Cleveland Browns: 5 takeaways from bombshell ESPN article

Five takeaways from the recent Cleveland Browns bombshell article, which highlighted disfunction in the organization under the Haslam’s ownership.

The Cleveland Browns are in the news for all the wrong reasons, yet again.

Just when we thought those days were over.

ESPN.com’s Seth Wickersham took a detailed look into how the Browns have operated since the Haslam family took ownership of the organization six years ago.

It’s a tough read for Browns fans, who’ve have to endure some of the worst stretches of losing football the NFL, and sport, really, have ever known.

At least there’s a light at the end of the tunnel as Cleveland appears to finally have turned itself around.

Here’s four things that really stood out in the article, as well as some extra things that don’t add up/additional questions.

It’s all about Baker

For the first time in 20 years, the Cleveland Browns are trending in the right direction.

So, why a negative piece about a team that by most accounts, has turned the corner?

It’s all about Baker Mayfield.

Seth Wickersham’s story for ESPN was to shine a light on the Haslam’s ownership of the franchise.

The’ve made numerous mistakes throughout the six years they’ve owned the club and Wickersham reinforced what everybody already perceives to be true: That Jimmy Haslam has a quick trigger finger when it comes to changing the course of his franchise.

Wickersham was trying to paint a picture of how the Browns have operated the past six years with Mayfield as the nexus.

Can this franchise quarterback in waiting become the first field general to lead the Browns to a Super Bowl and whether or not he can overcome a culture historically buried in discord.

It’s a fair question, but perhaps all the criticism of the Haslam’s is unwarranted. Sure, mistakes have been made, but they were new owners who were trying to navigate the waters of owning an NFL team.

Wickersham made it apparent that the whole, “We’re new here, we’re going to make mistakes” line has fallen on deaf ears.

As it should, because after all, actions speak louder than words.

But it’s true of any NFL team. A franchise is as good as its quarterback and Jimmy Haslam finally got his with the hiring of John Dorsey.

Hiring Dorsey wasn’t luck. Haslam wanted him. Drafting Mayfield wasn’t luck, either. Dorsey wanted him. Getting to this point was tedious, but here we are.