It's a story that has to make Cleveland Browns fans feel pretty secure.
Browns fire coach Rob Chudzinski in hopes of luring Johnny Manziel.
That their owner has a screw loose.
ESPN reporter Sal Paolantonio relayed a message about how the Browns came to draft Texas A&M quarterback in the first round with the No. 22 overall selection in the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Paolantonio said that he had a half-hour conversation with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam earlier on Thursday and the two talked a lot of football. But then Haslam went off on a peculiar tangent about what convinced him to take Manziel.
Coach Mike Pettine's daughter not a big fan of the Browns
"'I can go out to dinner anywhere in Tennessee and nobody bothers me,'" Haslam said, according to Paolantonio. "That's his home state. But he said, 'Here in Cleveland, everywhere I go, people know me. And I was out to dinner recently. And a homeless person was out on the street, looked up at me and said, 'Draft Manziel.' Just like that.'
"And that convinced him, that the Cleveland Browns' fans wanted Manziel," Paolantonio said.
Umm, OK ...
At least the homeless person didn't tell Haslam to take Manziel with the No. 4 pick. That would have been crazy. But as each team passed on Manziel in the first round, the Browns traded up from No. 26, giving the Philadelphia Eagles a third-round pick to get Manziel at No. 22.
Browns fans could be forgiven if they're a bit apprehensive about trusting Haslam. Haslam and then CEO Joe Banner fired coach Rob Chudzinski after just one season. During the process of trying to find Chudzinki's replacement, Haslam fired Banner and general manager Mike Lombardi after one season on the job
The Browns also went through several candidates before finally hiring Buffalo Bills assistant coach Mike Pettine.
That may at least put the story of Haslam's trust in the homeless person's desire for the team to draft Manziel in perspective.
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