Rumor: Grossi Removed from Browns Beat at PD

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Jan 25, 2012 2:54 PM EST reply actions 11 recs

There is a God.

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 25, 2012 3:01 PM EST reply actions 6 recs

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 25, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs

Duh. He plays LT.

I should have made my screen name DerekAndersonIsMyBrother

by Doc's Kid on Jan 26, 2012 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs

This one should have more recs than Nelson and Carlton combined.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Jan 28, 2012 2:33 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs

That took longer then I thought. Don’t screw with Lerner he is still POed at channel 19.

by GrillGuy on Jan 25, 2012 3:12 PM EST reply actions 6 recs

Grossi is a pathetic figure, the most irrelevant douche in the world.

by Brownie's Year on Jan 25, 2012 3:21 PM EST reply actions 8 recs

HIRE RUFIO!

Clemson Tigers 2011 ACC Champions

by emily522 on Jan 25, 2012 3:47 PM EST reply actions 9 recs

Bangarang!

by Brownie's Year on Jan 25, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

Ha! Chris would do a better job than me.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 25, 2012 8:37 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

The more the merrier

Clemson Tigers 2011 ACC Champions

by emily522 on Jan 25, 2012 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs

I rec’s the first 6 posts because this is such good news!

by SBP on Jan 25, 2012 3:50 PM EST reply actions 6 recs

Don't let the door hit ya!

Madden 12 does not have bugs, it has dyslexia & tourettes.

by Groza on Jan 25, 2012 4:31 PM EST reply actions 10 recs

Madden 12 does not have bugs, it has dyslexia & tourettes.

by Groza on Jan 25, 2012 5:04 PM EST reply actions 13 recs

This is one of the best gifs ever.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 25, 2012 8:38 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 25, 2012 5:06 PM EST reply actions 7 recs

Rec all the posts. Show our hate for Grossi.

by Brownie's Year on Jan 25, 2012 5:11 PM EST reply actions 6 recs

This still doesn’t sit all that well with me. I sure hope this was because they felt his impartiality was now irreparable, and not because the Browns organization exerted its influence. I think my issue stems from the Holmgren comment about “being with us or against us.” If this in any way could be seen as influenced by the organization and under the guise of that comment, I have an issue with his removal.

That said, I do think it’s merited to remove someone who clearly has an agenda against the owner. I’d be curious to see the PD’s comment and then also who they replace him with. If it’s a mouthpiece for the organization like MKC, I am not fine with the decision.

by Roger Dorn on Jan 25, 2012 5:28 PM EST reply actions 6 recs

I can agree with the notion if the Browns strong armed the CPD into removing him, that is a bit concerning.

On the other hand, the guy is an asshole, has done a piss-poor job of covering the Browns, and obviously has an ax to grind with the Browns no matter what.

I may not agree with the reasoning of getting rid of him (if that was the reasoning), but the guy should have been taken off the gig a long time ago.

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 25, 2012 6:48 PM EST up reply actions 9 recs

Exactly

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 25, 2012 8:38 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

Agree, he has merited it for his body of work.

by Roger Dorn on Jan 25, 2012 10:02 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Good points, but like I said in the other thread, this was all about professionalism. Simply put, this was extremely unprofessional. After this, you simply can’t count on Grossi to cover the Browns. You definitely can’t give him a press pass anymore. There are certain expectations that go along with that kind of access, there are certain behavioral standards. It’s the reason every schmuck on a blog doesn’t have press access. Grossi has show that he can’t meet those standards.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 25, 2012 8:13 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs

exactly. If he is liable to say this, there is no reason to give him access. ruins his whole integrity as a journalist covering the team. You can say that the Browns aren’t good, but you can back that up. This is just personal attacks at this point.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 25, 2012 9:35 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

being with us or against us

Only the sith deal in absolutes…

by Vududawg on Jan 31, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

It’s probably because a lot of the stuff he writes he pulls out of his ass.The Browns said enough, the PD finally listened. Hopefully that’s the end of the story & he gets replaced with someone that actually gets his/her info from credible/revealable sources to back up the story.

