BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns officially belong to Jimmy Haslam.
His $1.05 billion purchase of the NFL franchise from Randy Lerner was closed Thursday, just nine days after the sale was approved by the league’s owners. Haslam now owns 70 percent of the team, and the truck stop magnate will get the other 30 percent from Lerner in four years.
Haslam watched practice and spent several minutes chatting with coach Pat Shurmur as the Browns (1-6) continued preparing for Sunday’s home game against the San Diego Chargers.
New CEO Joe Banner did not begin his position as expected because he went Boston to be with his father who is ill, a team spokesman said. Banner spent 19 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, the last 12 as team president.
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