Thursday, April 24, 2014

Kosar Bumped From Browns Broadcasts, Blames Concussions

((HT: WKYC-TV))

The Cleveland Browns decided who their broadcast crew was going to be for the pre-season team and it wasn't going to include former QB Bernie Kosar...

Here's the WKYC station release welcoming Solomon Wilcots...

“We welcome Solomon and are excited to look further into additional opportunities to continue to engage Bernie with our fans. We want Browns fans to look forward to seeing and hearing his continued contributions and analysis on not only our preseason telecasts, but also our radio network and ClevelandBrowns.com.”

Bernie Kosar blames concussions he suffered during his career as part of the reason he got bumped from the broadcasts- even after claiming treatment in early 2013 helped him lessen some effects:
((HT: Fox8 Cleveland))


Kosar came out with a statement that said in part, thanks Cleveland.com and Mary Kay Cabot:

"This is very unfortunate, as I believe my football acumen and ability to describe what is happening on the field, has been well received by Cleveland Browns fans. I love to put the personal touch, pride in the Browns, and pride in our Cleveland community into the broadcast."

WKYC issued a statement trying to deflect any possible angle for Kosar to take legal recourse claiming an ADA violation or discrimination case, in part:

“First of all, we love Bernie, and we’re grateful for the role he has played in our broadcasts over the last 8 years,” said WKYC President and General Manager Brooke Spectorsky. “Nowhere in our discussions with Bernie or the Browns has anything ever been said about his speech impairment due to concussions. That has simply nothing to do with our decision. The Browns are rebuilding their team, and in reviewing our programming we’ve decided to rebuild as well. We felt there was a better role for Bernie than doing just four preseason games and we completely understand Bernie’s iconic status with Browns fans. I know Bernie has made statements that he felt that these moves were due to his speech issues, and I reiterate that is not the case.

Spectorsky wants Kosar to be involved a lot... just not as TV analyst...

KYC claims it wasn't Kosar's health, his drunken driver arrest in October 2013, or the comments from the Rams game last year that got Rams head coach Jeff Fisher all in a lather.


The station claims Wilcots' 6 games around the Browns last season was one of the main determinants.

The HQ can think of other TV elements in play that would make just as much sense...

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