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Ray Farmer Suspended 4 Games for Text-Gate
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spydy13
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I'd be shocked that a O Coordinator who sees himself as a HC in waiting would be so petty to do that.
It could also mean that Johnny is just an awful NFL QB and that's why he played awful..gif "Conf (11) :conf (11):")
As I said, I don't take Johnny off the hook.
I guess my hatred of Shanahan for tipping off the press on the texting even after we let him out of his contract colors my judgement.
I could still see some level of him trying to show up Farmer by agreeing that he should play and letting him and all the other people clamoring for Johnny to see just how unprepared Johnny was.
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http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/03/lessons_of_text-gate_stay_in_y.html
Good take from Tom Reed:
BEREA, Ohio - The Browns' offseason has been so miserable that word of Ray Farmer's four-game suspension for sending illegal in-game texts was greeted with joy and relief among fans.
Losing your general manager for a month never qualifies as good news, but Farmer's transgressions did not cost the club draft picks as many feared. The final tally -- the NFL fined the club $250,000 and banned Farmer for the first four games without pay next season.
Although vice president of football operations Troy Vincent offered no specifics in his statement, it's safe to assume the league believed Farmer's texts didn't rise to the level of a competitive advantage. The NFL took a dimmer view of the Falcons artificially manufacturing crowd noise at the Georgia Dome, fining them $350,000, docking them a 2016 fifth-round picks and suspending team president Rich McKay from the competition committee until at least June 30.
Bottom line: The league got it right and it's time for the Browns to make it right. It's time for everyone in the organization to focus on his job and not worry about anyone else's. That should be the lesson of Text-gate. Coaches and players often say it's important to "stay in your own lane." Someone should tack that phrase up in every corner of the Berea complex.
There's simply been too much talk of organizational "friction" and whispers of inter-department meddling. When a franchise lacks success and an established leader it becomes fertile ground for everyone trying to do more than what's asked. It doesn't have to be a malicious act or power play to make it wrong.
The dreadful offseason started with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan resigning in part because of issues with the front office, sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group. Among the problems, according to the report, were front-office personnel texting to the sidelines regarding play calling. Farmer admitted to illegally texting and apologized for it. According to the NFL investigation, there was no evidence that "Browns ownership or any other team executives had knowledge of the prohibited conduct."
Text-gate is an embarrassing episode and its damage goes well beyond the punishment levied. Short of penalizing the Browns a high draft pick, the league couldn't have hurt the Browns any more than the Browns already hurt themselves. It's been a constant theme of this offseason from Josh Gordon's latest suspension to Johnny Manziel's off-field saga - Browns sabotaging their own careers and the franchise's cause.
The consequences could become far-reaching. Can Farmer rebuild his trust with Mike Pettine and the coaching staff? How does Haslam prove to prospective free agents and people around the league that Cleveland is a desirable destination? How about to prospective future coaches and managers?
Just a guess, but the past three months have validated center Alex Mack's decision to structure his five-year contract in a way that gave him an out after the 2015 season.
Monday's ruling from the league brings a bit of closure to Text-gate in that the Browns know the penalty. Hopefully, the importance of working together within the organization was addressed a few weeks back at a team summit that included owner Jimmy Haslam, team president Alec Scheiner, coach Mike Pettine and Farmer.
And, lets give Haslam some credit here. It would have been easy and maybe justified to fire Farmer once the scandal was uncovered. Instead, the owner maintained continuity and perhaps realized, "Who would want this job given the current climate?"
Farmer can reward Haslam's faith with a solid draft, which starts in a month. The Browns have 10 picks, including the Nos. 12 and 19 overall. It's difficult to see beyond the mistakes committed in last year's first round, but Farmer made some good choices in the later rounds and in the 2014 free-agent period preceding and following the draft. Granted, the quarterback situation remains a mess, but it was that way long before he inherited the post.
So everybody take a deep breath, exhale a sigh of relief and do your own job. You also can chuckle at the fact Shanahan joined an organization that just got docked a draft pick for breaking rules.
Good take from Tom Reed:
BEREA, Ohio - The Browns' offseason has been so miserable that word of Ray Farmer's four-game suspension for sending illegal in-game texts was greeted with joy and relief among fans.
Losing your general manager for a month never qualifies as good news, but Farmer's transgressions did not cost the club draft picks as many feared. The final tally -- the NFL fined the club $250,000 and banned Farmer for the first four games without pay next season.
