DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns apparently violated electronic devices rule

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...partner=ya5nbcs

rowns apparently violated electronic devices rule
Posted by Mike Florio on January 9, 2015, 5:28 AM EST
Phone

Prior to the latest NFL non-mutual “mutual parting,” this one involving the Browns and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, a report emerged that Shanahan’s concerns about the team included a claim that a “high-ranking personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about play calls.”

PFT has been unable to determine the identity of the “high-ranking personnel member” (and/or whether that person was in any way influenced by a homeless man), but PFT has confirmed that it happened. Which creates a separate issue for the Browns, because those types of electronic communications are prohibited during games.

“Unless specifically permitted by League rules, the use of cellular phones, smart phones, tablet devices, computers, wearable electronic devices such as Google Glass, and other electronic equipment by coaches, players, and other club personnel is prohibited in club-controlled areas including, but not limited to, sidelines and coaches’ booths,” the league’s electronic devices rule states. “These restrictions apply from ninety (90) minutes prior to kickoff through the end of the game, including halftime. Coaches, players, and other team personnel are permitted to use such electronic devices in the locker room prior to kickoff and are permitted to use League-issued Microsoft Surface tablets throughout game day for viewing coaches’ still photos.”

So the sending and receiving of text messages to the sidelines regarding play calls or anything else during a game violates that rule. In 2006, former Falcons coach Jim Mora was fined $25,000 for using a cell phone during a game.

“Expensive phone call,” Mora said at the time. “Consider that a lesson learned.”

The Falcons and the Buccaneers had been tied late in overtime on December 24, 2005, and Mora made the call to determine how a tie would affect the Falcons’ playoff hopes.

So if that type of communication is prohibited, sending and receiving text messages on the sidelines also is prohibited. The question now becomes how extensively members of the Browns organization not on the sidelines have been communicating electronically with members of the coaching staff, and whether the league will investigate and dole out fines accordingly.

What a clown show.

Electronic device rule? New to me...

Who is ready to get Randy back?

And the beat gos on !

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6TXMsvgQg[/youtube]

I don't know but tho me this sounds like an invitation for cheating.

Do you want us to believe no team in the NFL uses a computer during the game?

Imagine the advantage you have with the use of a computer and a play database...U just need someone with a small computer and some kind of access to the OC and DC and the OC and DC will have a major advantage over everyone else.

This are the cases where the playfield should be leveled and eletronics should be allowed, except for players.

2 steps forward and 3 steps back.

Well, guess if Haslam runs this business like his other, there is no harm in cheating from the box. This team is cursed. I now believe it. Waaaaaay too much money floating around and very, very little dignity and integrity in the NFL.

I haven't seen anything to portray or indicate Shanahan as the recipient. I would imagine and one could easily infer that whatever criticism or commentary that came from 'upstairs' was directed towards Shanahan. But I can't see coming to the conclusion of laying the blame on Shanahan as far as this specific scenario is concerned, unless one was inclined by predisposition.

I suspect in the end, however, no one will come out of this looking good.

EO, I do appreciate your endless optimism regarding the Browns...no matter what happens. Got any spare optimism to to share?

I haven't seen any evidence suggesting Shanahan personally received a message on his phone.

Though not out of the realm of possibility, it would appear extremely unlikely.

IMHO, at least two views can be made of this hole affair.

The first one is rather armless and it would be someone on accasion texting the siddelines. I can imagine several situations that could fit, for example owner being P**** with a decision and someone transmitting that to the sideline. Not to much arm in that IMHO

The second one can arm the organization and that would be the use of eletronic equipments in the game for our advantage. Its not hard to see the advantages the OC and the DC could take on the use of computers to design gameplans make adjustments and call plays. Being caught could explain the lack of success on the second part of the season....

J/C

Im confused. So the old fashion cord phones everyone is always on is ok, and the radios are ok (some coordinators sit up in the box I think), but a cell phone is too far?

