Haslam says drafting rookie QB Sanders was GM's decision

BEREA — Blame him for plenty, but Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said he's not directly responsible for a recent high-profile draft pick. While his influence is undeniable, Haslam said Tuesday that he didn't force general manager Andrew Berry to take rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders in April. Cleveland, which has been in a never-ending search for a franchise QB, selected Sanders in the fifth round — two rounds after taking Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The surprising choice — Sanders had been expected to go as high as No. 2 overall and the Browns passed on him six times — fueled speculation that Haslam, known for a hands-on approach during his tenure and captured on camera sitting in the draft room on Day 3 when the pick was announced, had orchestrated the move. Not true, Haslam said. "Listen. We have good process," Haslam said as he and wife, Dee, held their annual training camp media briefing. "If you'd have told me Friday night (Day 2) driving home, y'all are going to pick Shedeur, I would have said, 'That's not happening.' But, we had a conversation early that morning and we had a conversation later that day. I think we had the right people involved in the conversation. "At the end of the day, that's Andrew Berry's call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur." The additions of Sanders and Gabriel along with the acquisition of Kenny Pickett and re-signing of free agent Joe Flacco has created a four-man QB competition this summer. That's a rarity in the NFL but almost par for the course for the Browns, who are coming off a 3-14 season. The Haslams' tenure since 2012 has been awash with losing, off-field issues and controversies, most notably the signing of quarterback Deshaun Watson to a record-setting contract. Because of injuries, and Watson's league suspension in 2022, that deal has set the franchise back for years, leading to the team's current QB uncertainty. Haslam poked fun of himself when asked what he's learned as an owner. "It doesn't look like very much," he quipped. So far, Haslam has been pleased with what he's seen in Sanders, the former Colorado standout who began camp fourth on the depth chart, and Gabriel. "I'll say this, for the two quarterbacks coming in, and I know everybody has a vision of Shedeur," Haslam said. "But he's come in the building, worked hard, kept his head down and done what he's supposed to do as has Dillon, which is no surprise for either of them." Browns falling short The recent arrest of rookie running back Quinshon Judkins in Florida has brought added scrutiny to the Browns. Judkins is the third Cleveland player arrested in the past year on domestic violence charges and the Haslams acknowledged the team needs to do more. "It's extremely frustrating," Jimmy Haslam said. "Obviously we're not communicating as well as we should and we take responsibility for that. We have internal resources. We have external resources. We talk about it continually and it's something that we need to do a better job on. But it is frustrating." Judkins, a second-round pick out of Ohio State, remains unsigned and away from the team while dealing with his legal issues. Haslam said he's "cautiously optimistic" that Judkins will sign and play at some point. He also faces league discipline.Arch Madness Cleveland's quarterback crisis has led to assumptions that this season is lost and the Browns already are pointing toward taking Texas star Arch Manning in 2026. The Haslams are close with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, Arch's uncle. That relationship has led to rumors the younger Manning could land in Cleveland, which has two first-round picks next year. "If you know the Manning family, I would bet that — and I don't know Arch at all — I would bet he stays in college two years," Haslam said. "So, I don't even really think that's worth discussing."Dome sweet dome Despite an ugly tug-of-war with Cleveland and Cuyahoga County officials, the Browns expect to break ground early next year on a new, $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park. Jimmy Haslam is "99.9%" certain the team will leave its current lakefront home when its lease expires after the 2028 season. The Browns will move into their new digs the following year. "It's kind of a front door to Cleveland when you look at it," Dee Haslam said. "When you land at the airport or when you drive in, you're going to be passing by that development. It's going to be the only one in Ohio. It's really one of the few dome stadiums on the East Coast. So we're incredibly optimistic and excited." Emerson Jr. suffers Achilles tendon injuryCornerback Martin Emerson Jr. sustained an Achilles tendon injury in practice Tuesday and could miss the upcoming season. Emerson got hurt while covering a wide receiver during a 7-on-7 drill. He dropped to the ground in pain and screamed before being carted off the field with a towel covering his head. A team spokesman said Emerson, a third-round round pick in 2022, will undergo an MRI to confirm the severity of the injury. The team fears he has a rupture, which would end Emerson's season just as it was starting. Before practice, Emerson spoke with reporters and said he was looking forward to bouncing back from a subpar season in 2024. The 24-year-old has 202 tackles, four interceptions, a fumble recovery and sack in three seasons. Emerson didn't have an interception last season and said he battled some unspecified injuries. "As the year went along, my body was just kind of on a downward spiral," he said. "Just had to do some soul searching, man. Pray, stay close to God and just work my tail off. Honestly, that's the only thing that could kind of get me out of that slump, was the work. Put in the work and just come back and be ready." Emerson said he added six pounds of muscle to be better prepared to handle the rigors of a 17-game schedule. His likely loss is another blow to a Cleveland defense looking to rebound from a poor season and already short-handed with linebackers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck injury) and Jordan Hicks (retired) ruled out. With Emerson out, Greg Newsome will likely move into the No. 2 corner spot opposite Pro Bowler Denzel Ward. Both Emerson and Newsome also played some nickel back, covering slot receivers. Cameron Mitchell would be the top candidate for full-time nickel duties.