Although vice president of football operations Troy Vincent offered no specifics in his statement, it's safe to assume the league believed Farmer's texts didn't rise to the level of a competitive advantage. The NFL took a dimmer view of the Falcons artificially manufacturing crowd noise at the Georgia Dome, fining them $350,000, docking them a 2016 fifth-round picks and suspending team president Rich McKay from the competition committee until at least June 30.
Bottom line: The league got it right and it's time for the Browns to make it right. It's time for everyone in the organization to focus on his job and not worry about anyone else's. That should be the lesson of Text-gate. Coaches and players often say it's important to "stay in your own lane." Someone should tack that phrase up in every corner of the Berea complex.
There's simply been too much talk of organizational "friction" and whispers of inter-department meddling. When a franchise lacks success and an established leader it becomes fertile ground for everyone trying to do more than what's asked. It doesn't have to be a malicious act or power play to make it wrong.
The dreadful offseason started with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan resigning in part because of issues with the front office, sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group. Among the problems, according to the report, were front-office personnel texting to the sidelines regarding play calling. Farmer admitted to illegally texting and apologized for it. According to the NFL investigation, there was no evidence that "Browns ownership or any other team executives had knowledge of the prohibited conduct."
Text-gate is an embarrassing episode and its damage goes well beyond the punishment levied. Short of penalizing the Browns a high draft pick, the league couldn't have hurt the Browns any more than the Browns already hurt themselves. It's been a constant theme of this offseason from Josh Gordon's latest suspension to Johnny Manziel's off-field saga - Browns sabotaging their own careers and the franchise's cause.
The consequences could become far-reaching. Can Farmer rebuild his trust with Mike Pettine and the coaching staff? How does Haslam prove to prospective free agents and people around the league that Cleveland is a desirable destination? How about to prospective future coaches and managers?
Just a guess, but the past three months have validated center Alex Mack's decision to structure his five-year contract in a way that gave him an out after the 2015 season.
Monday's ruling from the league brings a bit of closure to Text-gate in that the Browns know the penalty. Hopefully, the importance of working together within the organization was addressed a few weeks back at a team summit that included owner Jimmy Haslam, team president Alec Scheiner, coach Mike Pettine and Farmer.
And, lets give Haslam some credit here. It would have been easy and maybe justified to fire Farmer once the scandal was uncovered. Instead, the owner maintained continuity and perhaps realized, "Who would want this job given the current climate?"
Farmer can reward Haslam's faith with a solid draft, which starts in a month. The Browns have 10 picks, including the Nos. 12 and 19 overall. It's difficult to see beyond the mistakes committed in last year's first round, but Farmer made some good choices in the later rounds and in the 2014 free-agent period preceding and following the draft. Granted, the quarterback situation remains a mess, but it was that way long before he inherited the post.
So everybody take a deep breath, exhale a sigh of relief and do your own job. You also can chuckle at the fact Shanahan joined an organization that just got docked a draft pick for breaking rules.
natedagg
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I think we are good for only 4-5 wins next year, if the QB situation remains the same. However, I do think that, zooming out, Farmer has diagnosed the problem correctly, recognizing that we needed locker room leaders like Karlos (the gull) and Hitner. I like Petine as the coach too - tough, hard working, and no nonsense. You can see this working - like the public bitch-smacking of Gilbert (yet also tough love commending his talent level), and his impressive off season (as well as Haden stepping into more of an OG leadership role).
What I mean to say is that it's a big ship to turn around here. I think it's an easy pile on to hate on the Browns right now, particularly with Manziel looking to be a monumental bust, including being a negative impact. The stock price and the turn-around fundamentals don't always coincide, though. It's a question of whether or not our glue guys can stay engaged and keep the team engaged while we wait for the wins to show up. I am not sure about that, but fundamentally, the Browns are a Drew Brees or Marcus Mariotta (plus a year) away from getting the machine running with good culture and wins.
What I mean to say is that it's a big ship to turn around here. I think it's an easy pile on to hate on the Browns right now, particularly with Manziel looking to be a monumental bust, including being a negative impact. The stock price and the turn-around fundamentals don't always coincide, though. It's a question of whether or not our glue guys can stay engaged and keep the team engaged while we wait for the wins to show up. I am not sure about that, but fundamentally, the Browns are a Drew Brees or Marcus Mariotta (plus a year) away from getting the machine running with good culture and wins.
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Yea I'm in the same boat with b00bs here. I think they are in the 6-8 win range. I don't think they are in the 3-5 win range any longer. The defense, is going to be pretty good if they add a top of the draft run stuffer and maturation happens at the defensive back positions. I also think the offensive line will be much improved from the 2nd half of last season assuming injuries don't screw that up again. This will allow the running game to flourish. A good D and a good run game is good enough to win some games. Add in the couple of games that happen every year we have no business winning and I see a 6 or 7 win season again.
natedagg
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Ok, that's what I get for not starting the post with my thesis: although the Browns are an easy target for media and agents alike, I think that we are indeed headed in the right direction, although the win total will IMO likely not reflect it.
