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Browns 2016 Off Season Thread

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Pick6 said:
Haven't seen this posted regarding greedy Jimmy Haslam.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/cleveland-browns-owner-jimmy-haslam-donates-10-million-students/10863879
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To the shady business that is charter schools....


Taxpayers would help pay to move Cleveland Browns training camp to Columbus via underhanded plan:
The Cleveland Browns and the Columbus business community want Greater Cleveland taxpayers to help pay $5 million for the Browns to move their training camp to a site on or near the Ohio State University campus.

This outrageous request was quietly added to a list of projects the Columbus Partnership wants funded in the biennial state capital improvements bill, scheduled to be introduced in late March or early April.

I've obtained a copy of that list [see document below], which Columbus leaders worded in an underhanded way designed not to attract attention to the fact they want every taxpayer in Ohio to help pay for the Browns' three-week relocation.

That list, asking that Ohio taxpayers spend $5 million to move the Browns' training camp to Columbus every year for at least the next decade, has been sent to leaders in the House and Senate, and to the office of Gov. John Kasich.

The request from Columbus business leaders says the $5 million is to help pay for an "athletic practice training facility."

It then describes the project this way: "The Athletic Practice and Training Facility will serve as a backdrop for collegiate athletic teams and community youth programs to utilize throughout the year. It will also attract professional athletic teams and franchises to our region."

Translated: We're going to disguise this as a tax request to help kids, but it's really about the Browns.

Some defenders of the deal -- and there are precious few -- argue the practice and training facility would also be used by other groups. But that's not enough lipstick to make this pig the least bit attractive.

The fact is, but for the Browns agreeing to move, the training facility doesn't get built.

Capital improvement projects are funded by Ohio taxpayers. The state issues bonds to pay for construction projects it deems worthy and uses tax dollars to retire the bonds.

The Columbus Partnership, which includes leaders of about 50 of that city's largest corporations, is the lead proponent of using state tax proceeds to move the Browns. But the funds are being sought with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam's knowledge and approval.

Haslam has been negotiating to move the team's training camp to Columbus since nearly 50,000 fans attended an intrasquad scrimmage at Ohio Stadium last summer.

Under terms of the deal between the Browns and Columbus, the team would train there for about three weeks prior to every season, beginning in late July.

There's nothing in his agreement with Berea to prohibit Haslam from moving the training camp 120 miles south. About a half dozen NFL teams already train in other cities.

But neither the Browns nor the Columbus establishment have any right to expect any taxpayer outside of Greater Columbus to pay for any such move.

Not wanting this controversial request to become an issue in the March 15 primary election, Columbus business leaders hoped to keep it secret until at least mid-March.

Now they've been caught.

And if the legislature approves spending $5 million for the Browns' move, two things might happen:

*Cuyahoga County voters could begin an effort to repeal the sin tax they extended in the spring of 2014.

*Any legislator who supports taxing his or her constituents to move the Browns training site would -- and should -- face a political backlash from voters.

That's especially true of the three existing state legislators who hope to be elected in November to represent Berea in either the House or Senate. Those legislators are State Reps. Mike Dovilla and Nan Baker, and State Sen. Tom "Hey Sweetie" Patton.

Patton brags about being one of the select few who makes "big decisions" in Columbus. If that's true, he should be able to kill this idea in no more than six seconds.

Kasich could also put an end to this by telling legislative leaders he would line-item veto any bill that uses Cleveland taxpayer money to move the Browns' training camp.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership, which will provide state officials with its own list of projects for funding, has neither endorsed nor opposed the Columbus proposal.

Traditionally, cities do not use the capital improvements bill as a weapon to hurt another part of the state. The GCP has never done that. Now the Columbus Partnership wants to change the ground rules. And it's disgusting.

Alex Fischer, Columbus Partnership president and a driving force in this deal, passed the buck to Linda Logan, head of the Columbus Sports Commission.

Logan declined to comment on the wisdom of using capital dollars for this project, but said the potential deal with the Browns has been years in the making.

"I think it's a wonderful collaborative effort," she said. "We're exciting about what this could mean for the community."

Browns spokesman Peter John-Baptiste said someone from the team will comment soon, explaining that many front-office officials were en route to the Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, residents of Berea would be right to wonder why they've showered the Browns with $25 million in incentives and outright gifts since 1991.

The Browns pay no rent at the team headquarters, which Berea built for them in 1991.

Taxpayers will also shell out $14 million to $15 million for a major renovation and expansion planned at the headquarters. In return, Berea splits player income taxes with Cleveland and keeps 100 percent of the nonplayer income taxes.

Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem said moving training camp would cost the city about $40,000 a year in tax revenue. That doesn't include the losses restaurants and other businesses would suffer in Berea and surrounding communities.

This deal is public policy at its worst.

In a year when angry voters seem more convinced than ever that the system is rigged to punish hard-working taxpayers, the Browns and Columbus business leaders are doing their part to prove them right.

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/02/cleveland_browns_and_columbus.html
 
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Greasy. Hope someone in a position of influence speaks out. Someone with more clout than a newspaper. This would be one of the only projects on the list that would take from another part of the state.
 
Huber. said:
To the shady business that is charter schools....
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I know a few people who are involved with Breakthrough schools and you should educate yourself on all of the good they do in the area, especially considering the shittiness of CMSD.
 
