From the moment former Cleveland Browns football coach Hue Jackson began talking this week about allegedly being paid by owner Jimmy Haslam to tank games, we expected to hear something from Haslam.
Haslam’s response came on Thursday and as expected elicited social media reactions.
Here is what Haslam said.
“He’s [Jackson’s] been masterful at pointing fingers but has never accepted any blame. I have accepted a ton of blame, and rightfully so.”
#Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, responding to Hue Jackson, in an interview with @AdamSparks: "There are a lot of things I could’ve done better. Hue has never accepted blame for one thing.” https://t.co/t3cDs7A5tw #Browns
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) February 4, 2022
He is not wrong.
How Social Media Reacted
Joe Thomas was playing during the years Jackson alleged the tanking occurred.
In addition to sharing the article with Haslam’s reaction Thomas added:
“I find it hard to believe the Haslam’s were ‘happy we kept losing’; I saw the opposite. They seemed pissed we weren’t more competitive…”
I find it hard to believe the Haslam’s were “happy we kept losing”; I saw the opposite. They seemed pissed we weren’t more competitive…https://t.co/TBg366QEQZ
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) February 4, 2022
Many agreed that Haslam got the last word in this difference of opinions.
Jimmy Haslam dropped the hammer on Hue…..wow https://t.co/nBU5fjDZvA
— Nick Wilson (@NickWilsonSays) February 4, 2022
Jimmy Haslam from the top rope: “His third year, when our roster began to pretty dramatically improve, the eight games he coached we were 2-5-1. After Hue was dismissed, we went 5-3.” https://t.co/4IbJYL6CQA
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) February 4, 2022
One person hilariously carried the argument into last night’s Pro Bowl Skills Showdown Fastest Man race.
Did Jimmy Haslam pay Nick Chubb to lose this race? People* are asking
*by people, I mean Hue Jackson https://t.co/fYSJwmasBT
— DollarDog Nick (@DollarDogNick) February 4, 2022
Hue Jackson Was Fired For Year 3
The prevailing belief is that Hue Jackson got a better roster to work with in his third year and still could not do anything with it.
Taking that 2018 team 2-5-1 before getting fired, and they turned around to go 5-3 after he left was telling.
I said on RBS today that Hue Jackson was fired not for going 1-31 but for going 2-5-1 in Year 3. Jimmy Haslam pretty much confirmed as much in an interview in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.https://t.co/QQPPk3zJRa
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) February 4, 2022
Groundhog Day Reference
Because Hue Jackson is never permanently out of the Cleveland airwaves, one person reacted with an appropriate Groundhog Day reference as his latest re-emergence coincided with the holiday.
Associated Press reporter Tom Withers posted:
“I can’t take six more weeks… of Hue Jackson vs #Browns”
I can't take six more weeks … of Hue Jackson vs #Browns stories.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) February 4, 2022
Withers is also not wrong.
Others chimed in to agree and pile on Jackson even further.
@browns never should have hired him. I screamed from the rooftops the second they did that it was the worst coach signing in NFL history and I was right. Because I know what I’m talking about.
— Dave McBadQAgain (@tenmcmen) February 4, 2022
Said every Browns fan week after week when he was coach…
— Dystopian Warmongering Cat (@dystopian_cat) February 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/PierogiPacMan/status/1489623702950105090
“He’s like the annoying ex-spouse you had kids with so you’ve gotta continue to interact with him at every birthday party, wedding, grandchild birth, etc., until the end of time.”
That means what we already suspected.
We have not heard the last from Hue Jackson regarding his tenure with the Browns.
NEXT: Report: Browns Met With Notable QB Prospect This Week
