All sports fans know the stories of the Cleveland Browns' epic struggles:
The Drive!
The Fumble!
The Move!
0-16! 1-31!
What is going on now, in 2025, will put all of that to shame. Again, as in The Move Part I, circa 1995, there's plenty of people using "The Browns," no one is worried about the fans.
VILLIAN # 1
Jimmy Haslam
We have well documented Jimmy Haslam's shortcomings over the past few years:
We are right on the cusp of either Jimmy Haslam becoming the biggest Villian in Cleveland History, or Haslam doing the right thing and making me look like a bitter, old fool.
Earlier this past week, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb informed Jimmy Haslam that he is going to sue the Brown's Owner, using Modell's Law as legal precedent, to keep the Browns from moving to local suburb Brookpark, Ohio. Here is the very important part: Jimmy Haslam is countersuing Cleveland, claiming that Modell's Law, which is supposedly keeping the Browns in Cleveland, is unconstitutional. If Jimmy Haslam wins in court, he can move the Browns to Brookpark...
Or Columbus...
Or San Antonio.
Why am I so dead set again Jimmy Haslam? Since Jimmy and his wife Dee have bought the team, they have been crystal clear, both in their words, and on the record in print, that they want a new stadium. They just want to toss the current 25-year-old stadium in the garbage and want someone to pay for a shiny new toy that they can show off to the other owners, their peer group.
That's the way it works in the NFL, you counter? Jimmy's angle has never been the CLEVELAND Browns. He is not a good steward for the community. Jimmy Haslam sold the company that he ran so he could be full-time owner of the BROWNS.
It's an important delineation to make because Haslam feels no loyalty to the city of Cleveland. Hell, I graduated from Cleveland State University, and I barely have an allegiance to Cleveland, but I think of Northeast Ohio as my home.
And that's where the trouble starts....
VILLIAN # 2
Justin Bibb
I am going to tell you a huge secret that no one will dare utter out loud. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb doesn't care if the Browns move at all. He just has to LOOK like he cares if they move away.
Let me explain. Justin Bibb is in way over his head in this fight. Bibb is nothing more than a glorified community organizer. Part of Bibb is resentful that he has to take care of Cleveland's Stadium so that 8 times a year his city is overrun by suburbanites who trash his domain and can't get out of town fast enough. Justin Bibb is about all of Cleveland, Downtown, the neighborhoods, the schools, etc. He is not about catering to a billionaire out-of-towner. If Justin Bibb loses the Browns, but they move to Brookpark, Justin Bibb still gets re-elected mayor. There will be no (real) public outcry.
Justin Bibb and Jimmy Haslam don't share a vision for the Lakefront Property. If the Browns move, Justin Bibb just inherited, arguably, one of the most valued plots of land in the state of Ohio. He can make his own dream of a public/private shared development on the shores of Lake Erie a reality.
Then why is he invoking Modell's Law? Because he has to be seen as willing to fight. He wants a big fat check to drop the fight in court. How much does that check have to be? Great question.
This week, Jimmy Haslam made it "official" that the Browns are moving because he bought the plot of land in Brookpark and released more fancy drawing for the future Browns. Here's the catch: There is nothing, in writing, tying the Browns to Brookpark. There is no Brookpark lease. And-
THERE IS STILL NO FUNDING!
Justin Bibb can't be seen as not caring, but if his city gets that property, without being seen as inept, he wins. The city of Brookpark can't pay for the stadium. Cuyahoga County can't pay for the stadium. There have been conversations about a 6-county sales tax, that hasn't even gotten off the ground. Even Ohio Governor DeWine has had conversations about the Browns (and the Bengals) on the state level. Those conversations are not in the public domain.
You read that Justin Bibb can use the Modell Law to BUY the Browns?
Ahhh, but there's more to that story too....
Villian # 3
Roger Goodell
Roger Goodell is the devil. The Green Bay Packers are owned by the community, they are part of the public trust. The NFL hates that and outlawed NFL teams being owned by the city or by the state. So, if part of Modell's Law is that the Cleveland Browns can be bought by the city of Cleveland, Roger Goodell will fight that in court, and he will win.
Roger Goodell does not protect the sport of football.
Roger Goodell does not protect the fans of football.
Roger Goodell protects NFL owners.
Why do I care if the Browns move from Cleveland to Brookpark?
I don't.
Do you know how many times Stan Kroenke lied to get the Rams out of St. Louis? A bunch. Did the NFL punish him? No, they rewarded him. Again, Roger Goodell protects the owners. I believe the Browns to Brookpark is an expensive ruse.
Right now, as of today, Jimmy Haslam has stated that he is moving the Browns to Brookpark. If Model's Law is struck down, Haslam can move his team anywhere. Justin Bibb is looking to get his city paid if Haslam leaves. If Jimmy Haslam has a plot of land in Brookpark, but no one to pay for his stadium, Haslam is a billionaire, all he has to do is resell the land.
It's really that simple.
Roger Goodell will not stop the Browns from moving if no one builds Jimmy Haslam a new stadium in Northeast Ohio.
Editor's Note: I am going to rehash this yet again. This is our homepage photo. It is not a random piece of industrial debris. It is the old Ford Factory in Brookpark. I made my sister take this photograph as they tore the place down. The land from this picture is the same land that Jimmy Haslam bought this week. There is nothing there right now except for remnants of America's strong industrial past.
For 4 years I have been beating the drum that the Cleveland Browns are leaving Northeast Ohio. I am still convinced that the Cleveland Browns' and the Cincinnati Bengals' fates are tied together. No one is going to pay for a billion-dollar stadium in Cincinnati, no one is going to pay for a 2-billion-dollar stadium in Cleveland.
Ohio Stadium in Columbus is now over a hundred years old. The Ohio State University can't afford to pay for a billion-dollar stadium either. Now that NIL money is in play, what else can sell a kid to a cavernous Ohio Stadium?
If you google Ohio Stadium, it is described as having a "historic and iconic venue that offers an electrifying atmosphere for college football games. Reviewers highlight the vibrant game-day experience, the incredible fanbase, and the rich traditions associated with the stadium."
But none of that describes the Stadium ITSELF. I believe the reason that Governor DeWine became involved in the Cleveland Browns talks is that he's looking for a tenant when he moves to rebuild Ohio Stadium so it's the gem of the College Football world.
You think that's far-fetched? NFL leases are up in Cleveland and Cincinnati in the next few years. SOMETHING is happening in Cleveland, Haslam has already announced he is leaving. Now what's in doubt is the landing spot.
Could I see a 2-billion-dollar stadium in Columbus being home of the Buckeyes, Browns, and the seven High School State Championship games? I could. That means either the Browns or Bengals are leaving. That money would come from STATE money. There is a mechanism in place that could feasibly build a pro, college, and high school palace, if those levers were to be activated. Under no circumstances could I see the Browns and Bengals sharing a home.
Could I see the Browns or Bengals leaving for a new stadium in San Antonio, Toronto, Mexico City, or even London? Yes. I guarantee you that Jimmy Haslam could find a sucker- I mean, billionaire-partner, or desperate rich urban center, to make that happen.
If the Browns leave for Columbus, does that 'count' as moving the team? It's a 2-hour trip down interstate 71 from Cleveland to Columbus. Jimmy Haslam already owns Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew and has a brand-new soccer stadium in the city.
You keep saying why would Jimmy lie?
Show me one single article that shows, on the record, how that Brookpark Stadium is getting paid for.
Fool me once, shame on you!
Fool me twice, shame on me!
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