Ray Farmer Suspended 4 Games for Text-Gate

[spydy13]

Pretty much going to need Haslam pissing on the ashes of a burned down First Energy Stadium at this point, I'd imagine.

You have literally 20 sources go on the record for a Manziel story a month ago. You have numerous sources and pieces on the organizational dysfunction.

I get that the petty things missed in the La Canfora article today maybe appear to be more biased, but it doesn't really change the overall point here.

The Browns are dysfunctional. Yes, amongst the worst in football.

It's almost comical not to admit that at this point.

I fully admit that we are dysfunctional. I'm just tired of this doom and gloom narrative that we will never pull out of this spiral like Laconfora and other writers have suggested, mainly because I don't understand why anyone would still care about this team if that is their state of mind.

I never discredited the Johnny report either. My only post about it was that it just rehashed/confirmed all the terrible things that had been rumored during the season and so it wasn't some giant revelation in my mind. It's also clear now that a lot of that should be addressed in Johnny takes his rehab seriously.

I agree with you that things are bad, really bad. But maybe I'm just too optimistic of a person to sit around and cry like half this board was doing today.

 

[EdMonix11]

So I'm an asshat for taking Pettine at his word because I'm so dumb that I don't realize that the media can be used for propaganda purposes, but I should just accept as gospel that Laconfora piece today and other pieces that have come out stating that we are the most dysfunctional franchise ever and that's why Shanahan ran away screaming?

Or maybe a smarter approach would be to realize that the truth is somewhere in the middle, in that Shanahan wasn't happy that his play calling was questioned and we weren't thrilled with a guy that didn't want to be here and wasn't open to criticism?

Or I guess you could just sit there in your wrongness and be wrong when I provide evidence contrary to your condescending arguments?

What I'm trying to say is that Shanahan wanted out. Pettine said they accepted his resignation BECAUSE he wanted out. His rationale was that they didn't want anyone here that didn't want to be here. That's coach speak 101.... You made it seem like Pettine is doing cartwheels in Berea without Shanahan there and those quotes you posted meant nothing-- in fact, they were probably scripted by someone in the PR Department, though I'm not sure if we actually have a PR Department anymore based on the clusterfuck we see in the media almost daily. I'm a huge Pettine fan but he was giving a very PC answer there, which is literally all he can say on the subject. Shanahan leaving literally had nothing to do with Pettine and Pettine basically went as far enough to confirm that.

The fact that you make it seem like it's no big deal that Shanahan's play calling was questioned and wasn't open to criticism is proof that you don't fully understand what dysfunction looks like in a professional sports franchise. The Patriots motto this year was "Do YOUR Job". Not "Do other peoples job". Not "Do a job you're unqualified for". Not "Do a job you're paying others to do". It was "Do YOUR Job". How the Browns are operating is not how a successful NFL operation is run....

 

[EdMonix11]

If Shanahan was receiving text either by phone or tablet then he was violating the rules unless he was following instructions from the team. Shanahan Leaving the Browns absolves Shanahan to a point ane vd allows him to avoid tarnishing his reputation as an offensive coordinator.
If the various reports are correct. that this topic was being discussed by players and coaches. this was not an isolated incident and it would of been reported to the NFL at some point.
We know why these rules are in place and the only thing left tio be determined is if the practice offered any competitive advantage before punishment is determined.

Regardless of how one feels the level of involvement the organization should have over the decisions their coaching staff makes during the game, it is wrong to mandate rules violations to do so.

Farmer screwed up lets hope he learned his lesson.

Texts were supposedly sent from Farmer to Loggains who was in the "press box" (per ESPN) and presumably on the headset while the rest of the texts sent to other members of the staff on the sidelines which were then relayed to Shanahan. I don't think a coach could get away with using a cell phone on the sideline. Too many cameras around to get away with it......

 

[Tornicade]

I fully admit that we are dysfunctional. I'm just tired of this doom and gloom narrative that we will never pull out of this spiral, mainly because I don't understand why anyone would still care about this team if that is their state of mind.

I never discredited the Johnny report either. My only post about it was that it just rehashed/confirmed all the terrible things that had been rumored during the season and so it wasn't some giant revelation in my mind. It's also clear now that a lot of that should be addressed in Johnny takes his rehab seriously.

I agree with you that things are bad, really bad. But maybe I'm just too optimistic of a person to sit around and cry like half this board was doing today.

Yes the Browns lost a proven young offensive coordinator by second guessing his every move.
They lost their star wide receiver
They look to lose a promising tight end.
Their qb just went into rehab.
now the Browns look to lose a much needed draft pick.

