Browns Fans Say Owner Has Dogged Determination

Die-hard Browns fan Mike Randall made sure he put on his Sunday best for his important meeting with team owner Randy Lerner.

FILE -- This Oct. 25, 2009, file photo shows dejected Cleveland Browns fan Mike Randall after the...

FILE -- This Oct. 25, 2009, file photo shows dejected Cleveland Browns fan Mike Randall after the Browns lost to the Green Bay Packers, 31-3, during an NFL football game in Cleveland. Two longtime Cleveland Browns season ticket-holders organizing a protest to show their disgust with a decade of losing will meet with team owner Randy Lerner. Randall and Tony Schafer, who have been urging other Cleveland fans to stay away from their seats for the opening kickoff of the Browns' nationally televised game against Baltimore on Nov. 16, have a meeting scheduled with Lerner on Tuesday morning, nov. 3, 2009, at the team's headquarters. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)

(AP)

He wore a giant plastic dog bone hat.

The season-ticket holder, aka "Dawg Pound Mike," one of the best known members of Cleveland's rabid bleacher section of fans, spent two hours on Tuesday meeting with Lerner, who stepped away from a turbulent week and his busy schedule for the visit.

Randall and his friend, Tony Schafer, have been encouraging others to stay out of their seats for the opening kickoff of Cleveland's next home game on Nov. 16 to protest the Browns' futility. The fans were scheduled to spend 30 minutes with Lerner but ended up staying much longer.

"It was great," Randall said. "How many owners would spend two hours meeting with two fans? None."

Randall said Lerner was receptive to their ideas for improving the Browns' game-day experience at Cleveland Browns Stadium and even tossed out a few of his own. Randall, who has met Lerner several times, came away impressed with the owner's passion and determination to get the Browns turned around.

"He's doing everything he can to improve the Browns," Randall said. "He wants it to happen — now."

Lerner's meeting with the fans came less than 24 hours after general manager George Kokinis was removed from his job, the latest upheaval for a franchise that has made the playoffs just once since 1999 and is on its fourth head coach in 10 years.

The camera-shy Lerner has yet to address the circumstances surrounding Kokinis' departure.

Randall said Lerner liked the fans' idea for displaying some of the team's championship banners and retired jersey numbers inside the stadium. Lerner also seemed unaware of the strict security measures in place at the stadium, a zero-tolerance policy that has upset some Cleveland fans.

"He's a fan, just like us," Randall said. "He wants what's best for Cleveland and I believe him. He wants to win."