The Browns and FirstEnergy Corp. mutually parted company with seven years remaining in their stadium naming rights deal.
Call it Cleveland Browns Stadium again after team abruptly ends naming rights deal with FirstEnergy Corp.
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways while waiting for Browns offseason program to begin on Monday …
By mutually agreeing with FirstEnergy Corp. to end their stadium naming rights deal with seven years remaining, the Browns join a select group of NFL franchises with no corporate name on their stadium.
There is Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears.
There is Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers.
And now there is Cleveland Browns Stadium (again), home of the Browns.
(Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, officially is named GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.)
The parting of the Browns and FirstEnergy after a 10-year partnership was presented as “mutual” and “amicable.”
Neither company acknowledged in their joint announcement FirstEnergy’s involvement in a bribery scandal with Ohio Legislature officials. The company reached a $230 million settlement to avoid prosecution. In June, Cleveland City Council passed a resolution calling for removing FirstEnergy’s name from the city-owned football stadium.
John Somerhalder, interim president and CEO of FirstEnergy, said, “Together with the Browns, we have worked to enrich our communities while increasing awareness of FirstEnergy as an energy leader. Since we signed this agreement ten years ago, our priorities have shifted as the company evolved from a competitive energy supplier to a regulated utility, and as a result, our corporate initiatives must also evolve. Like the rest of northern Ohio, we remain passionate Browns fans and will cheer them on in upcoming seasons. We also look forward to maintaining our deep relationships with civic, arts and other organizations to bring good energy to our communities.”
Speaking for the Browns, Dave Jenkins, COO of Haslam Sports Group, said, "We've had a great association with FirstEnergy for more than two decades, and we appreciate this partnership and what it has created for our team and the broader northeast Ohio community. We reached this amicable agreement that is consistent with the productive relationship we have always enjoyed, and we wish FirstEnergy success with their future initiatives. Our home stadium will return to its former name, Cleveland Browns Stadium.”
The original naming rights agreement called for FirstEnergy to pay $107 million through 2030, an average of $6.29 million a year.
Jenkins, who spearheaded a naming rights deal of Browns headquarters in Berea with CrossCountry Mortgage, probably will find another corporation to buy Browns Stadium naming rights. It may or may not happen before the 2023 season.
In the meantime, don’t worry about the Browns hurting for cash as a result of this “mutual agreement.” In January, the Haslams completed the second phase of the sale of Haslam’s Pilot Co. to Berkshire Hathaway for more than $8 billion.
Perrion, the wayward son
Defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey was arrested Monday in Harris County, TX, on a misdemeanor charge of assault for allegedly grabbing his girlfriend and causing her bodily harm.
TMZ reported the couple quarreled “over a dog and keys to a rental car.” The woman later claimed to officials that Winfrey had harmed her in the past.
Winfrey was released on $1,000 bond and is scheduled to be in court on Tuesday. The Browns kick off their offseason conditioning program in Berea on Monday.
The Browns have had no comment other than to say they are “gathering more information.”
Really?
Winfrey was a fourth-round pick from Oklahoma in 2022. He plummeted to the fourth round partly because of disciplinary issues while at Oklahoma. Then he was suspended by the Browns in the second week of the season for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. Myles Garrett said Winfrey needed to learn how to be a professional.
Will Winfrey be disciplined by the Browns? Probably not. Here’s why:
1. The Haslam ownership has set a precedent for tolerating players with questionable character issues.
* Running back Kareem Hunt was signed despite an incident caught on video of kicking a woman outside a Cleveland apartment while a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
* Receiver Antonio Callaway was drafted despite being suspended at University of Florida because of allegations of sexual assault. As a member of the Browns, he was suspended four games for violating the NFL substance abuse policy and later waived for showing up late for meetings.
* Defensive tackle Malik McDowell was signed by the Browns despite serving 11 months in prison for a variety of offenses. After one season with the Browns, McDowell was arrested in Florida and charged with public exposure, assaulting a police officer and resisting offense. The Browns did not re-sign him.
* Quarterback Deshaun Watson was signed to an unprecedented $230 million fully-guaranteed contract after the Browns traded six draft picks to the Houston Texans despite more than 20 civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct while a member of the Texans.
2. Despite a non-descript rookie season -- .5 sack and 22 tackles – Winfrey’s athleticism was seen as an intriguing weapon in new coordinator Jim Schwartz’s defensive line makeover. The Browns failed to acquire proven interior pass rushers in the transaction season, so Winfrey certainly would have been given an opportunity to make an impact in Schwartz’s system.
3. In three previous seasons, GM Andrew Berry has released only one of 24 players he’s drafted before their rookie contract expired.
Another not going anywhere
Third-year cornerback Greg Newsome changed agents again, rejoining Drew Rosenhaus, which fueled a report he wanted to be traded. Newsome and Rosenhaus denied Newsome wanted out.
Newsome expressed unhappiness after the 2022 season with his role as slot (inside) cornerback. He wasn’t terrible at it, but it was much more difficult than Newsome anticipated.
Adding to Newsome’s frustration, third-round cornerback M.J. Emerson opened eyes with a good rookie season. Emerson and Newsome both failed to record an interception, but Emerson had 15 passes defensed to Newsome’s six.
It remains to be seen whether Schwartz keeps Newsome as the No. 1 slot cornerback. The Browns might not have a better alternative.
Schwartz is not a coach to let players dictate their roles. Accountability was a problem last year. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney refused to play on first and second downs in a game against Baltimore, and cornerback Greedy Williams expressed dismay for being sent in during a lost cause in Miami. Those things aren’t expected to happen under Schwartz.
Further, Newsome, the 26th overall pick of the 2021 draft, is entering the third season of his rookie contract. Berry is not about to give up on Newsome at this point.