 

[spydy13]

What I'm trying to say is that Shanahan wanted out. Pettine said they accepted his resignation BECAUSE he wanted out. His rationale was that they didn't want anyone here that didn't want to be here. That's coach speak 101.... You made it seem like Pettine is doing cartwheels in Berea without Shanahan there and those quotes you posted meant nothing-- in fact, they were probably scripted by someone in the PR Department, though I'm not sure if we actually have a PR Department anymore based on the clusterfuck we see in the media almost daily. I'm a huge Pettine fan but he was giving a very PC answer there, which is literally all he can say on the subject. Shanahan leaving literally had nothing to do with Pettine and Pettine basically went as far enough to confirm that.

The fact that you make it seem like it's no big deal that Shanahan's play calling was questioned and wasn't open to criticism is proof that you don't fully understand what dysfunction looks like in a professional sports franchise. The Patriots motto this year was "Do YOUR Job". Not "Do other peoples job". Not "Do a job you're unqualified for". Not "Do a job you're paying others to do". It was "Do YOUR Job". How the Browns are operating is not how a successful NFL operation is run....

I'm sure he didn't go into the offseason looking to replace his OC. But when it became clear that Shanahan wanted out I believe Pettine when he says that he was fine with letting him go because he isn't the type of guy to spin BS. He also might be happy to work with a guy he is more familiar with as well instead of the previously arranged marriage.

And as far as questioning his playcalling, it's obviously shitty to be sending texts to people like Farmer did. There is a time and place to talk about that stuff. But the fact that it was Farmer and not Jimmy nor Alex should not be forgotten. Farmer has played in the league, so it's not like Banner who had no business getting his hands on the personnel side of things.

That's good to know about the Patriots though because it should make it easy to find out whose JOB it was to take air out of the balls.

 

[Tornicade]

I'm sure he didn't go into the offseason looking to replace his OC. But when it became clear that Shanahan wanted out I believe Pettine when he says that he was fine with letting him go because he isn't the type of guy to spin BS. He also might be happy to work with a guy he is more familiar with as well instead of the previously arranged marriage.

And as far as questioning his playcalling, it's obviously shitty to be sending texts to people like Farmer did. There is a time and place to talk about that stuff. But the fact that it was Farmer and not Jimmy nor Alex should not be forgotten. Farmer has played in the league, so it's not like Banner who had no business getting his hands on the personnel side of things.

That's good to know about the Patriots though because it should make it easy to find out whose JOB it was to take air out of the balls.

If Ray Farmer wants to run the offense and give play by play orders or who line up he can do so from the coaches box or the sideline not on the cell phone in a whimsical fashion.

doesnt matter if he was Paul brown. Theres a chain of command. bypassing the head coach and barking orders to a qb coach to override the OC is no way to run a program.

how long before the players start lobbying for plays during the game to the GM.

if this was going on all season . it is no wonder the offense fell flat on its face the 2nd half of the season

 

[EdMonix11]

I'm sure he didn't go into the offseason looking to replace his OC. But when it became clear that Shanahan wanted out I believe Pettine when he says that he was fine with letting him go because he isn't the type of guy to spin BS. He also might be happy to work with a guy he is more familiar with as well instead of the previously arranged marriage.

And as far as questioning his playcalling, it's obviously shitty to be sending texts to people like Farmer did. There is a time and place to talk about that stuff. But the fact that it was Farmer and not Jimmy nor Alex should not be forgotten. Farmer has played in the league, so it's not like Banner who had no business getting his hands on the personnel side of things.

That's good to know about the Patriots though because it should make it easy to find out whose JOB it was to take air out of the balls.

You can read between the lines with Pettine's quotes all you want but there's really nothing there. He literally said nothing meaningful or worthwhile.....

Farmer sits next to Scheiner and Haslam all game long. Yeah, I bet Farmer acted alone with those text messages just like all of the numerous Haslam employees who acted alone in the rebate scam overseen by Pilot/Flying J.

Hey, at least the Patriots can cheat the right way and actually gain an advantage. The Browns cheat just to be dicks to their own employees.

 

[ssopata]

I fully admit that we are dysfunctional. I'm just tired of this doom and gloom narrative that we will never pull out of this spiral like Laconfora and other writers have suggested, mainly because I don't understand why anyone would still care about this team if that is their state of mind.

I never discredited the Johnny report either. My only post about it was that it just rehashed/confirmed all the terrible things that had been rumored during the season and so it wasn't some giant revelation in my mind. It's also clear now that a lot of that should be addressed in Johnny takes his rehab seriously.

I agree with you that things are bad, really bad. But maybe I'm just too optimistic of a person to sit around and cry like half this board was doing today.

What, if anything, in the past 15 yrs has remotely suggested this franchise can reverse the downward spiral?

Each regime has brought promise of greener pastures and yet nothing changes.

