Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.
Back in the day, Browns fans loved to sing about their team. Especially during the holidays.
The team was good, the atmosphere was festive, and putting Browns themes to holiday songs was fun.
When the Browns racked up five consecutive playoff seasons in the mid-1980s, radio airwaves were flooded with Browns-inspired recordings – some original and some cover versions of holiday classics.
The granddaddy of them all was The Twelve Days of a Cleveland Browns Christmas, inspired by the joyful 1980 Kardiac Kids season.
With apologies to that version, and the original, we bring you The Twelve Days of a Jimmy Haslam Christmas. When you’re 3-11 – and 3-16 over two years -- the tone changes somewhat.
The Twelve Days of a Jimmy Haslam Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
All those players in concussion protocol.
On the second day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the third day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the fourth day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Four first-round follies,
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the fifth day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Manziel Mania,
Four first-round follies,
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the sixth day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Terrelle Pryor dropping,
Manziel Mania,
Four first-round follies,
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the seventh day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Robert Turbin fumblin’,
Terrelle Pryor dropping,
Manziel Mania,
Four first-round follies,
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the eighth day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Ray Farmer texting,
Robert Turbin fumblin’,
Terrelle Pryor dropping,
Manziel Mania,
Four first-round follies,
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the ninth day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Dwayne Bowe’s 9 million,
Ray Farmer texting,
Robert Turbin fumblin’,
Terrelle Pryor dropping,
Manziel Mania,
Four first-round follies,
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the tenth day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
McCown helicopterin’,
Dwayne Bowe’s 9 million,
Ray Farmer texting,
Robert Turbin fumblin’,
Terrelle Pryor dropping,
Manziel Mania,
Four first-round follies,
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the eleventh day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Mike Pettine’s defense,
McCown helicopterin’,
Dwayne Bowe’s 9 million,
Ray Farmer texting,
Robert Turbin fumblin’,
Terrelle Pryor dropping,
Manziel Mania,
Four first-round follies,
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.
On the twelfth day of Christmas Jimmy Haslam gave to me:
Another front office blow-up,
Mike Pettine’s defense,
McCown helicopterin’,
Dwayne Bowe’s 9 million,
Ray Farmer texting,
Robert Turbin fumblin’,
Terrelle Pryor dropping,
Manziel Mania,
Four first-round follies,
Three field goals blocked,
Wiener dogs at halftime,
And all those players in concussion protocol.