Browns owner: Team 'purposely very methodical' in coaching search

Jimmy Haslem purchased the Browns for $1.05 billion in 2012. (David Dermer/Getty Images)

Browns owner Jimmy Haslem felt the need to send a letter to season ticket holders on Wednesday explaining why the process to hire a new head coach is taking so long when teams like the Titans and Lions have already made hires.

After Josh McDaniels and Todd Bowles withdrew their names from consideration for the Browns' job, it was beginning to seem like Cleveland kept getting left at the alter by its prized candidates.

But Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is the team's top choice, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, and they've also interviewed Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Since both teams are still playing, the Browns haven't been able to make a hire.

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Here is the letter, as obtained by Rapoport.

Fans,

I thought it was important to take a little bit of time to update you on our head-coach search. We have had the opportunity to speak to a number of outstanding candidates. We have purposefully been very methodical in our approach. We believe it is very important to stay disciplined to this process and to interview all of the candidates on our list. We are strongly committed to finding the right person to coach the Cleveland Browns.

We understood from the beginning that if we wanted to speak to all of the coaches on our list that we may need to wait until they have completed their participation in the playoffs. We are prepared to wait as long as necessary because this is a very important decision. Everyone in our organization is committed to finding the right leader for our team.

We believe the head coach of the Cleveland Browns to be a very attractive position. We have one of the youngest teams in the League, a roster that includes five Pro Bowlers. In addition, we have more salary-cap room than all but one NFL team. We also have three of the top 35 picks in the upcoming draft and five of the top 83 selections.

We are very much looking forward to adding a strong coach to our football team. On behalf of the Cleveland Browns, I cannot thank you enough for your valuable support and passion that you show for our team.

We look forward to communicating with you again after the search process is complete. Thank you again for your phenomenal support and loyalty.

The Browns have made the playoffs only once (2002) since they were reincarnated in 1999. Since Cleveland came back into the league, it's had seven coaches, two winning seasons and 11 years of at last 11 losses.

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