As the news of Sashi Brown's dismissal filtered out Wednesday, Hue Jackson's focus remained centered on his role in the Browns' struggles over the past two seasons.
"My focus of coming here to the Cleveland Browns is to coach the football team and help get this organization turned around," Jackson said. "I haven't been able to do that yet. That is something that I think we all want to do – (owners) Jimmy and Dee (Haslam), obviously. Hopefully, I am still a part of that, which I am, and hopefully, our players that are here, a year from now, hopefully, we can get this thing to where it needs to be."
In announcing the dismissal of Cleveland's vice president of football operations, the Haslams confirmed Jackson would be back as coach in 2018. Jackson called Brown "a good person and a heck of a worker" as he looked ahead to a four-game stretch, in which Cleveland looks to pick up its first win of the season, and beyond to a 2018 season, when Jackson and the Browns hope to be much, much better than they've been en route to a 1-27 mark since Brown and Jackson took over in their respective roles in 2016.
"Those things are always tough," Jackson said. "I don't think there is anything that is good about that. Here is a guy that I'm sure has given it everything he had here, trying to do everything he can to help the organization win and get it to where it needs to be. Sometimes these things happen.
"When you look at it – and I'm just as big a part of it as Sashi is – right now, we are a 1-27 football team. I take my responsibility in that, too. I have some things I have to work through and get better, as well. At the same time, I don't think it all should go toward him. I think we all have to do our part and do it better."
As the Browns search for Brown's replacement, Jackson stressed he won't want control of the 53-man roster or any additional responsibilities on top of the demands he faces as head coach. Being "in concert" with whomever is hired, though, is imperative, as Cleveland attacks an offseason in which it carries five picks in the first and second round and plenty of flexibility in free agency.
"I think that is too much of a role to be the head coach and do all of those particular things, but whoever that person is is somebody that I would have to work very closely with and feel very comfortable with as we move forward," Jackson said. "My job is to coach this football team, try to get this team to where it needs to be and hold this group together and hold our coaching staff accountable to be the best we can be. It isn't good enough right now – I'm being very honest with you – but I think the things we are trying to accomplish, I think some of them we have done better here in the building.
"At the end as I told you guys, it is about winning and losing so we have to get to that as fast as we can."
Asked if the Browns are poised to make a big turnaround in 2018, Jackson said the team can certainly "make some headway."
"I think we all have a lot of work to do. I do," Jackson said. "I think we can turn this thing, and that is what I came here for is to get this organization turned around. I'll keep saying that. I didn't come here for any other reason."
