Browns Drop the Ball in Reprimanding Bernie Kosar

First off, here is the good news: Bernie Kosar will still be calling preseason games for the Cleveland Browns. The bad news? In a statement released by CEO Joe Banner, the organization reprimanded Kosar, acknowledging the fact that he also called the Rams organization to apologize to head coach Jeff Fisher.

"We don’t condone the personal and unprofessional approach that Bernie took with some of his comments during the broadcast Thursday night," said Banner. "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."

The Browns dropped the ball here. Kosar was no different commentating during Thursday's broadcast against the Rams as he's been for over five years now. Fisher and the Rams are an organization that screwed over the Browns for Robert Griffin III a year ago. Fisher took a personal jab at Kosar, as did national writer Peter King of Sports Illustrated.

We wrote a comprehensive article transcribing what Kosar actually said, something that should have vindicated him. Instead, the Browns' statement gives some form of validation to the disgraceful remarks resorted to by Fisher and King. I have been behind pretty much every move that the Browns' organization has made thus far, but they really dropped the ball here.

It would have been much more appropriate for Banner to release a statement saying that they have discussed the issue with Kosar, and anticipate that there won't be any issues moving forward. To refer to his remarks as personal and unprofessional? Terrible, terrible move that doesn't show support for a guy who doesn't deserve to be reprimanded whatsoever.

King has yet to apologize for insinuating that Kosar was drunk, either.

Memo to the Browns: don't desensitize Kosar's preseason commentary. It is one of the few things that Browns fans have been able to look forward to during a decade of misery.