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Let's hope.

Sweet.

Guess the NFL did take into account the circumstances after all. :Thumbsup:

Cleveland Browns notified of NFL ruling
Posted 1 minute ago

Clevelandbrowns.com
@Browns Facebook
Statements from NFL, Jimmy Haslam and Ray Farmer


Statement by NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent:
The use of a cell phone on multiple occasions during games in 2014 by Cleveland Browns General Manager Ray Farmer was a violation of NFL rules that prohibit certain uses of electronic devices during games. Based on these violations, the Browns have been fined $250,000 and Ray Farmer will be suspended without pay for the first four regular-season games of the 2015 season. The suspension will start on midnight of the Sunday preceding the Browns' first regular-season game and will end immediately after the Browns' fourth regular-season game. During the period of the suspension, Farmer cannot be involved in any club matters and is prohibited from being at the Browns' offices, practice facility, or at Browns games.
There was no evidence in the NFL's review that Browns ownership or any other team executives had knowledge of the prohibited conduct. Once the violation was discovered, Browns management implemented new processes to ensure future compliance.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation the Browns organization extended during our inquiry.
Statement by Cleveland Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam:
We accept the league's ruling. Ray made a mistake and takes full responsibility for his role in violating the policy. It is critical that we make better decisions. Ray has tremendous integrity and I know has great remorse for what occurred. We are all committed to learning from this and making the Browns a stronger and better organization.
Statement by Cleveland Browns General Manager Ray Farmer:
I respect the league's decision and understand that there are consequences for my actions. Accountability is integral to what we are trying to build and as a leader I need to set the right example. I made a mistake and apologize to Jimmy Haslam, Mike Pettine, our entire organization and our fans for the ramifications. Learning is a big part of who I am and I will certainly be better from this situation.

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/arti...ad-5e52cf9da8f4

Statement by Cleveland Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam:


Sounds like Halsam is admitting he "played a role" in this as well without actually doing so... which he didn't have to do. Maybe neither of them even realized they were breaking the rules when they did it. Wouldn't be surprised if Farmer doesn't make those four game chacks back in a bonus or in a contract extension.

Awesome so no draft pick taken as part of the punishment! Thank God, honestly what is $250,000 to Jimmy...

I don't see that at all.. particularly with the NFL noting that there was no proof that ownership was involved.

Seems Halasm is using "we" as more of a we are all part of the same team and share success and failure equally.

Still I would like to know what those texts said..

Walking around money.. plus he recoups some he doesn't have to pay Farmer,,, 25% of his salary.

About $2.50 to rest of us.

Actually happy about this.

Ray Farmer is clearly in over his head and isn't qualified for his job.

Less of him, the better. Kind of wish they'd barred him from the draft.

+1

I doubt we will ever know the contents of the text messages though.

Clevelandbrowns.com is making it official 250K fine and Farmer suspended first 4 games

The Browns penalty was losing Shanahan. This is just a slap on the wrist.
Surprised they didn't take a draft pick. Browns were lucky. Falcons lost a low 2016 pick. What does losing Farmer for the first four games lose us? Other than him second guessing the coaching staff? Nothing. He could be gone the entire season and it wouldn't change anything. Hell, if he's doing his job correctly it should actually HELP him. He can attend four college games and watch a lot more on film.

the roster will be in place by him for the season...then he gets a vacation. we also wouldn`t make a crazy big trade in those 4 weeks either.

not a big deal

I don't think it's determined one way or the other just yet. But last years draft wasn't very good. Two first round picks that play no significant role, and end being head cases? Third round pick plays well, but misses a couple games due to attitude problems? And the 2nd round guard that played exxcellent may or may not play well in our new scheme, which we're running because Farmer cost us a quality OC due to his interference? I wouldn't be roliing my eyes too much there EO. Farmer has a LOT to make up for THIS draft. Two MORE first round picks..... will either of them actually play this year? Will they end up in rehab or suspended? And will our rookie OC who's never called plays and who runs the OAKLAND offense be able to do the job effectively? That offense sure didn't wow the league in Oakland. Those are some HUGE questions laid at the door of Farmer. He's got me seriously worried. Reminds me a lot of Phil Savage. Everyone loved Savage. Thought he was the next Ozzy. Right up until the wheels came flying off. Farmer needs a huge draft this year. He needs to hit homeruns with the first four picks. Guys that make a DIFFERENCE. Not benchwarming head cases. And finding an actual quarterback that can lead this team would be HUGE. Finding an elite pass rusher would be almost as huge. I'll believe it when I see it. Yes, the verdict is still out on Farmer. And this draft will tell the tale.

Falcons fined $350,000, lose 5th round pick in 2016 and McKay suspended from competition committee. Not exactly "severe".

http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2015/03/30/falcons-fined-350000-lose-5th-round-pick-in-2016/

More severe than our punishment. I'd happily trade our GM being suspended four games during the season for a 5th round pick.

I respectfully disagree, this crybaby was so predictable at play calling my 10 year old grandson was calling 75% of his third down calls before they were run. A Shanahan has loyalty only to a Shanahan and the baby Shanahan was taught well by the old man on how to stab a franchise in the back while covering your own ass. Good riddance. 10 draft picks will fill some holes and build some depth.

I agree, but when Schefter first tweeted about this, there was a lot of talk - not just here - that we might be talking about high draft picks being lost. I'm relieved.

Far from severe...

Really, I guess I missed that. Can you point me to the artical(s) that verifiy that?

Everyone loved Savage because he came in preaching about building through the draft..

Then he went and blew his load all over FA... And it didn't work..

Well we know it was a pattern over several games and not a single game or incident.

Nah, this had nothing to do with Shanahan leaving and somehow it's all Shanahans fault, right?

Fixed it for ya

Is it really clear? After one year? So we are judging whether he is qualified or not after one year?

Well he didn't take the players some posters wanted, and we didn't win a Super Bowl in his first year, so obviously he sucks and should be replaced.

I'd hate to see what these guys think of Ryan Grigson.

Yikes.

No, negotiating whether the repeated bad-mouthing Hoyer texts that were used in the non-competitive advantage defense have to be made public or not... Jimmy got his arms around it so Farmer can be now penalized, as was.

Great... so we still have to waste the draft pick on our own?

Oh, well.... it shouldn't be all that tough to do.

I'm just glad we didn't have Farmer suspended for the first 4 rounds of the draft.

Who cares about the first 4 games.

Point of information please: how does one suspend a GM for 4 games??

Is he just suspended from texting four games??

He's not allowed in the stadium during the games??

He has to watch PBS while the games are on?? What??

The punishment for the Falcons is a joke.

While a $350K fine is significant, it is nothing for a billion dollar business. The Falcons cheat, every home game, for 2 years, and they lose a 5th round pick for those 2 years worth of cheating? That is nothing. It is a slap on the wrist. They got off really easy.

I would guess that the Browns will be bale to pt together a contingency plan for Farmer's absence. The start of the year is a difficult time for a team to be missing its GM, but I think we'll get through.

Truthfully, I'd have never expected the punishment we got, I was banking on it being extremely more "severe". To me, and not to make it like I'm complaining, but the punishment is very trivial. That money/fine is chump change for Jimmy and I also don't see Farmer being suspended for those games as anything to being a big blow or hurtful.

"The start of the year"

He's not missing any of the offseason.

He has to be away from the team for the first 4 weeks of the season, and barring any crazy trade offers, or injuries that require us to sign people..

What is he missing?