Browns and GM Ray Farmer facing possible league sanctions

The long, cold winter of the Cleveland Browns continues.

Browns fans have long conditioned themselves to ask “Can it get any worse?” and somehow this offseason continues to answer it in the affirmative.

With quarterback Johnny Manziel already checked into rehab and wide receiver Josh Gordon suspended for yet another season, the Browns already looked to be at rock bottom. But matters got even worse Wednesday as it was reported that the team faces sanctions from the NFL due to general manager Ray Farmer sending text messages to the sidelines during games.

The possible penalties include loss of a draft pick, a fine and/or a suspension for Farmer. League rules prohibit electronic communication between players, coaches and team officials.

Cleveland.com has been on top of the story for well over a month, when it initially reported that it played a role in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan leaving the franchise. The texts were reportedly sent to quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains regarding “quarterback play, use of personnel and the second-guessing of play calls.”

Coach Mike Pettine and owner Jimmy Haslam have confirmed that they are cooperating with league investigators. The seriousness of the sanctions levied on Cleveland will depend on whether the league determines the Browns were given a competitive advantage – something that should thoroughly depress Browns fans further if found to be true.

The Browns haven’t made the playoffs since 2002, which was their only postseason appearance since returning to the league in 1999. Moving ahead won’t be any easier. Cleveland was the only AFC North team to miss the playoffs this season.

Three players arrested within 24 hours

Dark clouds hung over the NFL’s image this season due to a number of high-profile incidents involving star players like Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson.

It took all of two days for a trio of players to run into the first legal trouble of this offseason.

Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion is looking at the most serious charges after being arrested for felony possession of marijuana and felony possession of a firearm in his Florida hometown.

Police found 357 grams of weed, a 9mm handgun and $190,000 in Guion’s possession after pulling his truck over. He started every game for Green Bay this season.

“We are aware of a serious matter involving Letroy Guion,” the Packers said in a statement. “We have not yet spoken to Letroy and we will have no further comment.”

Cowboys backup running back Joseph Randle ended up in cuffs for the second time in four months when Wichita, Kansas police nailed him for illegal possession of marijuana. Police had shown up to the hotel room where Randle was staying after receiving a call regarding domestic violence with a weapon. No weapon was found, but the drugs were enough for Randle to be arrested, though he was not booked.

Randle was best known this season as “The Underwear Bandit” after getting nabbed shoplifting Polo underwear and a bottle of cologne from a suburban Dallas mall.

Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson – otherwise known as the guy who picked off the ball that got “Deflategate” started – was arrested in Washington, D.C. on charges of assault. A pizza deliveryman told police that Jackson punched him in the head during a dispute over a parking spot.

Five Colts have been arrested since last March if one includes team owner Jim Irsay, who was suspended for the first six games of the season after an impaired driving arrest.

Sounds like another long offseason awaits Roger Goodell – provided he actually tries getting his hands on the necessary evidence to dole out suspensions.

Cardinals promote James Bettcher to defensive coordinator

Do the Arizona Cardinals have a defensive coordinator? You Bettcher.

Arizona replaced Todd Bowles by promoting outside linebackers coach James Bettcher to defensive coordinator on Wednesday. Bowles was hired as the Jets’ head coach on January 13.

It was widely assumed that Dick LeBeau would end up with the job following his ouster in Pittsburgh, but LeBeau settled on joining another former Steelers assistant, Ken Whisenhunt, in Tennessee.

Bettcher only has three years of NFL coaching experience, but all of them are with Bruce Arians. Bettcher assistated Arians in his interim head coach capacity in Indianapolis before leaving with him for Arizona.

Bettcher’s promotion will be formally announced by the team next week. The Cardinals added Raiders assistant Bob Sanders to take Bettcher’s old spot, but still need an inside linebackers coach after Mike Caldwell left with Bowles for New York.