Random Thoughts from the Weekend
August 11, 2013Training Camp News and Notes: A different kind of kicking contest
August 11, 2013Cleveland Browns CEO Joe Banner issued a statement Sunday evening regarding the comments made by Bernie Kosar during the broadcast of Thursday’s preseason game against the Rams.
“We don’t condone the personal and unprofessional approach that Bernie took with some of his comments during the broadcast Thursday night. We’ve spoken to Bernie, he understands that, and we would expect the situation is resolved moving forward. We’ve also reached out to the Rams organization and have shared those same sentiments.”
St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher and Sports Illustrated’s Peter Kiing both spoke out Saturday night about Kosar’s commentary, specifically his remarks about the St. Louis receivers and quarterback Kellen Clemons.
Saturday night the Browns said that they would be reviewing the situation, and Sunday Banner’s statement was released.
[Related: Training Camp News and Notes: Haden picks off a pair of passes]
26 Comments
Poor Bernie, he just can’t catch a break.
As a Browns I now expect ESPN, SI, Yahoo, etc to release statements apologizing for all the negative things they’ve said about the Browns and our players the past 14 years. Thank You.
Banner, grow a pair. It’s football, princess.
Yeah, I think everyone owes the Browns an apology. We’ve heard nothing but negative comments for years, many of them sarcastic and over the top.
This is pathetic of the Browns organization. I’m disappointed that they chose to do this, potentially affecting Bernie’s future commentary, which before was insightful and entertaining. But I’m glad we can finally move on from this manufactured controversy much ado about nothing.
This strikes me as a pro forma apology from one organization to another, which is fine. I guess in the tightly-managed corporate world of the NFL, the elite have to stick together and stay on message. However, if anything is done to reduce Bernie’s role on television broadcasts, I think local fans should rally behind him. Will be something to keep an eye on.
I like Bernie, but he did go a little beyond criticism and ventured into ridicule. It was a bit much. But just a misdemeanor.
What Peter King said was much worse.
As for Jeff Fisher, it’s hard to believe that he knew so quickly what was said on a local broadcast of a game that he was busy coaching. And him cracking on Bernie’s “issues” was a pretty tasteless remark itself.
Nobody covered himself in class here.
Bernie will be the first to admit that saying a players parent should be embarrassed was just a clumsy, amateurish attempt at on-air jocularity for a guy who has insightful football thoughts to share. The type of response it created is becoming the norm, given that “local commentary” no longer exists. Like how this site blows up when any stupid thing is blurted or written about our players.
But just because it drew a national response, doesn’t mean it’s a big deal. It’s just the new deal. Wrist slapped, book closed, let’s move on.
Good point on King; I wonder if he’ll get reprimanded?
Ori, is that really you?
Really, really 🙂
My long, national nightmare is over…
I’ve missed you all, like the deserts miss the rain.
Welcome back! Things just got more interesting.
Thanks. I fear that they’ll realize what they’ve done and send me back to Siberia in short order, but we shall see.
I’ve learned my lesson, though: I LOVE EVERY ARTICLE ON THIS SITE AND DISAGREE WITH NOTHING. EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT.
Whew.
. . . and we’re off!
bernie kosars comments are for sure one of the reasons i watch the preseason games. that dude verbally abuses people to the fullest. true cleveland fasion.
WB brother the toll of trying to keep it somewhat real was long and hard upon $hamrockus but I somehow managed to survive.
Amen Peter King took it to an entirely new low. Since the Browns decided they’d get involved lets count the days until we see them mention King. Dumb decision the Browns had no need to involve themselves at all. Btw is this the same St. Louis Rams who made that trade with Washington for that QB?
Thanks for carrying the torch, so to speak. You’re fighting the good fight, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I emerged from the maelstorm unscathed, though. As soon as Pat Shurmur left town my blood pressure returned to normal.
Speaking of Siberia that show/fake show totally blows!
It was either carry the torch or be torched but I get it, it’s all good. I must say your timing is impeccable. The Indians currently performing their third year of an August sinking to the Browns gearing up for another season with another head coach and of course the subject of the day: BK’s comments during the first preseason game of the year.
Yeah, this is an odd time to be a Cleveland fan. I feel like the Indians are circling the drain and the Browns are, well, the Browns. I can’t comment much on their performance because, to be honest, it’s only one pre-season game in and that’s too small of a sampling size to make any rational judgments.
That show is weak, agreed.
If Acta was still here this team would already be caught in the lint trap but I still have hope with Francona. Maybe it’s the ties to BoSox I don’t know. Sure he’s made some questionable decisions but compared to previous Indians managers this guy is the real deal. That keeps me sane.
As for the Browns I agree we haven’t seen anything. I expect alot of growing pains but I’m fairly optimistic about the direction as far as on the field play goes. Forget the off the field stuff the crap with Haslam is just more proof that the sporting God’s hate Cleveland. As I’ve said prior I love that Chudzinski is letting two real life coordinators run their units and is instead being more of a manager and overseer to the entire team. Gone are the days of Shurmur and his ego driven decisions, I hope no I pray.
Upvote for the Vonnegut reference.
All he said was what he thought. Since when is it wrong to be honest and tell the truth? Sad. I mean come on he was one heck of a quarterback for the Browns for some good years back in the 80’s. Shouldn’t he have the right more than most to criticize and joke about a quarterback not playing well? None of these other clowns ever played quarterback in the NFL. Besides these guys are big boys getting paid big bucks. I do not think professional criticism by a former pro quarterback is anything but warranted. Bunch of PC pansies.
If he isn’t an alcoholic, he definitely has a problem. In the past, his slurred speech and stammering have been all to indicative of some sort of problem. Amazingly, it comes and goes. Not at all like a permanent brain injury. More like self-inflicted brain distress. Dry him out or take him off the air.