Football Browns face possible suspension, fine and loss of draft pick - Page 3

**The Franchise** · 02-04-2015, 11:44 AM

Cleveland Browns and GM Ray Farmer facing possible suspension, fine, loss of draft pick for 'Textgate'

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...medium=twitter

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns and general manager Ray Farmer are facing possible sanctions from the NFL for "Textgate," including a multigame suspension for Farmer, and a fine and loss of draft pick for the Browns, league sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

The investigation -- one of three "integrity of the game" probes currently underway in the NFL -- is expected to be wrapped up soon, as early this week or next week.

NEOMG reported on Jan. 6 that a Browns "high-ranking personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about playcalls'' during a game, which was one of the reasons former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, now with the Falcons, felt that working for the Browns had become dysfunctional for him.

Multiple league sources have told NEOMG that Farmer was the high-ranking personnel member who violated the NFL's electronic use policy by the impermissible texting. Those messages were then apparently relayed to the coaches.

The NFL investigated the improper texts, and are prepared to announce sanctions within the next couple of weeks. A resolution could come as early as this week, but probably no later than three weeks.

Farmer is facing a multigame suspension -- as many as three or four games -- and the Browns are facing the loss of a draft pick if the probe, conducted by in-house NFL executives, shows that Farmer acted improperly.

Farmer, asked by NEOMG at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 21 if he texted from the press level during a game, said "I can't comment on that. The league is investigating.''

A Browns spokesman reiterated Wednesday that the club has done everything the league has asked and is awaiting results of the probe.

The Browns have never denied that such texts occurred, and coach Mike Pettine revealed during a press conference on Jan. 22 that investigators had already come to Cleveland to question members of the organization.

At the Greater Cleveland Sports Award ceremony later that night, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stressed that the club was cooperating fully.

"I know that Ray and Pett and Sashi Brown, our general counselor, are cooperating fully with the NFL, and if we did anything wrong I'm sure we'll correct it and make whatever amends,'' he said. "I know we've cooperated fully with the NFL."

"Textgate'' was the first of three scandals that have erupted over the past month that impact the integrity of the game, and the NFL is taking all three very seriously.

The second was "Deflategate,'' the controversy over the Patriots deflating footballs during their AFC Championship Game victory over the Colts. And the third was the Falcons pumping artificial crowd noise into the Georgia Dome over the past two seasons, which owner Arthur Blank admitted to on Tuesday.

The NFL is likely to wrap up all three investigations within the next three weeks.

"It's not really a fine line," Blank told The Associated Press. "I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we're opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It's obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn't represent our culture and what we're about."

Blank told the AP that he knew enough about the investigation to own up to the allegations.

"We've gotten some information from the league but until we read the full report and until they publish their findings, we can't be totally clear. We've talked to a lot of people and we've cooperated and we'll be anxious to read the report."

During his Super Bowl press conference last week, Commissioner Roger Goodell stressed the importance of protecting the game's integrity.

"This is my job," Goodell said in response to a question about Deflate-gate. "This is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. I represent 32 teams. All of us want to make sure that the rules are being followed. And if we have any information where the potential is that those rules were violated, I have to pursue that. And I have to pursue that aggressively.

"So this is my job. This is the job of the league office. It is what all 32 clubs expect and I believe our partners and fans expect. We will do it vigorously and it is important for it to be thorough and fair."

The Browns' Textgate investigation comes at a difficult time for the club. Their first-round quarterback, Johnny Manziel, checked himself into a rehab facility last Wednesday for a possible dependence on alcohol; and their All-Pro receiver, Josh Gordon, was suspended for a minimum of a year.

ClevelandBronco · 02-04-2015, 01:12 PM

Too bad Manziel and Gordon can't be the draft picks they lose.

Garcia Bronco · 02-04-2015, 01:25 PM

lol...we'll see what these sanctions

Jimmya · 02-04-2015, 01:30 PM

NFL=Sanction city!