Madden 12 does not have bugs, it has dyslexia & tourettes.

by Groza on Jan 25, 2012 5:59 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

Confirmed. Heard it on 92.3 the FAN.

by shep615 on Jan 25, 2012 6:05 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

The Good Lord hath smiled on us all, God bless America.

by shep615 on Jan 25, 2012 6:10 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

Wheeeeeeee Wheeeeeeeeee Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

We'll be kicking ourselves if we don't get Burflict.

by The New Kardiac Kids on Jan 25, 2012 6:17 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

I read some of these rumors on twitter earlier. Apparently, everything is still “Report:” which just means: Our publications can’t be held responsible if this rumor isn’t true.

I’ve got my fingers crossed though.

"The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins."

by Simmsinns on Jan 25, 2012 6:37 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

I was on ESPN.com the other day, I made on wrong turn on the interweb, and 5 of their top “stories” were either attributed to “sources” or reports.

They seem to hide behind that wording, or the best is the “ESPN confirmed” and then they parrot someone else’s work with no credit given. Shameful.

Sorry for the off rant.

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 25, 2012 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

You’re completely right. It seems like they don’t do half of the investigative work on the stories they report. Just pull it from someone else’s website and add the quick attribution to “sources” but make it seem like it came from your own guys.

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I’m trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Ricky Henderson

by dawgtribe on Jan 26, 2012 2:54 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

ESPN sucks like Phil Simms.

We'll be kicking ourselves if we don't get Burflict.

by The New Kardiac Kids on Jan 26, 2012 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

It’s a ghost!

I should have made my screen name DerekAndersonIsMyBrother

by Doc's Kid on Jan 26, 2012 8:15 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com has a unique take:

If it turns out that Lerner indeed pushed the Plain Dealer to dump Grossi from the beat for his accidental expression of a private opinion he’s entitled to have, it definitely will be evidence, in our opinion, of a pathetic act by the billionaire owner of a largely irrelevant team.

"The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins."

by Simmsinns on Jan 25, 2012 6:47 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

Come on, he did this for the common good. His altruistic tendencies led him to care about the fans enough to oust Grossi…even incidental altruism is still accepted.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 25, 2012 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

Florio needs to tap the brakes and realize what an awful beat writer we are talking about.

After all, this is rooted in him telling a fan that it’s not his job to cover the Lerner press conference. After all, how dare the public want to know what happened with the owner of the team in which he is the beat writer for?

Classic example of why the newspaper industry is dying. You can come here to DBN and get 1,000 times better coverage and not have a smarmy ass writer telling you he is better than you (other than me of course).

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 25, 2012 6:57 PM EST up reply actions 8 recs

There are definitely other examples of why newspapers are dying, but guys like Grossi definitely have a big factor in it.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 25, 2012 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

have a smarmy ass writer telling you he is better than you

I should start going on an ego-trip and take this approach.

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on Jan 25, 2012 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

Maybe they’d start paying you a full-time salary and throw in a monthly spray tan as a benefit.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 25, 2012 8:40 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs

If he’s gonna replace Grossi, it needs to be an hourly spray tan.

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 25, 2012 10:04 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

He also needs a head shot with a smile that looks like he left whitener on his teeth for about five days too long.

I take this optimism shit seriously.

"Who gives two shits about Matt Roth besides Matt Roth and Matt Roth’s mom?" - LocalMan

Follow @thekozina

by The Licensed Optimist on Jan 25, 2012 10:07 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Jan 26, 2012 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

eewww

by Brownie's Year on Jan 26, 2012 11:46 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

accidental expression of a private opinion he’s entitled to have

This is way more important than Florio is giving it credit for. For instance, if Brian Williams tweeted that Barack Obama was pathetic and stupid, he would get fired too, because he’s no longer reliable. I think Florio is sticking up for a fellow media member as a knee-jerk reaction. If you are a member of the press, you are supposed to maintain a neutral stance on the subjects you cover. Grossi’s neutrality is compromised, and because of that he is useless as a beat reporter.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 25, 2012 8:19 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

If you are a member of the press, you are supposed to maintain a neutral stance on the subjects you cover.