IMO
Nobody on the sideline should have a cellphone. Reporters, camera men, players, refs etc should all have to leave them in the locker room or wherever they are before the game.

Just clicking.

Maybe I missed this, but has anyone come out and said the recipient actually read the text during the game? I have read that a text was sent during the game, but not necessarily that someone was actually monitoring their phone during the game. Maybe they saw it for the first time afterwards?

When I am in a meeting I usually do not take my phone with me. If I receive a text during that time it just sits there waiting for me to come back and look at it. I can tell when it was sent.

I'm puzzled more on why would anyone want to retain Kyle... and the need for him to use this arguments.

If I owned a NFL team I would be wired to the QB and HC... c'mon its my team, I own it...

Loggains was the Titans OC before being hired here.

They're all walking around with iPads that communicate with one another, is this really any different than a player or coach picking up the sidelines phones they've used for years?

j/c

It appears as though the NFL has decided to investigate the Browns matter of texting.


Article:

Texts to sideline raise questions
Updated: January 9, 2015, 12:38 PM ET
By Pat McManamon | ESPN.com
764394COMMENTS158EMAILPRINT

The NFL is investigating whether text messages were sent to the Cleveland Browns' sideline during games, league spokesman Michael Signora told ESPN.com Friday.

Texting would be a violation of the NFL's rules prohibiting electronic communication during games.

Signora did not elaborate except to say the league is looking into the matter.

According to a report, texts to the Browns' sideline contributed to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's decision to leave the team.
Though it's not clear who sent the messages and who received them, a team source said the messages were subject of discussion among some players and coaches late in the season.

Cleveland.com originally reported the text messages were sent and said it was one issue in former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan leaving the team. He perceived it as interference from the front office regarding coaching decisions.

Though no texts have become public, the messages regarded personnel decisions and play calls, the source said.

The league's electronic devices rule states:

"Unless specifically permitted by league rules, the use of cellular phones, smartphones, tablet devices, computers, wearable electronic devices such as Google Glass, and other electronic equipment by coaches, players and other club personnel is prohibited in club-controlled areas including, but not limited to, sidelines and coaches' booths.

"These restrictions apply from ninety (90) minutes prior to kickoff through the end of the game, including halftime. Coaches, players, and other team personnel are permitted to use such electronic devices in the locker room prior to kickoff and are permitted to use league-issued Microsoft Surface tablets throughout game day for viewing coaches' still photos."

Article

Wonder how long before the NFL forces ol' Jimmy Boy to sell the franchise. So far he has successfully taken a train wreck and turned it into a Three Stooges skit.

You would think the league's patience would be growing tired of these Shannahanigans, no?

If you're an optimist, you'd just call that a Cha-Cha.









I'm not an optimist.

The NFL will investigate.

If they find anything, which wouldn't be that hard if it happened..

The Browns will be fined. And it'll be done.

The NFL couldn't get to the bottom of the Ray Rice incident. And there was video evidence of that.

Without an admission of guilt or witness testimony, I would imagine it would be hard to prove. They can't subpoena phone records.

NFL is investigating report that a Cleveland Browns personnel member texted to sidelines during game

January 09, 2015 at 6:48 PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NFL is investigating a report by cleveland.com that a high-ranking Browns personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about play calls during a game.

The report, according to a league source, stated the text or texts were one of several reasons that offensive Kyle Shanahan and other coaches felt friction with some in the personnel department. The discord for Shanahan reached the point where he asked out of the remaining two years on his contract, and had his request granted Thursday by owner Jimmy Haslam.

"I'm confirming the league is looking into the matter,'' said Vice President of Football Communications Michael Signora. He declined to elaborate, citing only the league rule that governs the use of electronic devices during games from the NFL Game Operations Manual.

A Browns spokesman issued the following statement: "We are reviewing internally and will fully cooperate with the NFL on this matter.''

ESPN's Pat McManamon first reported that the league was investigating the texts.