There was hope that with Jimmy being involved with the Steelers, he would have learned a hands off approach. Instead this city is watching a poor imitation of Jerry Jones. The way this scenario is playing out, enjoy the revolving door that is installed at 76 Lou Groza Blvd.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I fully admit that we are dysfunctional. I'm just tired of this doom and gloom narrative that we will never pull out of this spiral like Laconfora and other writers have suggested, mainly because I don't understand why anyone would still care about this team if that is their state of mind.

Well, it's kind of on the Browns to prove to us at some point that the doom and gloom narrative isn't absolutely right. They've had fifteen years and still manage to fuck everything up.

 

[AZ_]

b00bie for GM in 2016!


Let's get this trending. I honestly think this would be a playoff team with me at the helm these last few years.

 

[MalTalm]

Well, it's kind of on the Browns to prove to us at some point that the doom and gloom narrative isn't absolutely right. They've had fifteen years and still manage to fuck everything up.

So serious question, is this the worst offseason for the Browns since the return?

Negatives:
*1st round franchise QB was terrible in 2 starts, enters rehab in offseason and may not be available for training camp

*Probowl WR suspended for at least a year, possibly never to sit up for the Browns again

*OC leaves team, salting the ground in Berea on his way out

*GM likely broke NFL guidelines which will result in his suspension and possibly the loss of a draft pick

*Probowl TE wants out, trying to find a way off the roster

Positives
*We will begin the next season with the same HC who stayed last season

*FO, thus far, has remained largely intact, which means much more stability than we've seen in many previous seasons

Did I miss anything? Is this rock bottom, or was there an off season which felt worse than this?

 

[Jack Brickman]

So serious question, is this the worst offseason for the Browns since the return?

Negatives:
*1st round franchise QB was terrible in 2 starts, enters rehab in offseason and may not be available for training camp

*Probowl WR suspended for at least a year, possibly never to sit up for the Browns again

*OC leaves team, salting the ground in Berea on his way out

*GM likely broke NFL guidelines which will result in his suspension and possibly the loss of a draft pick

*Probowl TE wants out, trying to find a way off the roster

Positives
*We will begin the next season with the same HC who stayed last season

*FO, thus far, has remained largely intact, which means much more stability than we've seen in many previous seasons

Did I miss anything? Is this rock bottom, or was there an off season which felt worse than this?

It might actually be the best offseason since the return because for once our expectations for the upcoming season are probably on par with what will end up happening.

 

[Soda]

I get that the petty things missed in the La Canfora article today maybe appear to be more biased, but it doesn't really change the overall point here.

I stand by what I said yesterday about the article being too voluminous in issues to brush off as "click bait" or "conjecture". There were a few glaring parts that show the "source" or "bias" in how this story came to fruition, though...

He lays into the coaches, front office and owner; however, there was this:

The Browns are a mess, and look nowhere but the very top as to why. This offseason is barely a month old, and already we have seen the best coach on the team's staff, Shanahan, allowed to walk away by working out a settlement after just one season there in which he did an outstanding job, bereft of talent, only to become the hottest offensive coordinator candidate in the NFL.

and..

His prized receiver, Josh Gordon, who the quickly-fired duo of Mike Lombardi and Joe Banner had dealt to San Francisco in 2013 for a second-round pick and other compensation before Haslam axed the deal, is suspended, again, for at least another year.

Again. I want to re-iterate that I'm not trying to discount the issues brought to light. I'm glad they have been brought to light. We both know how "sources" give info and from the looks of it, especially in Shanny's case, they're those sources. Today, Joe Banner and Kyle Shanahan look like geniuses. Mike Lombardi as well, but his ring wasn't enough. He felt the need to push JLC's article out.

Edit: Lot of Browns-focused media questioning the motive/sources in the LaCanfora article. Tony Grossi, Bruce Hooley (called Lombardi a backstabber and liar on air yesterday), Tom Withers (who is talking about how Browns fans go worst-case first always), Jeremy Fowler...

I also want to point out that I'm losing confidence in Jimmy... How can anyone learn how to be a winner when you get canned for making a mistake? Guys have to be able to learn from their mistakes without fear of losing their job. If Jimmy keeps the quick trigger finger live, he's never going to learn how to win, either. Can't be Woody Johnson.. Look where his team is.

 

[Juice is Loose]

@MalTalm Cameron is a free agent this off season so he'll have no problem getting off the roster.

 

[spydy13]

What, if anything, in the past 15 yrs has remotely suggested this franchise can reverse the downward spiral?

They've had fifteen years and still manage to fuck everything up.

This is certainly true, but nothing in the late 90's/early 00's before LeBron or the 4 years post LeBron proved that we could get our shit together.

I mean fuck, there was 50 years of terrible Indians baseball before they figured it out in the 90's.

15 years is a relatively short period of time. And whether we just get lucky like the Cavs or actually put together a solid staff that finds good players, I think the Browns will eventually get good, but I also realize that in the instant gratification world we now live in that "eventually" isn't good enough for most people.