Which is why Connie Schultz of the PD took a leave of absence in ’08 and stepped down in ’12 (but this recent one may have been more than just Sherrod running for office). It happens all the time in journalism, people are fired or choose to resign to maintain neutral stance.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 25, 2012 9:37 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Just to clarify, this is actually much worse than the Schultz situation, because she was a columnist. She was paid to express her opinion, so having publicly-held shouldn’t have been a major problem for her (though the PD ultimately decided it was). Grossi was ostensibly impartial on the Browns, so sharing this opinion was much more compromising for him.

by Chemo on Jan 29, 2012 8:55 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

This is true. Schultz was not an objective beat reporter. This is definitely worse.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 30, 2012 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

He better send his resume to Willy Wonka

"When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." -Paul Brown

by macdowellm03 on Jan 25, 2012 7:13 PM EST reply actions 5 recs

Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-doo,
I’ve got a perfect puzzle for you.
Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-dee,
If you are wise you’ll listen to me.
What do you get when you send out bad tweets?
Taken off the Browns Plain Dealer Beat..
I am liking the look of it
Oompa Loompa do-ba-dee-da,
Given good manners you will go far.
You will live in happiness too,
Like the oompa loompa do-ba-dee-doo.

by SBP on Jan 26, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

From Terry Pluto’s like page:

ABOUT THE TONY GROSSI NO LONGER COVERING THE BROWNS:
I like and respect Tony very much, but I can’t answer questions about this. One of the decision makers on this is Thom Fladung, the PD’s managing editor.
I just talked to Thom, and he said to call (216-999-4068) or email him about it
tfladung@plaind.com with questions.

I am really thinking this is for real. Pluto talked about a “decision maker”. If there wasn’t any sort of decision made, he most likely would have stopped after the first sentence. There was also a bit I took out at the end talking about no posts.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 25, 2012 7:30 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

I’m sad that someone as respectable as Terry Pluto likes and respects Grossi.

What does that MEAN - TO PLAY US OUT?!!?!?

by DaveDawg09 on Jan 25, 2012 8:18 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

I don’t buy it. I have a relative who is an editor at the PD, and he’s told me in the past that Grossi (and Hoynes) have incredibly inflated egos about what they do, and that most of the people around the building think they’re assholes.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 25, 2012 8:21 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

yeah, but Pluto can’t write and his tendency to hype the man upstairs way too much bugs me.

by Les Fleurs Du Mal on Jan 25, 2012 8:28 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

his tendency to hype the man upstairs way too much bugs me.

Joe Thomas? Nothing wrong with that.

by HenryDawg on Jan 25, 2012 9:25 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs

What else is supposed to say? Is he going to personally bash a coworker on his FB page during this incident? That is almost as unprofessional as what Grossi did, but at least Pluto doesn’t have to be a beat writer covering Grossi.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 25, 2012 9:38 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

So who is going to bite the bullet for DBN and email this Thom guy?

by Roger Dorn on Jan 25, 2012 10:05 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

I did.

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 25, 2012 10:09 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

I actually tried emailing Thom, but got a bounce back saying the address didn’t work or something.

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on Jan 25, 2012 11:02 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

That’s odd, mine seemed to go through.

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 25, 2012 11:18 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

I emailed, no bounce back yet.

"There's a gleam men, there's a gleam!" Marty

by Red-Right-88 on Jan 26, 2012 7:57 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs

HAPPY DAY!

I take this optimism shit seriously.

"Who gives two shits about Matt Roth besides Matt Roth and Matt Roth’s mom?" - LocalMan

Follow @thekozina

by The Licensed Optimist on Jan 25, 2012 10:09 PM EST reply actions 5 recs

I got in arguments at work today because people were defending Grossi. What the hell people?

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 25, 2012 11:06 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

Take how you feel about him away from it. Do you think the next Beat Reporter will ever criticize the Browns ownership ever again? and as an NFL owner Lerner is Pathetic, and as an American Billionaire he has done more for England than the US.

"There's a gleam men, there's a gleam!" Marty

by Red-Right-88 on Jan 26, 2012 7:39 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I take away what I feel about him and he’s still a tanned F**khead.