The rule prohibits "the use of any electronic communication devices, including but not limited to a cell phone, smart phone, tablet device, or any type of computer, whether online or stand-alone, including laptop and hand-held computers, in the coaches' booths, on the sidelines, in the locker room (after kickoff), or in any other club-controlled area on game day beginning ninety (90) minutes prior to kickoff and continuing through the end of the game, including halftime (with the exception of League-issued tablets used for coaches' still photos).

"Team doctors and members of the athletic training staff are permitted to use tablet devices, cell phones, smart phones, or similar devices within the bench area and locker room to communicate player injury information, but may not communicate competitive or strategic information.

"Club football operations staff members are permitted to use cell phones outside the coaches' booths, bench areas, and locker rooms only when handling non-competitive and/or non-strategic communication.''

Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio confirmed Friday morning the initial report that the text message or messages occurred, and first pointed out that the Browns could be in violation of league rules. He cited an incident in 2006, when former Falcons coach Jim Mora was fined $25,000 for using a cell phone during a game.

The Falcons and Buccaneers were tied in overtime during a game in December of 2005, had been tied late in overtime on December 24, 2005, and Mora was trying to determine how a tie would impact Atlanta's playoff chances.

"Expensive phone call," Mora said. "Consider that a lesson learned."
link

j/c

I think there are two relevant issues here. I do not think that blaming Shanny or the QB coach for being a "big mouth" or a "leak" should even be an issue. That just sounds like you are covering up for the FO.

My two concerns are:

--The FO interfering w/the coaching during game days. They appear to be so controlling that their best coach wanted out. Last year, many of you were freaking out because the FO suggested that the coaching staff hold players accountable. This year, someone from the FO is texting plays and advice [and it wasn't just once] plays to the sidelines and you are not concerned?

--This is yet another public issue that makes the Browns look bad. I see NFL news scrolling across the bottom of the screen. There is playoff information. There is a news that New England extended the contract of two players. Then, there is word that the NFL is investigating the Browns....

I have to say that I couldn't stand Junior and I was so excited when Haslam bought the team. I really backed him and his early decisions, but man, he is proving to be an embarrassment and his poor character traits are not blips on the radar, but instead, a fairly consistent pattern.

Not replying specifically to you, but is anybody really surprised that this kind of stuff happens - front office personnel or owners sending messages from above during a game regarding play calls and personnel moves? Think about some of the coaching legends who moved into owner ranks - George Halas, Paul Brown, Al Davis - there must be others. Think about the egos and the money involved; does anyone really think this kind of communication - a note, a text, a phone call - doesn't happen fairly regularly? Some of these owners can be real jackwagons too - the Irsays, Jerry Jones, Art Modell, and many more. I don't believe for a minute that they would pay any attention to the likes of Rozelle, Tagliabue, or Goodell when it comes to running their team as they wish.

Yeah, we like this current regime so Haslam has morphed from one of "The Three Stooges" into a combination of Paul Brown and George Halas.

I don't think he's Paul Brown or George Halas, but the guy spent a Billion dollars to buy a team, and I don't think he'd be particularly concerned about the rules from the owners' hand-picked puppet, Goodell.

I'm not really concerned that he broke an NFL rule. I am concerned that he would interfere on what plays are being called and who plays.

Thats the thing, i would love to know what was being texted down to the sideline and in this case the nfl will probably release that information after they conduct their investigation

I guess what I'm saying is that kind of thing is probably fairly common, given the ego and sense of entitlement any given NFL owner probably has.

"OMG! Check out the babe in the front row!"

Exactly - and if the FO felt like they had to micromanage a game, then we will end up just like the Raiders under Davis - puppets on the sidelines and the "yes" men.

I guess this was the first vote of public 'no confidence' to Shany and crew. Everyone had all week to discuss player options so to me, it would seem like a week of pushing JM to start was vetoed by the coaches and then the TXT was more of a "told ya so" by a p*issed off F/O ...granted all speculation on my part