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Honestly, the Browns are not headed in any particular direction until they address the QB position. If you continue to trot out the QBs that we have since the comeback, any other progress is rendered pretty much useless.
godfather
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It's sad, because I don't think we need much to win this division. Our division is terrible, the records shouldn't fool anyone. Our division played a weak ass schedule, and no of the teams could separate themselves for a reason.
If we just have a QB that's half decent, we can win this division. Our running game should be much better next year. I wouldn't be surprised if we lead the league in rushing even.
At a team standpoint, we might be better than the Ravens. I know we're better than the Steelers. The difference is they have two SB QBs, one that's a future HOFer.
Bengals probably have the most talented team in the division, but their QB is Andy Dalton, who sucks.
If we just have a QB that's half decent, we can win this division. Our running game should be much better next year. I wouldn't be surprised if we lead the league in rushing even.
At a team standpoint, we might be better than the Ravens. I know we're better than the Steelers. The difference is they have two SB QBs, one that's a future HOFer.
Bengals probably have the most talented team in the division, but their QB is Andy Dalton, who sucks.
Soda
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The Division was terrible? I completely disagree, as do plenty of NFL analysts. The schedule was bad, but that just explains why BOTH AFC Wild Card spots went to AFC North teams.... The AFC North just took advantage of a weak schedule. The worst team was 7-9 and the Division had the most wins across all NFL divisions.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-best-and-most-unpredictable-division-in-2014
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/16/nfl-a...bengals-cleveland-browns-pittsburgh-steelers/
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000481669/article/divisional-power-rankings
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-best-and-most-unpredictable-division-in-2014
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/16/nfl-a...bengals-cleveland-browns-pittsburgh-steelers/
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000481669/article/divisional-power-rankings
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I love rankings.
Out of 26 graded GMs, Farmer is 24th in the eyes of Patrick Daugherty
24. Ray Farmer, Browns
Last Year’s Ranking: — —
Where does Jimmy Haslam end and Ray Farmer begin? That is the question at the heart of the 2015 Browns. By nearly any measure, Farmer’s first year on the job was an abject failure, but was he a patsy or the triggerman? It’s pretty well documented that Haslam ordered the code red on Johnny Manziel. Farmer doesn’t have such ready-made excuses for his other follies. However meddlesome Haslam may be, we doubt the cost plussin’ Tennessean made Farmer draft Justin Gilbert, or waive Charles Johnson. Haslam’s hand is felt in other matters — the Browns’ absurd quest for a “franchise quarterback” one year after drafting Manziel, the general dysfunction that helps scare away players like Jordan Cameron — but Farmer is more than just a scapegoat for Haslam’s imprudence. He’s an accomplice, one who’s not only looking like a monumental downgrade on Mike Lombardi, but one of the worst general managers in all of football.
http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/53473/57/nfls-best-gms-2015?pg=3
Out of 26 graded GMs, Farmer is 24th in the eyes of Patrick Daugherty
24. Ray Farmer, Browns
Last Year’s Ranking: — —
Where does Jimmy Haslam end and Ray Farmer begin? That is the question at the heart of the 2015 Browns. By nearly any measure, Farmer’s first year on the job was an abject failure, but was he a patsy or the triggerman? It’s pretty well documented that Haslam ordered the code red on Johnny Manziel. Farmer doesn’t have such ready-made excuses for his other follies. However meddlesome Haslam may be, we doubt the cost plussin’ Tennessean made Farmer draft Justin Gilbert, or waive Charles Johnson. Haslam’s hand is felt in other matters — the Browns’ absurd quest for a “franchise quarterback” one year after drafting Manziel, the general dysfunction that helps scare away players like Jordan Cameron — but Farmer is more than just a scapegoat for Haslam’s imprudence. He’s an accomplice, one who’s not only looking like a monumental downgrade on Mike Lombardi, but one of the worst general managers in all of football.
http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/53473/57/nfls-best-gms-2015?pg=3
MalTalm
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bigfoot5415
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Is it just me or does it seem like Jordan Cameron was the rat inside the locker room? He leaves, and some of the internal negativity stops. Less reports of players being sources.
spydy13
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I'm guessing this writer is one of the many media buddies that Lombardi has.
Also, when did Charles Johnson become the second coming of Jerry Rice?