Hue Jackson offers confusing clarification about Browns tanking claims

Former Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson seemingly walked back claims that he had been directly paid to lose games as the team’s head coach. Jackson did, however, maintain that the Browns sought to lose during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

“No, I was never offered money like Brian [Flores] had mentioned,” Jackson told CNN in an interview, via Jake Trotter of ESPN. “I think this is a totally different situation but has some similarities.”

Jackson asserted again that he had evidence that Browns ownership intended to lose during Jackson’s first two seasons as coach, and that evidence “will come to light at the right time.”

Initially, Jackson had seemingly hinted at much stronger allegations. After former Dolphins coach Brian Flores claimed to have been offered $100,000 per loss by Miami ownership, Jackson suggested he had been in a similar situation, adding that it was a “good number.”

There is a clear difference between simply having a non-competitive roster and actively offering a coach money to lose games. Flores alleges the latter, which would be a hugely consequential scenario if shown to be true. If Jackson’s claims do not approach that, it becomes rather difficult for him to claim he was treated unfairly in the same way Flores argues he was.

Photo: Dec 3, 2017; Carson, CA, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson looks on from the sideline during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports