Cleveland Browns: 5 takeaways from bombshell ESPN article

Who looked good

Get ready, because this has never been written in the history of the Cleveland Browns. Sashi Brown, Ray Farmer and Paul DePodesta came out of this story looking good.

Wickersham’s story portrays Haslam as an impulsive owner who seems to change his mind the minute after he makes a decision.

When Haslam’s committee to find a coach in 2016 voted on Sean McDermott, Haslam went on his own hiring Hue.

Brown and DePodesta opposed the hiring.

Farmer, too, is sympathetic.

He was cast into the job because of Haslam’s decision to fire both Banner and Mike Lombardi.

Farmer didn’t even interview for the job! Haslam just popped into his office and told him we was the new general manger. At the time of his hire, Farmer was the second-youngest GM in the NFL.

As the story progresses, Farmer predicted he and then-coach Mike Pettine would be left “holding the bag” when the whole thing blew up, and he turned out to be right.

It all started with his first draft. He took Justin Gilbert to appease his coach, Mike Pettine, and then Johnny Manziel to please his boss. He passed up Brandin Cooks in the process.

It wasn’t long after the draft that Josh Gordon got into more trouble off the field. Imagine having Cooks as the receiver in waiting to pick up the corps Gordon left in shambles.