CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns are saying nothing definitive about the future of Johnny Manziel.

But the franchise's most legendary figure continues to support its troubled quarterback. Jim Brown said Thursday he doesn't want to see club move on from the 2014 first-round draft pick and believes he could benefit from strong guidance.

"To be honest, I don't want to see him traded or anything like that," Brown said at the 16th annual Greater Cleveland Sports Awards. "I just never feel that's the answer to anything. But that's my opinion and I don't expect you to feel that way. I like Johnny."

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam shed no new light on the organization's plan for Manziel, although it's been reported the club is ready to cut ties with the quarterback either through a trade or by releasing him.

Haslam said Thursday night he believes the team's relationship with the quarterback can be repaired, but the final decision will belong to new director of football operations Sashi Brown and coach Hue Jackson. The coach told cleveland.com on Wednesday he has not spoken to Manziel since he was hired two weeks ago. The quarterback was videotaped partying again over the weekend in Dallas.

Jim Brown said he would never second-guess Jackson's decision, but hopes a resolution can be reached. The quarterback has started just eight games the past two years and made as much news off the field for his behavior as on it for his play.

"Your leadership has to be able to deal with players and I don't think that Johnny is a bad guy," said Brown, who's worked with gangs in Los Angeles. "But I think he needs someone to deal with him, give him an opportunity to be the nice Johnny, the intelligent Johnny. From all I hear, he should know what is right and wrong, etc. But we never know what is in the background of any of these youngsters.

"Since I deal with them and I deal with the ones that are hardcore, I know that if you deal with them properly they'll respect you and you can get them to do what's needed to be done."

Brown said the leadership with Manziel "has not been there and it puts everything up in the air."

"I like Johnny and I know a lot of kids that if you don't know how to deal with them, you lose them," Brown said. "They don't come ready made, but on the other hand the argument is he's a man. He should know how to conduct himself. He has an opportunity and we've got all of that, but I like him and I hope they are able to relate and if they are able to relate then he will respect the coach."