Hootie · 02-04-2015, 01:39 PM

think they should give them a pass

they're the Browns, that's why

Hootie · 02-04-2015, 01:39 PM

I mean, they had two 1st round picks last year and both of them look to be colossal busts ... they hit the jackpot on Josh Gordon and he dipshitted his way out of the NFL ... I think they've suffered enough. In fact, give them 1 year of being the only team able to use their cell phones during the games. I think that's fair. Let's reward them instead.

**Bowser** · 02-04-2015, 01:41 PM

The Browns are a clogged toilet thrown into the middle of a dumpster fire.

**Bowser** · 02-04-2015, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

When you think it can't get any worse for the Browns... Then this happens pic.twitter.com/GhiDT8eqGI
— Cleveland Talk (@_clevelandtalk) February 4, 2015

FREE JORDAN CAMERON

CapsLockKey · 02-04-2015, 01:46 PM

NFL may do them a favor by taking a first round pick to save them from paying for another 1st round bust.

Iconic · 02-04-2015, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapsLockKey

NFL may do them a favor by taking a first round pick to save them from paying for another 1st round bust.

SHOTS FIRED

Amnorix · 02-04-2015, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

Good Christ! This is even more trivial than deflated footballs.

This. I really can't fathom why there is a rule prohibiting a GM, who I assume could stand on the sideline and say whatever, from sitting in a booth and texting whatever.

Just Passin' By · 02-04-2015, 02:05 PM

Another serious investigation, and threats of serious punishments, over a completely non-serious issue. Atta boy Rodger.

You asshole

**DaFace** · 02-04-2015, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

I'm not outraged because I don't understand why this is even a big deal.

Unless I'm missing something, I don't either. It would be OK to walk over to a guy in the booth with a headset and tell him something as far as I know. Or he could have gone down on the field itself to tell the coaches directly. But since it was done using a text, that's a big deal?

Amnorix · 02-04-2015, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Unless I'm missing something, I don't either. It would be OK to walk over to a guy in the booth with a headset and tell him something as far as I know. Or he could have gone down on the field itself to tell the coaches directly. But since it was done using a text, that's a big deal?

Apparently so. Not that this is unprecedented. That's basically what Spygate was too. It's not DOING X, it's HOW you do X.

Tombstone RJ · 02-04-2015, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

yea, but was he texting in plays he wanted to run or was he texting in plays he thought the other team was going to run?

well, let's think about this for a second... Kyle Shanahan quit because of it. So, by your awesome powers of deduction, can you guess what happened?

**Rain Man** · 02-04-2015, 02:22 PM

I agree with everyone else. Why is this a big deal at all? This tempest is a total mystery to me.