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 26, 2012 8:42 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs

LOL rec

"There's a gleam men, there's a gleam!" Marty

by Red-Right-88 on Jan 26, 2012 9:02 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Do you think the next Beat Reporter will ever criticize the Browns ownership ever again?

Yes. Plenty of other PD reporters have criticized Lerner and they still have jobs.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 26, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Which makes me think the PD made this decision on their own

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 26, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

it was the way he criticized Lerner and the fact that he is the one person (besides maybe mkc) on the PD who needs to seem objective at all times about the Browns.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 26, 2012 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

(ALMOST) EVERYTHING IS GREEN AND NOTHING HURTS!

Clemson Tigers 2011 ACC Champions

by emily522 on Jan 25, 2012 11:14 PM EST reply actions 6 recs

If it doesn’t hurt, you aren’t doing it right.

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 26, 2012 12:00 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs

That’s what your girlfriend said.

by Brownie's Year on Jan 26, 2012 12:17 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs

I no has girlfriend…

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 26, 2012 8:43 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 26, 2012 8:43 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Did she get tired of all the video games?

by Brownie's Year on Jan 26, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I got tired of the bitching.

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 26, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

One thing I can’t stand more than Grossi is how the Beacon Journal’s sports section fizzled out over the last 15 years. It used to be the best sports section in Ohio. I hate how Pluto and Windy left the ABJ for the CPD. Good thing there’s DBN or I don’t know what I’d do about Browns sports coverage!

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I’m trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Ricky Henderson

by dawgtribe on Jan 26, 2012 3:07 AM EST reply actions 3 recs

Does this pave the way for Art Modell to make it in the HOF? Say what you want about Grossi, he had this one great attribute, annually leading the resistance to Artty making it in the Hall.

"There's a gleam men, there's a gleam!" Marty

by Red-Right-88 on Jan 26, 2012 5:16 AM EST reply actions 3 recs

I like Grossi.

I liked his podcasts and cant say I disagree with his tweet.

by jonnyphoenix on Jan 26, 2012 6:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I liked his podcasts and cant say I disagree with his tweet.

whether you agree or not is completely beside the point. the person charged with primary coverage of an organization cannot express to his/her audience (and the entire twitter universe, for that matter) a clearly biased, unfounded personal opinion (attack?) about the leader of that organization. there’s plenty on lerner’s record as an owner that can be justifiably attacked and argued. insulting the guy is out of bounds and completely compromises grossi’s (limited) ability to cover the team.

by DontCallMeJoey on Jan 26, 2012 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs

Exactly right.

by Roger Dorn on Jan 26, 2012 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

also … i’m with you in that i hope the browns had nothing to do with pressuring the PD to make this change, but this is the right decision regardless of what levers were pulled by whom.

i actually give the PD a great deal of credit for sticking with grossi as long as they have, in many respects. the browns — lerner in particular — have long disliked tony and his particular style. i don’t know if they’ve ever exerted direct pressure on the PD, but suffice it to say that the browns disdain for grossi has not been a secret at the PD for many years.

by DontCallMeJoey on Jan 26, 2012 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Hear here.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 26, 2012 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I completely agree that he was wrong – but I personally believe that a suspension without pay was a better alternative. He has always been objective and maybe even protective of Lerner for years. Lerner has been a completely incompetent as a leader of the organization and gets zip criticism. Jerry Jones gets called worse than this on a daily basis and has a couple of Lombardi trophies on his mantle.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Jan 26, 2012 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

The reason Jerry Jones gets criticized is because he is also the GM. Lord knows the Brown’s Gms have gotten their fair share of shit overt the years.

by clefan on Jan 26, 2012 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Do we live in the same place and read the same articles?

He has always been objective and maybe even protective of Lerner for years.

I just can’t fathom why you think that.

Lerner has been a completely incompetent as a leader of the organization and gets zip criticism.

Lerner takes crap all the time, from everybody.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 26, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

He has had several questions in Hey Tony criticizing Lerner and he has always stated that it is not a good idea to run a billionaire out of time.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Jan 26, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

run a billionaire out of time.

