Cleveland Browns Fans Speak Out: It’s Time for New Ownership to Turn the Franchise Around

As a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, my journey began long before the internet, social media, or cable TV turned the NFL into the multibillion-dollar entertainment empire it is today. I was just 10 years old in 1948, sitting by the radio, mesmerized by the exploits of the great Otto Graham, Marion Motley, Frank (Gunner) Gatski, Lou (the Toe) Groza, Bill Willis, and Dante Lavelli. That was an era when the Browns were kings of the old All-America Football Conference (AAFC), dominating the field under the guidance of Coach Paul Brown. Their seamless transition into the NFL solidified the team’s place in football history, with championships piling up and an identity that the city of Cleveland proudly embraced.

But over the years, the Browns’ story has been marked by its share of heartbreak. From the firing of Paul Brown—a move that remains one of the most controversial in sports history—to the team’s forced relocation to Baltimore under owner Art Modell, the franchise has had more downs than ups. Still, those painful moments were at least understandable in the context of football’s unpredictability.

However, nothing, and I mean nothing, has soured my relationship with this team like the boneheaded trade for Deshaun Watson.

The Watson Trade: A Franchise-Altering Blunder

The trade that brought Deshaun Watson to Cleveland will forever be a stain on the franchise’s reputation, both on and off the field. There was no shortage of criticism when the deal went down—rightfully so. The Browns, led by owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, handed Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million contract despite the baggage he carried from multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. The move wasn’t just about football—it was a franchise-altering decision that raised questions of morality, ethics, and, quite frankly, desperation.

Yes, Watson has had flashes of brilliance on the field, but those flashes have been few and far between. His performance hasn’t lived up to the hype, and the Browns, once again, find themselves stuck in quarterback purgatory—a cycle they know all too well.

What’s more troubling than Watson’s on-field struggles is the way the entire deal was handled. The Browns made a colossal financial commitment to a player with baggage, without ever truly understanding the long-term consequences. The trade and the subsequent signing set the franchise back years. And the worst part? There seems to be no accountability. The Haslams seem more interested in making headlines than making wise football decisions.

The Ghost of Johnny Manziel Haunts the Browns

Before Watson, there was Johnny Manziel. The Browns, eager to find their franchise quarterback, drafted Manziel in 2014 with high hopes, only to watch him spiral out of control both on and off the field. The Manziel experiment was a disaster from the start, with the QB’s immaturity and off-field antics overshadowing any potential he might have had. In hindsight, it was an embarrassment for the franchise, but what’s worse is that the Browns never seemed to learn from the mistake.

It’s not that the Browns don’t try to fix things—they do—but each misguided move feels like a step backward. The trade for Watson feels eerily similar to the Manziel debacle, only with higher stakes. Cleveland fans have been burned before, but never by such a monumental miscalculation. The desperation to land a star quarterback has led to repeated mistakes, and the current regime under the Haslams has shown little sign of learning from past failures.

Time for New Ownership?

At this point, it feels like the Cleveland Browns’ best chance at future success lies in new ownership. The Haslams, who purchased the team in 2012, have done little to inspire confidence. Their stewardship has been marked by poor decision-making, from failed coaching hires to disastrous personnel moves. The Watson trade is the culmination of a series of missteps that have put the team in a precarious position.

It’s time for Cleveland to take control of its team again. The franchise deserves ownership that understands the weight of its history, the responsibility to its loyal fan base, and the importance of making smart, calculated decisions. The fans have been the heart and soul of this franchise through its ups and downs, but the time has come for them to demand a change. The Haslams have had their chance, and it’s clear they’re not up to the task of rebuilding the Browns into a perennial contender.

Cleveland fans have stuck by this team through thick and thin. They’ve lived through the painful years of watching the team shuffle through quarterbacks, coaches, and front-office regimes. They’ve endured heartache, disappointment, and yes, even some fleeting moments of hope that inevitably fade. But now, as the franchise lurches from one misstep to the next, it’s time for a real change.

The question is no longer whether the Browns can contend for a Super Bowl in the near future. The question is whether the Browns will ever get it right with the current ownership in place. Until there’s a change at the top, the franchise will remain mired in dysfunction. It’s time for new ownership to take the reins, give the fans what they deserve, and finally turn this team into a true contender once again.

Cleveland fans have waited long enough. It’s time for them to take back their team.