02-04-2015, 11:44 AM
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2735047	Browns face possible suspension, fine and loss of draft pick Cleveland Browns and GM Ray Farmer facing possible suspension, fine, loss of draft pick for 'Textgate' http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...medium=twitter CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns and general manager Ray Farmer are facing possible sanctions from the NFL for "Textgate," including a multigame suspension for Farmer, and a fine and loss of draft pick for the Browns, league sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group. The investigation -- one of three "integrity of the game" probes currently underway in the NFL -- is expected to be wrapped up soon, as early this week or next week. NEOMG reported on Jan. 6 that a Browns "high-ranking personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about playcalls'' during a game, which was one of the reasons former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, now with the Falcons, felt that working for the Browns had become dysfunctional for him. Multiple league sources have told NEOMG that Farmer was the high-ranking personnel member who violated the NFL's electronic use policy by the impermissible texting. Those messages were then apparently relayed to the coaches. The NFL investigated the improper texts, and are prepared to announce sanctions within the next couple of weeks. A resolution could come as early as this week, but probably no later than three weeks. Farmer is facing a multigame suspension -- as many as three or four games -- and the Browns are facing the loss of a draft pick if the probe, conducted by in-house NFL executives, shows that Farmer acted improperly. Farmer, asked by NEOMG at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 21 if he texted from the press level during a game, said "I can't comment on that. The league is investigating.'' A Browns spokesman reiterated Wednesday that the club has done everything the league has asked and is awaiting results of the probe. The Browns have never denied that such texts occurred, and coach Mike Pettine revealed during a press conference on Jan. 22 that investigators had already come to Cleveland to question members of the organization. At the Greater Cleveland Sports Award ceremony later that night, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stressed that the club was cooperating fully. "I know that Ray and Pett and Sashi Brown, our general counselor, are cooperating fully with the NFL, and if we did anything wrong I'm sure we'll correct it and make whatever amends,'' he said. "I know we've cooperated fully with the NFL." "Textgate'' was the first of three scandals that have erupted over the past month that impact the integrity of the game, and the NFL is taking all three very seriously. The second was "Deflategate,'' the controversy over the Patriots deflating footballs during their AFC Championship Game victory over the Colts. And the third was the Falcons pumping artificial crowd noise into the Georgia Dome over the past two seasons, which owner Arthur Blank admitted to on Tuesday. The NFL is likely to wrap up all three investigations within the next three weeks. "It's not really a fine line," Blank told The Associated Press. "I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we're opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It's obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn't represent our culture and what we're about." Blank told the AP that he knew enough about the investigation to own up to the allegations. "We've gotten some information from the league but until we read the full report and until they publish their findings, we can't be totally clear. We've talked to a lot of people and we've cooperated and we'll be anxious to read the report." During his Super Bowl press conference last week, Commissioner Roger Goodell stressed the importance of protecting the game's integrity. "This is my job," Goodell said in response to a question about Deflate-gate. "This is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. I represent 32 teams. All of us want to make sure that the rules are being followed. And if we have any information where the potential is that those rules were violated, I have to pursue that. And I have to pursue that aggressively. "So this is my job. This is the job of the league office. It is what all 32 clubs expect and I believe our partners and fans expect. We will do it vigorously and it is important for it to be thorough and fair." The Browns' Textgate investigation comes at a difficult time for the club. Their first-round quarterback, Johnny Manziel, checked himself into a rehab facility last Wednesday for a possible dependence on alcohol; and their All-Pro receiver, Josh Gordon, was suspended for a minimum of a year.
Posts: 92,303

02-04-2015, 01:12 PM	#31
ClevelandBronco I'm with the banned. Join Date: Sep 2006 Casino cash: $5658955	Too bad Manziel and Gordon can't be the draft picks they lose. __________________ "Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth ..." – Pope Saint John Paul II
Posts: 28,113

02-04-2015, 01:25 PM	#32
Garcia Bronco No Keys, No Problem Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Denver Casino cash: $4983136	lol...we'll see what these sanctions
Posts: 30,978

02-04-2015, 01:30 PM	#33
Jimmya Veteran Join Date: Dec 2012 Casino cash: $10024530	NFL=Sanction city!
Posts: 2,743

02-04-2015, 01:39 PM	#34
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	think they should give them a pass they're the Browns, that's why
Posts: 56,356

02-04-2015, 01:41 PM	#36
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3111616	The Browns are a clogged toilet thrown into the middle of a dumpster fire.
Posts: 101,180

02-04-2015, 01:46 PM	#38
CapsLockKey Starter Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $1601445	NFL may do them a favor by taking a first round pick to save them from paying for another 1st round bust.
Posts: 890

02-04-2015, 02:05 PM	#41
Just Passin' By In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $5460524	Another serious investigation, and threats of serious punishments, over a completely non-serious issue. Atta boy Rodger. You asshole
Posts: 69,748

02-04-2015, 02:22 PM	#45
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $2948491 VARSITY	I agree with everyone else. Why is this a big deal at all? This tempest is a total mystery to me. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,713