Browns CEO Joe Banner has "reprimanded former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar for his 'personal and unprofessional approach'" during Thursday night's broadcast of the Browns-Rams preseason game, but he is "keeping Kosar on the remaining three preseason games," according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The Browns have "reached out to the Rams, and Kosar has called Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who took umbrage with his Kosar's harsh commentary." Kosar during the game "ripped the Rams receivers, third-string quarterback Kellen Clemens and receivers coach Ray Sherman." It was Kosar's "comments about Clemens that seemed to most rankle Fisher." When Clemens came into the game, play-by-play man Jim Donovan "told a story about Clemens having his daughter blessed by Pope Benedict XVI and giving the Pope an autograph." Kosar said that he "didn't think he'd want the autograph himself." Then Kosar said, "Bless me father for I have sinned. I have to watch him the whole fourth quarter." Kosar also called the Rams' receivers "horrible," and when Donovan mentioned their parents may be watching, Kosar replied, "I'd be embarrassed.'' Kosar did praise Rams QB Sam Bradford, but said, "I see why Sam Bradford has been struggling watching how bad these receivers have been for him." Cabot writes Kosar's "sometimes erratic behavior on local TV and radio is no surprise to Browns fans, who've been hearing it for years." But Kosar has "attributed it to post-concussion syndrome, for which he's receiving treatment." (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/12).
RAMS DISAPPOINTED: Fisher said he was a "little disappointed" after hearing of Kosar's remarks. Fisher said, "I feel bad for them that they had someone doing their broadcast feel the need to speak that way about players, specifically on our team and coaches for that matter. I'm just surprised that Bernie has such a lack of respect for players and this game. To be honest with you, I lost a lot of respect for him. It's highly unlikely he knew anything about our football team, but felt the need to make those comments. I don't think they were justified" (ESPN.com, 8/11). Clemens said, "He gave us a lot of great examples throughout his career of what it’s like to play quarterback, and how to do it at a high level. Unfortunately, he also gave us a couple of examples in his commentating career of what not to do" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/12).
GOING TOO FAR? THE MMQB's Peter King writes he found Kosar's comments "pretty far over the top" and he asked on Twitter "whether Kosar had been drinking." King: "I don’t think I was over the top, but many of you felt I’d gone too far given the sea of trouble Kosar has had in his personal life. (None of which, from what I can tell, involve treatment for alcohol, or any admission of alcoholism.) My point was, I think there’s a way to be critical of players and teams, and analysts should definitely do that. But Kosar went too far, in my opinion" (MMQB.SI.com, 8/12).