Maybe I’m an idiot, but I don’t get what this phrase means. I think I’m just slow today.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 27, 2012 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

i think he meant “out of town”

by DontCallMeJoey on Jan 30, 2012 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

but that means they still keep a beat reporter in the same position with an admitted bias. That’s not how to run a good news organization.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 26, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Someone recced this? For shame.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Jan 30, 2012 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I feel like there is at least 1 person that was reccing everything.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 30, 2012 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

At least 3

and rec.

by HenryDawg on Jan 30, 2012 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I hope whoever is next up does continue this charge.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 26, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I’ve always preferred the (for lack of a better term) Euro approach to press coverage, essentially being that papers are generally more honest about their slant. I’m fine with papers and writers having a slant. It can’t all be sunshine, lollipops and faux ‘neutrality’. That’s crummy journalism Birmingham-area writers covering Villa are like bulldogs compared with NFL beat writers. If Grossi were sacked for his opinion alone, I’m against it. If he were fired because he sucks and this is the last straw, I am for it.

by dabooo on Jan 26, 2012 9:31 AM EST reply actions 3 recs

I didn’t know that was a “Euro” approach and I do like it more. Why not just come out and admit that you are a human being with subjective opinions?

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 26, 2012 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

b/c that isn’t news. or reporting.

by DontCallMeJoey on Jan 26, 2012 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Neither is having a subjective opinion, letting it permeate your “reporting” and working really hard to produce the illusion of an objectivity that doesn’t exist.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 28, 2012 1:17 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

That’s where I draw the line between a legitimate newspaper and a tabloid.

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
— Winston S. Churchill
I have the best wife - ever.

by JustBob on Jan 26, 2012 6:01 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

if grossi truly hasn’t been fired, i could see a swap out happening b/w him and doug lesmerises. call lesmerises — who is quite good covering all things ohio state — up to the big leagues to cover the browns and force grossi down to cover ohio state. it allows grossi to continue as a football writer, which is all he’s been for a while now.

by DontCallMeJoey on Jan 26, 2012 2:01 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

I like Doug but he writes so. damn. much.

by C.b.I on Jan 26, 2012 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

He was an NFL writer? I always thought he was a some-what sentient can of spray on tan.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Jan 27, 2012 7:02 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Finally, the notion that the Browns had anything to do w/ Grossi’s removal may fit a conspiratorial anti-Browns narrative, but isn’t factual

This from Joe Lull, although I don’t see a source. But frankly this is what I believed before anyone said it. Why would the Browns have to say anything? It’s not the Browns’ job to hold beat reporters to journalistic standards, it’s the employer.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 26, 2012 3:04 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

Who is Joe Lull if you don’t mind me asking?

by Roger Dorn on Jan 26, 2012 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I don’t mind you asking because I’m not sure myself. I remember him being on STO… I think maybe he’s on the Fan now? It was a WFNY retweet.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 26, 2012 6:17 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I got a response from the PD’s managing editor , here is a bit of that email:

“His reporting and writing have been tough but fair — and always with the news and facts at the center of his work. The tweet he sent was something else. That tweet was unprofessional and, frankly, unacceptable. A beat reporter simply cannot toss off a personal insult such as calling a person he or she covers “pathetic.” That’s not an opinion. It’s not news. It is, quite simply, an insult. It damages the credibility of that reporter and that newspaper going forward in covering any stories involving that person."

"There's a gleam men, there's a gleam!" Marty

by Red-Right-88 on Jan 26, 2012 3:46 PM EST reply actions 7 recs

Sounds about right.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 26, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

He is 100% correct on this one. Couldn’t have worded the reasons better myself.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 26, 2012 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

You couldn’t have worded a response better than the managing editor of a large newspaper? Of course you couldn’t have, you never edit yourself.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Jan 26, 2012 8:59 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

What amazes me about Florio’s crusade on PFT is the part about, “But Tony didn’t MEAN to say that publicly, so he shouldn’t be punished like this.”

