CLEVELAND, Ohio - As the Browns continue to stumble through another disappointing season, some fans are calling for Jimmy and Dee Haslam to sell the team. But cleveland.com columnist Terry Pluto says those fans should prepare for disappointment.
On the latest Terry’s Talkin’ Podcast, Pluto delivered a reality check about modern NFL ownership that explains why the Haslams aren’t going anywhere — regardless of on-field results.
The conversation began with podcast host David Campbell reading an email from a listener who wrote: “This email will ensure I’m not on the Haslams’ Christmas card list, but I’m ready to see them take accountability for the swing and miss by selling the team.”
Pluto’s response: “Do you think after all they went through to get the stadium deal done, they’re going to sell it?”
This rhetorical question highlighted what Pluto considers the Haslams’ true priority: the recently secured stadium deal that will anchor a massive real estate development project.
The podcast conversation went deeper, exploring how NFL ownership dynamics have fundamentally changed in recent decades. Today’s billionaire owners aren’t just buying individual teams; they’re assembling portfolios of franchises across multiple sports.
“The world of sports franchise ownerships has changed,” Pluto said. “These guys are now conglomerates owning teams across different sports.”
To illustrate his point, Pluto detailed the Haslams’ growing sports empire: “The Haslams have the Columbus Crew. They’re part owners of the Milwaukee Bucks... And they have the Browns. They aren’t selling, they’re buying.”
This multi-team ownership model represents a significant departure from previous generations of NFL owners who often owned just one franchise and viewed it as their primary business. Today’s billionaire owners see sports teams differently — as appreciating assets within diversified portfolios.
As Campbell added: “If you’re a billionaire, where else can you put your money that you’re guaranteed it’s going to grow? And you can have fun watching the team play that you own.”
The podcast also contrasted the current ownership landscape with previous eras when teams could be purchased by local businesspeople or even groups of investors. Pluto recalled how the Guardians were once owned by a group of 50 local investors, with some buying in for what would be equivalent to about $500,000 in today’s dollars.
“I mean, that’s a lot of money to us, but to those guys it’s nothing,” Pluto said.
For Browns fans looking for accountability after years of dysfunction, the podcast offered an important, if unwelcome, dose of reality: In today’s NFL, ownership stability often has less to do with on-field performance than it does with real estate deals and diversified sports portfolios.
As Pluto put it: “They aren’t selling, they’re buying.”
Here’s the podcast for this week:
If you have a question or a topic you’d like to see included on the podcast, email it to sports@cleveland.com, and put “Terry’s Talkin’” in the subject line.
You can find previous podcasts below.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.