Pick6 said:
I know a few people who are involved with Breakthrough schools and you should educate yourself on all of the good they do in the area, especially considering the shittiness of CMSD.
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You should! You can't fail! :chuckle:
 
Pick6 said:
I know a few people who are involved with Breakthrough schools and you should educate yourself on all of the good they do in the area, especially considering the shittiness of CMSD.
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The pros and cons of the charter school movement is a rich and nuanced topic that should be kept separate from a Browns Offseason Thread... but as an expert in my field I suggest you check out the number of people with a PhD in the field of education who have had their opinions swayed in the past decade... on both sides of the issue. We can all agree using the education system as a political football for issues outside of education was a tremendous mistake by both Bush and Obama administrations.
 
Benjamin sounds like he’s staying with the Browns

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/02/04/benjamin-sounds-like-hes-staying-with-the-browns/

Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin is coming off a career year and is eligible for free agency. He stopped by PFT Live this week and sounded like a guy who’s not going anywhere.

“Hopefully, I can lock up before March,” Benjamin said.

He said he’s spoken to new Browns coach Hue Jackson and that Jackson told Benjamin “he loves my skill set, loves my speed. Hopefully it will be a great 2016 season for us.”

Benjamin had a breakout year in 2015. His 68 catches, 966 receiving yards and five touchdown catches were all career bests. He’d always been a punt return threat but hadn’t been a full-time wide receiver before last season.

He’ll get paid accordingly.

“Football is my life, my pride and joy,” Benjamin said. “I leave it up to my agent to figure out where I’m going. Once I’m in the building it’s all about getting better and going forward.”

Benjamin got off to a hot start last season by clicking with quarterback Johnny Manziel. The Browns are all but certain to release Manziel next month.

“I just wish Johnny the best,” Benjamin said. “May God bless him in whatever he does.”


-----------------

About the Berea/Cbus news:


 
Pick6 said:
I know a few people who are involved with Breakthrough schools and you should educate yourself on all of the good they do in the area, especially considering the shittiness of CMSD.
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Breakthrough is one of the better charter systems that exists in the NE Ohio area. That said, they are far from perfect, and are guilty of their own issues like most charter schools are. I went to school with multiple people who now work there, and turned down a position there myself before I moved down here to Houston.

The Ohio charter schools, as a whole, have been a massive failure, however. That's a nationwide realization being had, and Ohio felt it as bad as anyone in general.

What Keys said is spot on, and I'm sure he knows about the issue nationally exponentially more than I do, but Breakthrough, with the good that does happen, is still far from perfect.
 
How many concussions has Benjamin had? For some reason I feel it's quite a few.
 
Cassity14 said:
Breakthrough is one of the better charter systems that exists in the NE Ohio area. That said, they are far from perfect, and are guilty of their own issues like most charter schools are. I went to school with multiple people who now work there, and turned down a position there myself before I moved down here to Houston.

The Ohio charter schools, as a whole, have been a massive failure, however. That's a nationwide realization being had, and Ohio felt it as bad as anyone in general.

What Keys said is spot on, and I'm sure he knows about the issue nationally exponentially more than I do, but Breakthrough, with the good that does happen, is still far from perfect.
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Those who can teach, teach.

Those who can't teach become a charter school lobbyist in Washington DC, vastly overstep the role of Chancellor and get charged with federal fraud and consealment charges afterward, and eventually languish in political obscurity as Kevin Johnson's fake wife in Sacramento, hiding from all the damage she has done to American children for corporate profits.

But like I said, it's a Browns thread...
 
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http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2016/...unts-of-drug-possession/#.VruTn4n7m9A.twitter
Browns LB Armonty Bryant Indicted On 2 Felony Counts Of Drug Possession
February 10, 2016 2:46 PM By Daryl Ruiter | 92.3 The Fan
Filed Under: Armonty Bryant, Cleveland Browns

gettyimages-491692002-e1455133488746.jpg

Armonty Bryant #95 of the Cleveland Browns / (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) – Browns defensive end/lineacker Armonty Bryant was indicted on 2 counts of felony drug possession Wednesday.

A grand jury handed down the indictment of Bryant as well as former practice squad player De’Ante Saunders as a result of a traffic stop and arrest early on Christmas morning.

The 2 are scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 24 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

According to court documents Bryant, a seventh round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, was in possession of Oxycodone and Adderall which exceeded the legal limits and Saunders was found to be in possession of a loaded semi-automatic glock .40 caliber handgun. Saunders was indicted for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle – also a felony.

Read the indictment here.

Following the arrests, Bryant was inactive for the final 2 games of the season and Saunders was released by the Browns from the practice squad.

A patrolman from the Medina branch of the Ohio State Highway Patrol pulled Saunders over at 2:16 a.m. for driving 75 mph in a 60 mph zone southbound on Interstate 71 near the suburb of Brook Park. Bryant was a passenger in the vehicle according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

A search of the vehicle revealed the gun and drugs.

Bryant received probation until Oct. 2017 after he pleaded no contest in October 2012 following an arrest for selling marijuana at East Central University. He also received a one-year deferred sentence after he pleaded no contest to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol in May 2013 – a week after the Browns drafted him.

Bryant, who had 40 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in 14 games last season, could also face discipline from the NFL under the league’s drug policies.
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