Randy Lerner close to selling controlling interest in Cleveland Browns to Jimmy Haslam III

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Randy Lerner has been a part of the Browns family and a diehard fan since the 1970s, when he was a teen growing up in Shaker Heights and his father, Al, purchased a nine percent share in the team.

But his dreams of fulfilling his late father's plans to bring a Super Bowl to Cleveland will apparently never materialize.

Lerner is very close to selling the team to Tennessee businessman Jimmy Haslam, currently a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a source close to the situation told The Plain Dealer. Haslam, President and CEO of Pilot Flying-J Travel Centers, the nation's largest retail operator of travel centers and truck stops, is believed to be seeking full ownership of the team.

In a press conference in Berea on Friday before the full squad took the field for the first time this preseason, Browns President Mike Holmgren confirmed that Lerner "will give up controlling interest in the team." He said he didn't know if Lerner would retain a stake in the franchise, which is worth $977 million, according to Forbes.

But Browns fans needn't worry about reliving the anguish of 1995, when Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore. Lerner, who inherited the team when Al died of brain cancer in 2002, refused to even enter into negotiations with Haslam until he had a personal guarantee he'd never uproot the team.

"[Lerner] has an unequivocal commitment from Haslam to never move the Browns," said Fred Nance, a senior advisor to Lerner. "He made that a prerequisite before entering into negotiations." Nance added that Haslam "provided the commitment without hesitation."

When asked what would stop Haslam, 58, from moving the team, Nance replied, "read the lease."

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson also stated in a release that the Browns are tied to a 30-year lease through 2029 with Cleveland Browns Stadium and that the city would pursue legal options if there was any attempt to break it and move the team.

Holmgren also said fans have nothing to worry about.

"It's my understanding that from the get-go that's been one of the stipulations and both principals understand that," said Holmgren. "The Cleveland Browns aren't going anywhere. The Cleveland Browns are the Cleveland Browns and they're going to stay."

Lerner, who had denied a report in June from Howard Eskin of NBC 10 in Philadelphia that the Browns were for sale, released a statement Friday morning confirming that talks were underway. The statement, in response to "current rumors and press inquiries" was a surprising move for the exceedingly private owner -- one that further signals a deal is imminent.

"We are currently in negotiations and both sides have agreed to keep that dialogue and its details private," Lerner wrote.

Eskin also reported Friday that former Eagles President Joe Banner, who's been seeking part-ownership in an NFL team, is part of the Haslam group. Banner declined comment. He's currently a senior advisor to Eagles owner Jeff Lurie, his longtime friend. He also worked closely in Philadelphia with current Browns General Manager Tom Heckert, coach Pat Shurmur and offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

If Banner joins Haslam in Cleveland, what does that mean for Holmgren, who's in the third year of his five-year contract that pays him a reported $10 million a year?

"My future is bright," Holmgren said. "That will be answered down the road. You control the things you can control and do the best you can. I think we've done a lot of great things here in getting to this point. But we'll see."

Holmgren, who defended himself last month against critics that felt he wasn't committed to the Browns, added, "To me, a contract's a contract. I've tried to be honest with you about that. But we'll deal with those things as we go down the road. For right now, I'm the president of the team and that's how I'm operating."

Holmgren said he couldn't pinpoint when the deal will be finalized. "All I go is by league protocols and what has to happen there," he said. "I know nothing is finalized until the league votes on it."

League spokesman Brian McCarthy said the NFL is aware of the negotiations, but referred any specifics to the club. Haslam will have to sell his estimated five to 10 percent stake in the Steelers, which he's had since 2009.

Holmgren said Lerner decided to sell now because Haslam, whose younger brother Bill is the governor of Tennessee, was the right owner. The Haslam family is worth $3 billion, according to Forbes.

"Of course [Lerner] and I had a lot of discussions about this and he has a deep love for this team," said Holmgren. "He's been with this franchise since his father passed away in [2002] as you know, running it and trying his best to do the right things. I think as his kids have gotten older and his life has changed a little bit ... He was very, very concerned with and interested in the right person stepping forward if he was going to sell the football team and apparently all the stars aligned in the last few months."

Holmgren said he was in "California this summer and Randy contacted me and gave me preliminary reports. Since that point, we've been in constant contact, he's kept me abreast of every single thing that's been going on. He's been more than fair that way. Clearly there had to be some confidentiality involved in this thing. But I appreciate that from him, to be involved in this."

Holmgren said Lerner's No. 1 priority was to prevent the possible sale from becoming a distraction to the coaches and players.

"They have a hugely important job to do," said Holmgren. "We're in the business of winning football games and we have a good young team that I think is on the verge of becoming what you all wanted and what we all wanted."

Browns coach Pat Shurmur addressed his coaches and players Friday morning to deliver the news.

"I also informed them that the goals ... as we move forward this year have not changed not one bit, not one bit," Shurmur said, with an edge to his voice. "What we're trying to do as a football team should be unchanged by what was talked about today. We're a much better football team, we'll be much better prepared this season. I feel like we've got a better group to put on the field and I think we function better as a staff, so that's my concern and that's what I told the players."

In Lerner's nine full seasons as owner since his dad died in 2002, his teams have won four or five games in seven of those seasons. They haven't made the playoffs in those nine seasons and he's fired three coaches in Butch Davis, Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini.

Years ago, Lerner told The Plain Dealer he'd sell the team if he felt he wasn't getting the job done. Apparently, that time has come.

League approval process

The NFL has a specific policy on the transfer of ownership interest in a team.

• An owner can’t hold an interest in two NFL clubs at the same time, so prospective Browns majority buyer Jimmy Haslam, who owns a minority share of the Pittsburgh Steelers, will have to settle that issue first. The timing can be worked out as part of the process to buy the Browns.
• The process is reviewed by the NFL office and league Finance Committee and must be approved by a three-fourths vote of the 32 clubs.
• The process can take a few months, but circumstances vary by transaction.