CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was out of town last week when a national report surfaced that his team was toxic, dysfunctional and that anyone who could flee was fleeing.

The report, by Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports, hit the same day that Northeast Ohio Media Group reported that Browns general manager Ray Farmer was facing a suspension, and the Browns a fine and loss of a draft pick for Farmer's impermissible texting during games. It also came just days after Johnny Manziel checked himself into rehab and Josh Gordon's minimum year-long ban became official.



Despite the tumultuous week, Haslam had been feeling good about the team's outlook since taking his top aides on a three-day team-building and strategic planning session. The group included Mike Pettine, Farmer, team president Alec Scheiner and general counsel Sashi Brown.



"I feel very good directionally about where we're headed,'' Haslam said Wednesday in a 50-minute session with Browns beat reporters. "That's why (the article) was like getting sucker-punched when it kind of came out of left field - 'whoa, that's not what we're seeing.'

"Now, I also accept that until we win and win consistently which we have not done - they didn't do before we got here - and we haven't done, we don't have any credibility. We don't have any equity with y'all. We accept that. We have to prove we can win and win consistently and we accept that."

Haslam revealed that what bothered him most about LaCanfora's story, which blamed the team's woes on its meddlesome owner, was the depiction of the Browns as "dysfunctional, that people want out of here, that we don't work well together. Because that couldn't be further from the truth. I don't know everybody that works here, but the key people I promise you like coming to work, are here early, work late and work well together. It does not at all, and I want to say at all, depict how things go here."

Haslam, in fact, felt better than ever after working out some of the kinks in the three-day getaway, some of which had surfaced during Kyle Shanahan's messy departure.

"We came back from there and I actually felt that since our family bought the Browns, it's the best week we've had,'' he said. "Very productive, clarification of roles, strategy, where we wanted to go, how we were going to get there. A great two or three days together and unfortunately some people who as far as I know have not been in this building, depicted a far different situation than certainly we feel every day when we come here and come to work.''

Haslam, who plans to stick with Farmer in the wake of Text-gate, disputed reports of friction between Farmer and Pettine and that Scheiner, head of the business side, had become divisive in the building as a result of wanting more say in football matters.

"I was in a meeting Monday, the scouts and the coaches and I feel great about what we've assembled on both sides as well as how well they work together,'' said Haslam. "I think Ray and Mike work together extremely well. I also think it's important to remember that today is Feb. 11, obviously a year ago is when we made some pretty substantial changes (firing CEO Joe Banner and GM Mike Lombardi) and it takes a little bit of time to put things together. I think we did a reasonably good job the first year and I think we'll be a lot better the second year and better than that the third year."

He addressed the report about Scheiner watching film with Pettine and Farmer on Monday mornings.

"Yeah, Alec and Ray watch film,'' said Haslam. "Unlike what was reported, Alec and Ray watch films after games from. It starts at 6, I don't know how long it lasts, I don't watch film with them. I think it was reported that Ray, Alec and I watch film together and that's not accurate. There were a lot of inaccuracies in there and that was certainly one of them and everybody says, 'Well, why is the business guy watching film?' And let me ask you, if you had an opportunity to watch film with Ray on Monday morning, would you do it?

"Alec is a smart guy and one of the most competent guys in pro sports, not just the NFL and he wants to learn more so he sits in there and he's not critiquing Ray, he's listening to Ray's comments.''

Asked if Scheiner had become divisive, Haslam said, "Absolutely not. Absolutely not. ...That's not the case. It was very unfair to Alec, very unfair. We work extremely well together."

Haslam, who also believes it's too early to give up on Manziel, admitted he's still learning the ins and outs of ownership.

"Yes, we had an association with the Steelers, but we weren't there in the building every day so it's been a steep learning curve and hopefully we will do a better job leading the organization than we have in the past,'' he said. "But here's how I see my role is set the goals for the organization, put the right people in the right place, provide them with the resources they need to do their job and then hold them accountable.''

Haslam, who's had Farmer, Pettine and Scheiner reporting to him since he fired Banner last year, said he now spends about half of his working hours with the Browns and half with Pilot Flying J, which is still under investigation for rebate fraud.

