BEREA, Ohio _ Let's hope Santa brought Hue Jackson a wetsuit because the coach of the Browns guaranteed Wednesday he'll jump into Lake Erie at some point after this season.
Coming off a 1-15 season, Jackson vowed Jan. 2 to take a dip if the Browns finished with just one win again this year. Now only a miracle will prevent the Browns (0-15) from losing Sunday's season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) at Heinz Field and becoming just the second team in NFL history to go 0-16.
Well aware of how his words have come back to haunt him, Jackson entered the media room at Browns headquarters with this icebreaker: "So how many people are jumping in the lake with me? Obviously, I've got to get wet. I get it. I can pick a day and get everyone out there. We'll all be in swimsuits and trunks and snorkels."
So is Jackson seriously going to take the plunge?
"Heck yeah. I got to," he said. "How? You just jump in. When? That's going to be at my convenience, and hopefully I can get a lot of people to come out. It'd be something that we're going to make special. I don't like it, don't like to do it for the reason why I'm having to do it, but I have to make good on my word. I just think that's what you do. I do get that. I made a statement. I've got to back it up. That's the type of person I am, so that's what we have to do."
Jackson said he'll use the event to raise money for his foundation. The coach established the Hue Jackson foundation earlier this year to assist with the fight against human trafficking.
As for what technique Jackson will employ when he jumps into the lake, he said, "Fall in, get wet, get out and dry off."
"I never said I could swim," Jackson added. "It'll be some people down there to rescue me pretty quickly. We'll make it fun. It's for the right reason. I don't take light to things that I say that I put out there and I like to back them up. Haven't been able to."
To review, here is what Jackson had previously said about going for a swim:
_ "We're not going 1-15. No, or I'll be swimming in the lake over here somewhere. That's not happening. We're not going 1-15 next year. OK? You can write it if you like. Hue Jackson said it." _ Jan. 2 at Browns headquarters.
_ "I didn't say (I would jump into the lake if we have) struggles. I said 1-15. I would jump in the lake and start swimming, and you'll never have a problem with me again because that's not happening. ... I feel better about the process and where we are and I anticipate I will not be jumping, I will not be putting on swimming trunks, I will not be getting in that water. It's not happening." _ March 28 at the NFL owners meetings.
