Highlights from The Associated Press' interview with Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner:

On Cleveland Browns fans:

``I think that unique to the sports fan is a hell of a lot of resilience if they are communicated with in a kind of reasonable respect. Cleveland fans, as we know, are unquestionably resilient.''

On the ``Cleveland curse'' when it comes to sports:

``It's a terrible concern of mine. But every problem is always an opportunity at some level. I still think that this generation of Browns fans has not gotten to where they feel that we don't want to win. It's the moment when a sports fans thinks that an organization no longer cares that real damage is done.''

On how he views NFL ownership:

``I think ownership has evolved into a communication tool in a very inappropriate way. Communication has got to be consistent with the quality of what it is you are communicating. And quality is derived from skill, experience or practical knowledge. And since I don't have either skills, experience or practical knowledge in playing - never played. Coaching? Never coached. Picking players? Never picked a single one.

``What I do believe is ownership is responsible for finding people who have done it, put them in place, pay them reasonably, give them the latitude and the freedom and the support to go out and try and make a difference and communicate directly when appropriate.''

On how is ownership role is different in England, where he bought the Birmingham-based Aston Villa soccer team:

``There, a commitment would never be in question because why would I have gone out and bought the team? So my point of entry is entirely different. There, you come, you study, you get involved, you buy and you are judged on the progress you make and whether or not you make good on what you've represented to the people who follow the team.''

On learning the British sport vocabulary since owning an English ``football'' team:

``If I call it soccer they would drag me around by my nostrils.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.