CLEVELAND -- Football teams have long prided themselves on creating a family-like culture in the locker room and a bond among the players and coaches, and the Cleveland Browns showed their family side in the premiere episode of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cleveland Browns” Tuesday night.
Prior to the debut episode of the HBO Sports miniseries, Browns coach Hue Jackson said he wanted fans to take away that the team is doing everything possible to win this season, but there was much more than that, as everyone rallied around Jackson when he received news of his mother, Betty Lee Jackson, passing, which came two weeks after he lost his brother.
“Prayin’ for you,” quarterback Tyrod Taylor told Jackson in-between drills during a training-camp practice. “For real, that’s bigger than this.”
During a meeting in Jackson’s office, Browns general manager John Dorsey, vice president of communications Peter Jean-Baptiste and football operations director Simon Gelan shared a group hug. Dorsey, Jean-Baptiste and Gelan followed up the embrace by encouraging Jackson to let out his emotions.
“You can’t keep it bottled up, you’ve got to let it go,” Jean-Baptiste said. “I know you’re strong and all, but we’ve all been through it. We’re all here to support you.”
Dorsey added, “It’s one of those things, as an organization, we’re all here for you. We’re all in this together.”
Additionally, Browns offensive line coach Bob Wylie addressed his position group in a meeting and they agreed to send a floral arrangement and card to Jackson’s mother’s wake.
Then, in another scene, Jackson read a text message to Dorsey that he got from wide receiver Josh Gordon, who has missed the first two weeks of training camp while addressing personal matters.
“Thank you for sticking by me when I needed it most,” Jackson read. “You and your family are in my prayers tonight, and I wish you all love, peace of mind. God bless your household. Sincerest condolences. I will see you soon.”
During a full team meeting, Jackson expressed his appreciation for the support of the organization, and following the address, the players greeted their coach with handshakes, hugs and words of encouragement.
“It was probably one of the toughest days of my life, okay,” Jackson said. “All of you men, to a man, was there. That’s what’s called family, and I appreciate that more than you know.”
Stream Live with fuboTV -Try Free Trial
