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Without a doubt, Hue Jackson was the worst head coach in Cleveland Browns history. As a lifelong fan of the franchise, I’m qualified to say that, right? I think so, because, during his 2.5 seasons at the helm, Jackson went a pitiful 3-36-1 overall, never able to competently lead the locker room to anything more than a couple No. 1 overall picks. Awful.
The separation between Jackson and the Browns seems to still be weighing on the guy, with the 55-year-old continuously blasting the organization since he was fired midway through the 2019 season. From having a little rivalry with quarterback Baker Mayfield, to candidly dissing the franchise after they fired him, it’s clear that Hue Jackson feels like he got a raw deal. Forget the fact that he won three games as head coach, though. Sheesh.
Jackson’s latest gripe with the Browns’ organization came during a recent interview with ESPN 850 on Monday, with the former head coach claiming that the team’s owner, Jimmy Haslam, secretly offered a contract extension after going just 1-23 in his first two seasons. Hue also added that Haslam refused to let the extension go public, and, ultimately, says he was lied to by ownership.
Per Cleveland.com:
“I got a contract extension at 1-23, midway through the season,’’ Jackson told The Really Big Show on ESPN 850. “I wanted to go public with it, but the Browns didn’t.’
A source told cleveland.com that the extension was for one year, which went through the 2020 season.
“There’s no doubt I was lied to by ownership and leadership of the team,’’ Jackson said. “They were going to be football plus analytics, but it was football vs. analytics.’’
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As for why he praised Cody Kessler on draft day, he said, “You think I didn’t know who that player was…was I happy with that pick? Absolutely not. That’s what analytics drafts.”
If the Browns really did, in fact, give Hue Jackson a contract extension after guiding them to a 1-23 record in his first two years, then the franchise is even more pathetic than I first originally thought. Sure, things have turned around since hiring Kevin Stefanski during the 2020 NFL offseason — with the team reaching the postseason and winning a playoff game — but, still, what on earth was Haslam thinking by handing more money to Jackson a couple years back? It’s just insane.
As for Jackson, he continues to come across as a jealous ex, who whines about no longer being part of the Browns’ life. Sure, some of his stories and/or claims probably have merit, but get on with your life already, buddy.