Jimmy Haslam & Joe Banner Had Their Game Faces On As Banner Took Over The Browns Today

Written By Larry M. Glicken "LG"


Jimmy Haslam brought his man into Cleveland today, Haslam introduced Joe Banner the new president of the Cleveland Browns to the fans and to the media today.

Both men had their game faces on as they held their first joint press conference. Haslam has spent more time with Banner than he ever has when hiring someone to work in his primary business the Pilot Corporation. Haslam is confident Joe Banner is the right guy to run the franchise Haslam paid 1 billion dollars for.

Each and every person working for the Cleveland Browns will be under evaluation from this day until the end of the season. Banner was asked about Pat Shurmur specifically, Banner worked with Shumur in Philadelphia and he too (Shumur) is under evaluation.  The Browns have a new owner and a new President of the team. This didn't take long once the owners voted to confirm Jimmy Haslam III as the new Browns owner.

Mike Holmgren was out as soon as the vote took place and Banner was in. Jimmy Haslam is being gracious keeping Holmgren until the season end to help Banner with a smooth transition. Now that both Haslam and Banner are in Cleveland, the Browns personnel better snap to it.   Banner will be looking over everything that takes place. One thing about Joe Banner is he likes a quarterback that can move. If you look at his 19 year history with the Eagles, they always had guys that could scramble to extend the plays.

Banner started his football career with the Eagles in 1994 when an old friend of his bought the Eagles. He was promoted in 1996 to senior vice president and in 1997 from senior vice president of administration to executive vice president.

In 1994 Randall Cunningham was the Eagles starting quarterback. Randall Cunningham rushed for 288 yards that year. If you think about the guys the Eagles had at quarterback in the 19 years Banner was there they all ran with the ball extremely well. Banner had Donovan McNabb for 10 years another guy that could run with the football. Banner likes a quarterback that can get out of trouble and scramble.

Brandon Weeden doesn't fit the Joe Banner mold of starting NFL quarterbacks. Plain and simple if you can't run with the football, you better not have to with Banner watching. If you can't get out of trouble with your feet your not going to last long in the Joe Banner ran Cleveland Browns organization.

The Eagles have a long history with Joe Banner and a quarterback that can save his butt by being able to scramble. One of the reason's Holmgren could be gone is due to the fact he forced Heckert to pick Weeden a guy that can't run with the Browns pick at 22....

Larry Glicken is the owner of www.clevelandsports360.com and the host of the Cleveland Sports 360 Show, an online streaming sports video show at www.streamingsportstalk.com