Joe Banner has been on the job for just a few weeks, but the new CEO of the Cleveland Browns faces no shortage of major decisions ahead.
The questions begin at quarterback. Banner told Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer that he and owner Jimmy Haslam III will use the final seven games to decide if rookie Brandon Weeden is the Browns' quarterback of the future. Banner told Cabot the team will rely on football personnel inside the building to help make that decision.
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Despite a constant stream of doomsday talk in Cleveland, Banner said he's open to retaining Pat Shurmur as coach and Tom Heckert as general manager. Banner worked with both as members of the Philadelphia Eagles and praised their talents. Banner said he's more concerned with building a quality staff than this year's win-loss record.
"We're looking for leadership, attention to detail, character, those kinds of things," Banner said.
Banner acknowledged he favors a model that gives the head coach final say over the 53-man roster, mainly because it was successful with Andy Reid in Philadelphia. Banner said he might bend on that model, but if he's unwilling to, the Heckert-Shurmur duo could be in trouble.
Banner said he envisions a Browns organization with "four or five people in a room" making key football decisions. He and Haslam will be part of that group, Banner acknowledged. It's too early to say who the others will be.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
