Hue Jackson

Browns coach Hue Jackson says reports of tension within the ranks are untrue.

(cleveland.com)

BEREA, Ohio - Hue Jackson dispelled a report that tensions have heightened between the Browns coaching staff and front office, especially in the aftermath of Jackson's benching of Cody Kessler in Baltimore.

"I do have a tension headache,'' Jackson kidded. "My head hurts. I don't know where any of that comes from. I have never felt that, heard that, any of that. Like I said, my head does hurt from time to time when we lose, and that's about it.

"I'm the head coach of the football team and I will make decisions sometimes based on what I think is right. Sometimes, that's just part of it, but I have not heard that, felt that or seen that from anybody in our organization. They have been outstanding in their support of me and what we are trying to accomplish here."

Jackson, whose 0-10 team will host the 4-5 Steelers Sunday, was responding to a question about a report by CBS Sports' Jason LaCanfora that tensions are mounting in Berea and that some fear more change is coming. The report says some in the organization want defensive coordinator Ray Horton out, but that he has Jackson's full support. It also states that Jimmy and Dee Haslam have become increasingly hands-on, overseeing areas "they don't really understand,'' according to one source.

But Jackson reiterated that the Haslams have been completely supportive of him and the new process implemented by Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown and his staff.

"As I said this past week, Dee and Jimmy have been outstanding, and I meant that,'' said Jackson. "They are unflinching in what we're trying to accomplish. That being said, I'm sure it's hard for everybody to go through it, but we're going through it and we will come out of the other side of it."

Brown, who met separately with the print and electronic media on Monday, agreed with Jackson harmony reigns in Berea. In the previous two seasons, former Browns general manager Ray Farmer and some of the coaches squabbled, and Farmer was suspended four games last season for texting his opinions to assistants during games.

This year, Haslam said "everyone's on the same page for the first time'' in his tenure.

"I don't know of a tension and there isn't any,'' said Brown. "There's naturally always a desire to win and the main thing is that our staffs continue to be in good communication and it really comes from the support from Jimmy and Dee right on down to Hue and I, we're in constant communication. We know how hard the task is because we talk about it constantly and staying positive around our players is the main thing and we do that."



Jackson, who received a vote of confidence from Brown Monday, said he anticipated the "mudslinging'' that has begun.

"I know you guys were going to come back at me, somehow, some way,'' he said. "When you don't play as well as you like, you open yourself up to a lot of criticism. I get it. Some of it's deserving when you are not winning. It's tough. At the same time, we knew it could be tough.

"We're going through it and it is part of the plan - not the losing - but it is part of where we want to go. Sometimes you take a step back to take a couple steps forward. We're headed in the right direction. I feel very comfortable with what we're doing. ''