Still, Haslam sees no need to add a football czar to oversee the whole operation, although some in the league have told NEOMG they think he might be holding that spot open for his good buddy Peyton Manning when he retires.

"We're comfortable the way we're set up,'' he said. "I like having the direct dealing with Mike, with Ray and with Alec and we're comfortable with the structure. I think we've grown a tremendous amount in this last year and we have more growth to do. I get it that we have to win to convince (the media) and the fans. (But) we're solely committed to winning."

He re-iterated that Farmer made the call on drafting Manziel and that Farmer will always have final say in any personnel debate between the two.

"Let me say, I have never watched tape,'' he said. "That's not my skillset. I'm supposed to get the right people in the right place and I think in Ray Farmer we have the right person and (personnel executives) Bill Kuharich and Morocco Brown and all of the other scouts, I think we've got the right people in the right places, so Ray has all of those final calls.''

"That's crazy,'' Haslam said. "Alec can tell you this better than I can because he's so much better at the business side of football than I am, but everybody thinks he's going to sell a lot more jerseys. You put what you make on merchandise into a pool and divide it by 32. In the scheme of things in NFL dollars it's this big (holding his fingers and inch apart). It's not this big (hands a foot apart)."

Haslam was asked by a reporter why Shanahan bolted if everything in Berea is hunky-dory.

"I don't at all want people to think we think everything is great, okay?'' he said. "We don't. What I want you to understand is we do work together. It's not dysfunctional. We understand that in the last five years that our division rivals have been sixth, seventh, eighth in wins and we've been in the high 20s. So we're not at all satisfied and it's not hunky-dory. All I want to convey is we do get along, we do work well together and we've got a common goal. But we understand -- it's really important -- we have a lot of work to do to have the kind of football team we want to have. So please understand that. I want to make sure that's not misstated. We're not at all satisfied with where we are."

He addressed reports that some in the building fear that he'll wipe out the staff after next season. According to CBS Sports, the Browns have the ninth toughest schedule in 2015, with opponents possessing a 138-116-2 win-loss record (.543). What's more, they have no idea who their quarterback will be.

"Listen, I encouraged Ray last year before his first draft to be aggressive in the draft, not be afraid to take chances, that we're in this for the long haul,'' he said. "I know that will get a lot of rolling of the eyes because of all the changes we've made and I accept that, but I think we've put together a really good team that can turn this franchise into a consistent winner - something that's not been - and I feel really good about the people we've put in place.''

Haslam was asked about Farmer picking Gilbert instead of Giants receiver Odell Beckham, who went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year honors.

"Organizationally we decided cornerback was a big need the way Mike likes to play defense, so we made the decision to pick Justin,'' he said. "I can assure you we do a tremendous amount of post-audit on our drafts because one of my responsibilities [is to] hold people accountable. Pretty soon, you go in our draft room, we'll have the last three or four drafts up there, and I think that's a reminder, good and bad, for how we've done. So we'll continue.''

On a mission to find a winning quarterback, he insisted he has the right people in the building to accomplish it.

"Between our scouts and our coaches, we have the expertise to get a good quarterback, and we're going to work relentlessly until we get that person,'' he said. "And here again, I'm not saying that person's not on our roster. But we're going to continue to work and evaluate."

Throughout the turmoil of the past few months, Haslam said Pettine has been rock-solid.

"He was exactly what we thought he was when we hired him,'' said Haslam. "He's a smart guy, he's tough. I think he relates to the players well. Of all the people in the building, he was the least rattled by the events of last week. That's Mike. That's a true virtue.''

Haslam said he wasn't about to let the controversial week and scathing national report splinter his organization.

"Let's start with Johnny,'' he said. "We're proud of him raising his hand, That was very positive news. Disappointed in Josh, but with the track record certainly not surprised. The text stuff was pretty well out there. I think the rumors of the decision and what the penalty will be, at least as I understand it, nobody knows yet.

"You just have to fight through it. Do I wish there was no news? Of course I do. My main concern last week was I was out of town and I called all the main people up here and said, 'listen, just stay focused.' There's a tendency to get emotional, you want to flail out. We're not going to do that. Just stay focused on your job and if you do that, things will work out."