFL offseason.

 

[billmac91]

It will be a huge deal once there's not a lot of stories in the NFL offseason.

It will become a bigger deal when residents of Cuyahoga County quit patronizing the business, and the Cleveland franchise becomes a weight to the NFL. Somehow, fans have continued to support this Frankenstein operation, and it's really covered a lot of holes with leaves. If the Browns were a financial burden, the NFL would've already used the "fraud scheme" as a reason to get new money in there.

Starting next year, as season ticket holders cancel, and the fans rebel against the organization, the NFL has more than enough to force Haslam out.....and they'll be quick to say it doesn't help when your company president insults the citizens of your team, and drops "N bombs" in reference to players.

 

[Los216]

It will become a bigger deal when residents of Cuyahoga County quit patronizing the business, and the Cleveland franchise becomes a weight to the NFL. Somehow, fans have continued to support this Frankenstein operation, and it's really covered a lot of holes with leaves. If the Browns were a financial burden, the NFL would've already used the "fraud scheme" as a reason to get new money in there.

Starting next year, as season ticket holders cancel, and the fans rebel against the organization, the NFL has more than enough to force Haslam out.....and they'll be quick to say it doesn't help when your company president insults the citizens of your team, and drops "N bombs" in reference to players.

Unfortunately there's not a single team in the NFL that's a financial burden.

 

[WellYouNeednt]

I just wholeheartedly disagree. It's one thing to be in the middle of a "fraud scheme" and keeping the NFL at bay as you run out the clock on statue of limitations.

It's another thing when while running out the clock, your former hand picked President, is on tape singing about "n_____s" and crushing the fanbases of Oakland and Cleveland.

If this were some lower level employee at Flying J, I'd agree, but this was the President, with other executives, at a Flying J meeting (the company he owns). I just think this is a bigger deal than you view it.....

***Statute of Limitations***

 

[billmac91]

Unfortunately there's not a single team in the NFL that's a financial burden.

That's not entirely true...there are certainly teams that remain solvent only because of National TV deals alone. If it were more incumbent on them to secure local television deals (like say MLB), you'd see franchises like Jacksonville struggling.

It's hard to know without seeing all of the financials, but there's a reason markets like Jacksonville, formerly San Diego.....were always up for relocation. Owners felt they'd get much more bang for their buck in different cities.

If fan attendance is down significantly, and TV ratings dip in CLE, there will be mounting pressure for new ownership. Haslam will become a significant reason as to "why" people hve turned away. If new ownership means more $$$ in owners pockets, he gone.