The hits just keep coming for the Cleveland Browns.
In the wake of news that quarterback and former first-round draft pick Johnny Manziel had voluntarily entered a rehab facility and mercurial wide receiver Josh Gordon will be suspended for a minimum of a year, comes a report from Mary Kay Cabot of NEOMG that the franchise could be facing a variety of sanctions, including the loss of draft picks and "a multi-game suspension" for GM Ray Farmer, due to a text sent in-game from a high-ranking Browns executive to the Cleveland sideline during a game this season.
"Multiple league sources have told NEOMG that Farmer was the high-ranking personnel member who violated the NFL's electronic use policy by the impermissible texting. Those messages were then apparently relayed to the coaches," Cabot reports.
The investigation into the incident is expected to be wrapped up "as early as this week or next week."
The in-game text was first reported by NEOMG after rumors emerged that former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan could leave the team due to friction between coaches and members of the front office.
"One source said some coaches became upset when a high-ranking personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about play calls."
Shanahan believed the culture in Cleveland had become dysfunctional and has since left the team and Farmer is now facing a three or four game suspension and the team may be losing a draft pick depending on the NFL's findings.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said recently that the league's investigation is ongoing and that he, head coach Mike Pettine and Farmer have all been cooperating.
"I know that Ray and Pett and Sashi Brown, our general counselor, are cooperating fully with the NFL, and if we did anything wrong I'm sure we'll correct it and make whatever amends,'' Haslam said. "I know we've cooperated fully with the NFL."
