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Jimmy Haslam won't 'blow things up' if Browns struggle this season

Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Regardless of how this season goes for the Cleveland Browns, owner Jimmy Haslam believes the team has the right foundation in place.

Haslam threw his support behind head coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer on Saturday, telling reporters that the Browns' 2015 win-loss record will have no effect on their futures.

"We're not gonna blow things up, OK," Haslam said. “I think we are on the right track and not blow things up. I understand why people might ask that after a couple bumps in the road the first couple years. I think we are putting together a good foundation."

Haslam also shot down reports of a rift between Pettine and Farmer.

"The reports of them not working together well are completely inaccurate," he said. "I'm with them daily."

And no state-of-the-Browns address would be complete without an update on the Johnny Manziel-shaped elephant in the room.

"Despite what everybody reads and says, we've not at all given up on Johnny (Manziel),'' Haslam said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "We think he has the potential to be a good football player. Now, having the potential and doing it are two different things, but I think we've said numerous times that you're not going to win consistently in this league without a good quarterback and we're trying to make that happen.''

Haslam is preaching patience when evaluating the second-year pro, touting a long-term approach with the young passer. Manziel struggled in two starts last season.

"I think it's important - everybody forgets he's barely 22 years old," said Haslam. "He's still young, so I think over the next couple of years we've got to see if Johnny can be a legitimate quarterback or not. I don't want to put too much pressure on him or our coaches to say it has to happen this year."

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