Cleveland Browns fined, Ray Farmer suspended for texting scandal

The Cleveland Browns organization and general manager Ray Farmer learned their punishments on Monday for the texting scandal from last season

While there always seems to be controversy sur controversy rounding the Cleveland Browns organization, some of the biggest controversy came last season when it was learned that general manager Ray Farmer was sending down text messages to the assistant coaching staff, which is a no-no under league rules. When it was revealed and the apologies were made, it was known that punishments were coming.

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On Monday, we learned what those punishments would entail.

The Browns organization as a whole has been fined $250,000 and Farmer will be suspended for the first four games of the upcoming 2015 regular season.

Now there is a but of good news with all of this, that being the fact that they will not be penalized in the upcoming NFL Draft, as no draft penalty was levied as some expected there to be.

NFL fines the Browns $250,000 and suspends GM Ray Farmer for the first four games of 2015 for the texting situation. No draft pick penalty.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 30, 2015

Following the announcement of the penalties, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent issued the following statement. (h/t Adam Schefter on Facebook)

"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."

So now, this is just the latest in snafus that the Browns can put behind them, well, at least after the first four games of the season when Farmer can return to his office.

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