Report: Discipline For Browns & Falcons Rule Violations Expected To “Severe”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that officials for the Browns and Falcons were informed at this week’s owners meetings that the discipline stemming from their rules violations is expected to be announced next week.

• According to a source that spoke to Schefter, the discipline is expected to be “severe.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters on Wednesday that he didn’t have any updates pertaining to the two teams, but the expectation is that they’ll make an announcement in the coming weeks.

The Falcons have already admitted to piping in artificial crowd noise during the 2013 and 2014 seasons while the opposing teams were huddling.

”It’s not really a fine line,” owner Arthur Blank told The Associated Press. ‘‘I think what we’ve done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we’re opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It’s obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn’t represent our culture and what we’re about.”

Previous reports have said that there’s a chance the Falcons could be docked a draft pick for this situation.

As for the Browns, GM Ray Farmer admitted publicly that he sent text messages down to the sideline during games that were forwarded to the team’s coaching staff.

Farmer could end up receiving a fine and/or suspension for hit role in the situation, and there has been talk that the Browns could lose a draft pick as well.

A previous report has said that, depending on the outcome of this situation, Farmer’s job could be at risk.

We’ll have more updates regarding discipline for the Browns and Falcons as the news is available.