As if the “I didn’t MEAN to get caught” line has ever excused someone.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 26, 2012 6:19 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Agreed. Do you think Dimora could use Florio in his corner? Poor Jimmy didn’t mean to get caught either….

Yes im a troll. Yes I hate everyone. Yes I like Colt McCoy. Yes Im 4 years old. Yes I get butt hurt. Deal with it.

by dirtyjoe on Jan 26, 2012 6:42 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

That’s awesome

by Brownie's Year on Jan 26, 2012 8:56 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Here was the response I got. Very cool that he seemed to answer everyone’s email.

Thanks for taking the time to write this note and pass on your thoughts.

This was a very difficult decision and not one we made lightly. But you clearly understand the seriousness of the situation.

I’ll admit that I’d not heard of DawgsByNature.com. I look forward to checking it out — and the work you do there.

Sincerely,

Thom Fladung
Managing editor

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 26, 2012 9:15 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs

Nice plug!

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 26, 2012 10:00 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Sneaky!

Clemson Tigers 2011 ACC Champions

by emily522 on Jan 26, 2012 10:15 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

What the…

Never heard of…

by HenryDawg on Jan 26, 2012 10:31 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Impossible!

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 27, 2012 6:20 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Never heard of us?! We’re one of their sources!

I should have made my screen name DerekAndersonIsMyBrother

by Doc's Kid on Jan 26, 2012 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs

Good work.

by Brownie's Year on Jan 27, 2012 2:47 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I don’t have time to listen right now, but I guess this is from the PD guy on the radio about Grossi: http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=70&c=476&f=374291

If anyone has time to listen, please feel free to recap.

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on Jan 26, 2012 5:57 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

I just listened to it. The interview with Thom Fladung, the managing editor, only lasts for about 5 minutes. He essentially says the same thing that RR88 is quoting from an email above.

by Jon @ DBN on Jan 26, 2012 6:31 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

i thought fladung came off really really well in the interview.

by DontCallMeJoey on Jan 26, 2012 8:54 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Man, those ESPN Cleveland guys have annoying voices.

by Brownie's Year on Jan 26, 2012 8:56 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Must. Rec. EVERYTHING!!!!

I should have made my screen name DerekAndersonIsMyBrother

by Doc's Kid on Jan 26, 2012 8:17 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

I know this is a contrarian opinion – but I feel strongly in 2 things:
1. I do not derive happiness from someone getting whacked.
2. I do have a concern that freedom of speech is somewhat on the run right now – and tend to back those who give their opinion in these things. I do not think what Tony said was over the line. I am hoping that he has been on the ropes and this was a straw that broke the camel’s back – maybe that would indicate a fairer handling of the situation.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Jan 27, 2012 12:52 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

I can sympathize with point one, and it’s something we’d all do well to remember right now.

Point number two, on the other hand, misses the point here. I don’t see how you can look at what Tony said and not think he loses whatever credibility he had. As an unbiased paper, you can’t allow someone with a publicly voiced bias to write anything outside of the editorial section. Whether or not you think he was wrong is a completely different question, but this is clearly over the line for someone who is supposed to be a reporter.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 27, 2012 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

this conversation is completely irrelevant to freedom of speech.

by DontCallMeJoey on Jan 30, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

My god it’s like a leprechaun jizzed all over this thread.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Jan 27, 2012 6:41 PM EST reply actions 5 recs

I like how the only older post without a rec is where this was said:

I like Grossi.

I should have made my screen name DerekAndersonIsMyBrother

by Doc's Kid on Jan 27, 2012 10:02 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs

And there was much rejoicing:

by woodsmeister on Jan 27, 2012 10:00 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

Mary Kay “Double Fisting the Mic” Kabot next

by digaf5 on Jan 27, 2012 10:59 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

ITS ALLL GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 28, 2012 4:07 AM EST reply actions 4 recs

Probably the best thread to put this in:

I was talking with my dad about this and he agrees with the firing but also agrees with what Grossi said. He had an interesting story from one of his friends from HS who used to be a lawyer in Cleveland whose firm did business with Al. Supposedly Randy wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Feb 1, 2012 6:58 PM EST reply actions 2 recs