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Source: Browns Ownership Went "Nuclear" On Front Office Following Botched QB Trade

The Browns on Tuesday failed to make a deadline trade for Bengals QB A.J. McCarron, and Browns ownership -- specifically co-Owner Dee Haslam -- "went 'nuclear' on the front office in the aftermath of the failed effort," according to a source cited by Mike Florio of PRO FOOTBALL TALK. The reaction comes as the Browns spent much of yesterday "trying to persuade multiple media members that the Browns didn’t screw up the trade that was indeed screwed up." The Browns contend that they "signed the appropriate paperwork to reflect their agreement to the deal, that they sent it to the Bengals for signature and submission to the league office, that the Bengals sent documentation signed only by the team, and that by the time the error was detected it was too late to rectify it" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 11/1). ESPN's Herm Edwards said, “This team has been held hostage to one position and one position only -- the quarterback. They can’t get it right. Even when they want to trade to get a quarterback, they can’t get it right.” ESPN’s Bill Polian said in all his years in the NFL, he had never heard of this scenario occurring. He said, "People make mistakes, but even their explanation simply says that they’re not conversant with the rules, and that’s not possible.” ESPN's Trey Wingo: “We all understood time management or clock management issues, but this is insane” ("NFL Live," ESPN, 11/1). 

INSIDE THE PROPOSED DEAL: A Bengals spokesperson said that the team "did locate the email from the Browns" about the McCarron trade that was "sent just before the trade deadline Tuesday, but they were in the process of filing their paperwork to the NFL and did not see it until later." In Cleveland, Mary Kay Cabot notes the Browns would also have "needed to send their own signed documentation to the league to execute the trade." So even if the Bengals had "seen the Browns' email" before the 4:00pm ET deadline, the Browns still "would have needed to notify the league directly that it approved the trade." The email came in at about 3:54pm, but it "did not come directly" from Browns Exec VP/Football Operations Sashi Brown. It came from Browns Dir of Football Administration Chris Cooper, a name the Bengals "did not immediately recognize." The Bengals "quickly sent the necessary documents to the NFL -- and copied the Browns -- but the Browns only sent theirs to the Bengals and not to the NFL." A source said that the Browns "sent their signed document to the Bengals with the expectation that the Bengals would also sign it and forward it on to the league." Another source said that if the Browns had "simply copied the NFL on the document they sent to the Bengals, the trade would have gone through." But a source said, "It would be crazy for the Browns to expect the Bengals to send the Browns' paperwork to the NFL. They know they have to notify the league themselves" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/2).

MISTAKE BY THE LAKE?
 In Akron, Nate Ulrich writes this situation has "given rise to speculation about whether someone in the front office deliberately sabotaged the trade, which would represent a new level of dysfunction, even for the Browns." Since gaining control of all roster decisions last year, Brown has "made 17 trades, so it’s not like he doesn’t know the protocol for completing a deal" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 11/2). In Cleveland, Bud Shaw writes the non-deal was an "unmatched combination of panic, contradiction and incompetence." In one "simple non-transaction, the Browns covered all the bases of dysfunction" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/2). Also in Cleveland, Terry Pluto writes, "I'm stunned by the look of disorganization and incompetence" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/2). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said the front office “should all be cleared out” (“PTI,” ESPN, 11/1). L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke: "Somebody has to lose their job or some accountability to their fans” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 11/1). ESPN’s LZ Granderson said, “Something like this goes across the news wire, we’re supposed to laugh at you because it’s just another Browns being the Browns” (“SportsNation,” ESPN, 11/1). ESPN’s Dan Le Batard said the Browns “have nothing here except us laughing at you” (Highly Questionable,” ESPN, 11/1).

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