Things have been pretty rough for Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. His team has lost 12 or more games in back-to-back years and currently has a QB controversy as it tries to change course.
Through it all, Haslam is remaining optimistic that the team will at least improve in 2026.
Speaking to reporters this week, Haslam was asked what a successful season would look like for him. His response was that he would "take the over" on the sports books having the Browns at 5.5 wins this season.
“I would say this, and we never do this, but I think the odds are for us to win five and a half games,” Haslam said. “I’ll take the over.”
That may sound like an incredibly low bar to clear, but for most of Haslam's time in charge, it's been difficult. Since Haslam bought the Browns from Randy Lerner back in 2012, the Browns have only had six wins or more seven times and only ended the year with a winning record twice.
So it shouldn't be much of a surprise that people started clowning Haslam over his seemingly low expectations for the team:
"Owner using O/U to tell how good they’re going to be is INSANE 😂😂 what an idiot but not surprisingly as he’s been running this clown show for a while," one user mocked.
"Take the under. I have since 1999 and it’s been great because it’s easy," wrote another.
"Ok this is the cue, everyone bet the under. The browns are winning like 3 games," a third wrote.
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The Browns in 2026
Expectations are pretty low in Cleveland right now for a litany of reasons.
Between the team's controversial trade of all-world pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Rams, the QB controversy between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, new head coach Todd Monken coming in and general roster issues, it's widely expected that the Browns won't be playing much meaningful football in December, let alone January.
