What will the Browns do about a fan who threw a bottle at owner Jimmy Haslam?
Though it’s easy to understand the fans’ frustration, violence is never the answer and with that, the Browns will understandably be banning the fan in question.
The franchise is set to take action against a fan after an unfortunate incident took place on Sunday involving the team’s owner and a bottle that was thrown at him.
Browns set to ban fan who threw a bottle at Jimmy Haslam
According to reports, the Cleveland Browns have identified the individual who threw a bottle at Browns owner Jimmy Haslam during the team’s 31-30 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. As per reports, the franchise is now set to ban the man in question. On Monday, a video was posted on social media which appears to show the moments immediately after Garrett Wilson’s game-winning touchdown that came late in the fourth quarter. As the camera pans to the right, viewers can see what appears to be Haslam walking towards the tunnel at which point a bottle which comes from the right seems to hit him.
“Fan, player and staff safety is the top priority in our building and behavior that puts others in danger will not be tolerated,” the Browns said in a statement. “Luckily no one was harmed in this incident and as a standard practice, we’ve cooperated with law enforcement authorities and security video footage of the object being thrown is in the appropriate hands. We will have no further comment on this matter.” It is also understood that the fan was charged with misdemeanor assault, failure to comply with a lawful order and disorderly conduct.
A stain on an already tainted record
Let’s be clear, whether your team sucks or not, disorderly/violent conduct is never the answer. On the other hand, there is one piece of statistical information that’s not likely to help following the Browns’ loss on Sunday. Prior to Sunday’s game, NFL teams had lost 2,331 straight games when trailing by 13-plus points in the final two minutes of a game (including playoffs). Who was the last team to lose when holding a 13-plus point lead in the final two minutes? The Cleveland Browns back in 2001, which is to say we can appreciate the fans’ frustration.