The Cleveland Browns offseason isn’t off to a great start and judging by several Wednesday reports, it sounds like it might get even worse.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group, the Browns and general manager Ray Farmer are facing possible sanctions from the NFL due to a “high-ranking personnel member” texting from the press box to the sidelines about playcalls during a game this past season. Cabot reports that Farmer might be facing a multigame suspension and in addition to that the team might lose a draft pick.
If that weren’t enough, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports filed a blistering report Wednesday in which he passed along word that the Browns organization is very unstable right now due to owner Jimmy Haslam being very meddlesome. His meddling is reportedly what led to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan wanting out earlier this offseason and supposedly several others in the organization are hoping to follow him out of town sooner rather than later.
Even Browns tight end Jordan Cameron, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in about month, can’t wait to leave Cleveland, according to La Canfora. While Cameron did have concussion issues last season, both he and Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas figure to be the top free agent prizes this upcoming offseason at their position. Jordan, who only caught 24 passes for 424 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games last season, did catch 80 balls for 917 yards and seven scores in 2013.
This past week it was reported that Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon will be banned for the 2015 season after testing positive for alcohol and in addition to that, rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel reportedly checked himself into a rehab facility Wednesday for treatment.
While this is the Browns we’re talking about, you really have to feel sorry for players like center Alex Mack and tackle Joe Thomas. Both are exceptional players and under contract through the 2018 season. They’re both likely to be stuck in Cleveland their entire careers.
What a mess!
