BEREA, Ohio -- Browns new general manager John Dorsey came up in the Packers organization and sees similarities between the two storied franchises, except one has been dormant for far too long.

"You know what? Let's re-awake this sleeping giant, the Cleveland Browns,'' said Dorsey, who replaced the fired Sashi Brown on Thursday night as GM. "I'm kind of excited about that.''

Dorsey, who was fired by the Chiefs in June despite a 43-21 record and three trips to the postseason in his four seasons as GM from 2013-16, was so fired up that he gave the players a "win one for the Gipper" speech in the locker room about their matchup Sunday against his former Packers team.



"I believe there's good in everybody,'' he said. "I believe there's good in every organization. I believe that the Cleveland Browns - you know what? This weekend, they're going to win. I'm the eternal optimist. That's who I am.

"I am not going to say (it'll be easy); you are going to pinpoint me on this. Through hard work and due diligence, all I'm going to tell you is we will give it our best effort. We're coming in next year, we are going to compete in the AFC North and we are going to try reestablish some position in the AFC North."

A former Packers linebacker and 21-year personnel executive of that club, Dorsey can rattle off the names of former top Browns such as Webster Slaughter and Bernie Kosar, and even remembers lesser-known names such as Mike Junkin. He remembers Art Modell moving the team, and the fans always coming out, rain, sleet or snow.

"The one thing that I always love about this is this is one of those iconic franchises,'' he said. "To me, this has one of the most unique fan bases in all of the National Football League. To me, that's exciting. I've always liked the history of the game of football. When you mention the Cleveland Browns to me, it brings back vast memories.

"We want to be competitive every year. We want ... to compete with [AFC North rivals] year in and year out. We're going to do that, I can tell you that."

Dorsey, the first Browns' GM in the new era who's held that title before and has had final say over the roster in his previous job, has been handed a new personnel exec's dream scenario: Two first round picks and three second-rounders, likely including the No. 1 pick for the second straight year. He'll also have about $90 million to $100 million to spend in free agency.

If he plays his cards right, he can get the Browns on the winning track next season, especially if he helps find the right quarterback, which Jimmy Haslam says is his "No. 1 priority.''

"Any personnel guy worth his weight would be excited,'' said Dorsey. "I'm not going to lie to you. I think Sashi did a nice job of creating some draft picks and creating some cap space here. This is an opportunity that not many personnel guys in my position would pass up. Now, we just have to get this thing rolling here, and that's what we're going to do."

Dorsey takes over a Browns team that has gone 20-72 under the Haslams and is about to set the NFL record for worst record over three seasons. Currently, they're 4-40 since 2016. Fans are jumping off the bandwagon in droves.

"I know that I can do my job with the best of my peers in the National Football League,'' said Dorsey. "I'm going to do everything that my God-given ability has given me and I will try to do it. It won't be from lack of work and lack of preparation.

"I've had a chance to meet Dee and Jimmy and just sit and talk to them. The one thing I have always felt and feel with them is how prideful they are ... and they want to see this thing turning around. When you have ownership like that, it gets me excited in that regard as well.

"Not one guy is the answer, but if we do this together collectively, this thing can work."

Dorsey is confident he'll work well with Hue Jackson. Dorsey for all intents and purposes lost a power struggle in Kansas City with coach Andy Reid, and Jackson survived the rift here with Sashi Brown.

"All of the people I talk to about Hue, they love Hue,'' said Dorsey, 57. "I like him as a man. I like his overall offensive schematic stuff. They play hard, and I like a team that plays hard. It symbolizes the AFC North.

"I was very proud of my time in Kansas City. I thought we acquired a heck of a roster. I would like to say a top-five roster in terms of talent. We went to the playoffs three out of the last four years. I have established some really good relationships within that organization. Life moves forward. I'm with the Cleveland Browns now. You know what? Let's roll."

Haslam acknowledged that Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta has not yet met Dorsey, but insists he's staying on. "I'm excited about Paul DePodesta remaining with the organization,'' said Haslam. "They will have the opportunity to watch the game together on Sunday and spend time on Monday. Paul will play a key role for us going forward."

Dorsey said he's excited to meet DePodesta, but admitted they must put their heads together to see if it's a match. It's somewhat curious that someone with DePodesta's title was not involved in the vetting of the new GM.

"I've heard a lot of things about him,'' said Dorsey. "I'm a forward enough thinker in today's technology. You have to have a certain degree of technology. If not, you're living in the stone ages.''

He added, "First, I want to meet (DePodesta) as a person. I want to see his goals and his objectives -- and see if it does fit into this system."

Haslam admitted that the Giants' coach and GM search affected the Browns' determination to land Dorsey.

"There will be a lot of changes made on [Jan. 1 and 2] in head coaches and GMs if this year follows the pattern," said Haslam. "We thought that it was important for us to get a jump on that to get the best person possible, which we think we did.

"Then to allow, as I mentioned earlier, for John to come in the building, spend time with our coaches, spend time with our team, get a head start with the personnel guys, where we hit the ground running getting ready for free agency and getting ready for the draft."

Haslam said Dorsey, who reports directly to him the same way DePodesta and Jackson do, will have the authority to hire and fire some scouts when the draft is over in May.

"To be fair, you don't want to come in here and be the guy that blows everything up automatically,'' said Dorsey. "Give everybody a 5 1/2 month window to show what they can do."

Haslam relied heavily on the recommendation of former Packers GM Ron Wolf, who was a Browns' consultant during the Butch Davis era.

"He just went on and on about what a great individual, person and talent-scout evaluator that John is,'' Haslam said. "Across the board, John's recommendations from all different types of individuals ... were outstanding.''

Haslam has said it numerous times before. But this time, he's hoping he doesn't have to eat his words.

"I think we have the right people in place with John and Hue and the people working under them,'' he said. "I'm actually really excited [and] I'm really confident we are going to get this thing turned around."