Heckert hopes to impress boss

Akron Beacon Journal

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Cleveland Browns General Manager Tom Heckert knows the arrival of incoming owner Jimmy Haslam III spells uncertainty for the future of every member of the organization - from President Mike Holmgren to the ball boys.

Heckert and his personnel department are hoping their work impresses the new head honcho, and their construction of the 53-man roster will play a major role. Many vital decisions were carried out Friday and Saturday as the franchise executed more than 30 transactions to whittle its roster down from 75 players in addition to establishing its eight-man practice squad.

Heckert hopes Haslam likes what he sees. If the team reverses its dreadful fortunes, he will. If another dismal season unfolds, seismic change will become a safe bet.

“You can drive yourself crazy thinking about that stuff,” Heckert said Saturday during a news conference. “It is what it is. I can control what I do. I can’t control what anybody thinks. If we play well and the guys look good, then I guess we’re all right. If we don’t, then hey.”

Haslam struck a deal with Randy Lerner on Aug. 2 to buy the Browns for more than $1 billion, and NFL owners will vote to approve the purchase Oct. 16 in Chicago. Haslam, the president and CEO of truck-stop empire Pilot Flying J, has vowed to bring a winner to Northeast Ohio, and he doesn’t seem inclined to tolerate anything less.

“We’ve got to do what we do,” Heckert said. “Hopefully we’re going to be better, and hopefully we show that we know what we’re doing and Jimmy likes it.”

However, the Browns face an uphill battle in their quest to make significant strides after finishing last season with a record of 4-12.

After being awarded rookie linebacker Tank Carder off waivers from the Buffalo Bills and defensive tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, a Cardinal Mooney product, off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens, the Browns have 15 rookies on the active roster. In other words, roughly 28 percent of their players have yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game.

“Some people have said to me, ’Aren’t you worried? Shouldn’t you go out and sign all these veteran guys?’” Heckert said. “I’m like, ’Could we? Yeah, but that’s not fair.’ We told Randy [Lerner], we told everybody we had a deal. We’re going to do things the right way. Whatever happens, happens. I’m not going to change what I believe in and just go out and sign a bunch of veteran guys just because. That could come bite me in the butt, but I don’t know.

“I don’t want to be callous, but [the young players] know if they’re not performing, we can make changes real quick. [With] the veteran guys, sometimes that’s probably less likely to happen, but these [rookies] are enthusiastic. They’re excited about playing and it’s fun.”

Coach Pat Shurmur tried to put a positive spin on the subject, too.

“Absolutely, we can win with 15 rookies,” he said. “I’m not a guy that predicts what’s going to happen. All I know is I’ve seen these guys play good football. ... I expect that when we put them out there, everybody out there, even the 15 rookies, are going to do what it takes.”