ORLANDO — Browns general manager John Dorsey has already started to make a mark on the team's new-look roster. He's also left a lasting impression on owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who trust the veteran personnel man to guide the franchise through a pivotal offseason.
The Haslams, who met with news reporters Tuesday afternoon at the NFL's Annual Meeting, described Dorsey as an energetic and collaborative force as Cleveland hopes to rebound from the team's first winless season.
"You've all been around John," Jimmy Haslam said. "Dee and I were just talking, he's optimistic, he's positive, he communicates well. He's fun to be around."
Dorsey, whom the Browns hired in December to head their front office, will oversee what the Browns hope is the beginning of a turnaround following a difficult two-year stretch. When the Haslams made the decision to tab Dorsey, who spent the previous four seasons as Kansas City's general manager and more than a decade with the Packers before that, they knew the 57-year-old was well-respected in league circles. Over the past few months, though, they've gotten to see that dynamic for themselves.
"We all had dinner together, our Browns group," Jimmy Haslam said, "and John and (John's wife) Patricia were the last ones to get there just because everybody knows and I think likes and respects John Dorsey. Whether it's coaches, agents."
So far, Dorsey has made good on that goodwill and a network of relationships to help reshape Cleveland's roster. Since the dawn of the new league year, the Browns have acquired 12 new players — including veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry and up-and-coming free safety Damarious Randall — to play alongside other young building blocks such as Myles Garrett, Duke Johnson Jr., Christian Kirksey, Joel Bitonio, Joe Schobert, David Njoku and Jabrill Peppers.
The next step, of course, is the NFL Draft next month, where the Browns are poised to add two more impact players with the first and fourth overall picks. In the meantime, Jimmy Haslam said he has full faith in Dorsey to help Cleveland get to winning as soon as possible.
"I think John has put together a good group, he said, adding, "John loves football. He loves the game and he loves the NFL."
