@unsympathetic said:

It is not slander...legally. But it may, indeed, be misinformed...and totally premature.

As I've said before and will say again: If you've got proof that Haslam will actually be forced to sell, show it. Your assumptions mean nothing - and negative crap about Haslam is nothing but slander.

Skeptical2013 said:

Either you can't read, or you choose not to. I did say that PR is an important issue to the NFL. But I also said that no one in the NFL gives a shit that Louis Freeh...or any other celebrity lawyer's name is attached to this case. There are 32 owners and 32 coaches and 500 NFL players who are more famous than this "celebrity" lawyer. No one gives a shit about his name.

And if Haslam is involved in defrauding his customer's out of rebates (you couldn't even get what he was accused of right), he is by no means "toast" as an NFL owner.

They will only ask him to remove himself if his legal situation causes his financial situation to suffer....and thereby causing the Browns financial situation to suffer.

If he is "merely" convicted of a crime, he could be suspended for a period...just so the NFL can show they are doing something affirmative about a "criminal" in their midst....but unless they teams situation is in jeapordy, they will not force him to sell.

Again, I use situations where a person outside legal/financial issues cause great concern to the NFL team:

A. Banks were threatening to foreclose on and attach the Ravens...thus Modell was putsched.

B. Same basic deal with Kiam. He lost his wad on his razor business...and one of his business partners...Orthwein I believe was making noise about coming after the Pats. To resolve that situation, Kiam sold out to Orthwein, removing himself....and Orthwein in like 2 years sold out to Robert Kraft.

C. Leonard Tose, Eagles owner amassed huge gambling debts to Atlantic City Casinos. The casinos wanted a piece of the Eagles action.....and no fucking way was the NFL going to allow that, so they forced Tose to sell the Eagles.

If it comes down to the point that lawsuits/criminal penalties etc. would affect the Browns...then Haslam could be forced out...but that is unlikely because all those guys would first go after Pilot....and that is a very valuable venture....far more valuable than the Cleveland Browns. They would have to go a long, long way before affecting the Browns.

But....you believe what you wish. And keep looking to the sky, Chicken Little.

@pumpkin-eater said:

Big difference. The investigation into Flying J has been ongoing for over 2 years.

Long story short: these guys really aren't good business strategists and are probably gonna get fucked with no lube in court.

@the-gipper said:

I think it's wonderful you think that NFL owners could care less et al and bad PR wouldn't impact them, but there are many instances in politics, sports and corporate life where I have seen similar situations where people dig in, only to capitulate in the end due to a mounting, irreversible tide of media and public dismay and call for action. If we learn there is irrefutable evidence that Haslam had a hand in the price fixing, he is toast as an owner in the NFL. Period. You may not believe it. But I do.

Skeptical2013 said:

Publicity is relevent. He is already an NFL owner so the spotlight on him will be very high.

The league is PR conscious....but adding Louis Freeh's name to this does not heighten or jeopardize Haslam's situation by one cabbage fart.

Maybe it has some affect on dumbasses in the public (like you apparently). It has no effect on his NFL owner partners.

Could they do something to him if he is convicted? Certainly. Yes they are PR conscious. But those NFL owners are not swayed by the fact that Louis Freeh or Clarence Darrow or F.Lee Bailey or Mickey Mouse is associated.

If JH wanted to play dueling celebrity lawyers all he would have to do is hire one of these guys;

http://www.businessinsider.com/top-ten-celebrity-lawyers-2009-10?op=1

But I can tell you, having a celebrity lawyer on the other side don't mean nothing. Celebrity lawyers clients still can get the needle.

@the-gipper said:

That may or may not be true, but the dynamic you don't consider is publicity. Louis Freeh has a name, and that name may allow him to get on TV networks like ABC, CBS with 60 Minutes or CNN and talk about the situation, and that in turn makes the case more high profile and that in turn gets the attention of the PR conscious NFL and makes them very nervous and that in turn means more squeezing of Mr .Haslam. Some of the gamsemanship is about putting pressure on Haslam, and having a "name" attorney with the case may accomplish that. Sounds like a Grisham novel to me, with Browns fans the pawns caught in the middle somewhere.

http://www.forbes.com/teams/dallas-cowboys/

Skeptical2013 said:

The fact that a guy with a name that you have heard of is involved doesn't increase the ability of those companies to win.

It just brings publicity to the case that impresses celebrity jock sniffers....like you to think "Oh My God....Jesus is back walking the Earth". No, sorry. Just a name. The best attorneys are guys you have never heard of.

@slowburn said:

The only reason that the NFL would force him into selling the Browns is if this situation began to seriously affect the financial stability of the team itself. That was the reason they forced Victor Kiam, Leonard Tose, and Art Modell to sell their teams.

It is way, way too premature to tell if that could happen....plus, the fact is, Haslam is far more well heeled than Kiam, Tose, and Modell ever were.

In a certain reality, Haslam could lose the entire Flying J Pilot Enterprise and still be able to run an NFL team. For the Rooneys and Jerry Jones (and maybe a couple of others) owning and running an NFL team is their sole profession.

@dick-mellon said:

Haslam was no more of a Steeler fan than he was a Browns fan. He invested in the Steelers merely because there was an opportunity there and as a foray into principle ownership of a team...which turned out to be the Browns. So, he was a fan of where his money is.

But, he admitted that before getting into NFL investment, he was a Cowboys fan....so that may be where his FRAK heart lies.

@the-gipper said:

This is a very serious matter adn the fact that a high profile guy like former FBI director Louis Freeh is representing thetrucking companies is not plesant for Haslam. The Browns will be the lat thing on haslam's mind in the coming months, no different thatit was under Lerner. Very sad.

@miktoxic said:

Is this only incomprehensible to me, or is it generally incomprehensible?

Can I get a Browns fan to interpret this for me?

Please forgive me, but I got a shitty education at the Pittsburgh Public School.

you truly believe that they were not in the loop regarding Flying J being investigated for the federal crimes for which they have been

charged, while reviewing his application to buy the Browns? I think they knew, but Haslam sold them on the proposition that

the investigation was minor in nature and that he (Haslam) could deal with it in a manner suitable to the feds and the league. Well, the

chicken has come home to roost and after he gets broadsided in federal court the IRS with come in to pick the bones from the Flying J

carcass. He may be able to adsorb the financial hits and stay afloat but I have a suspicion the NFL will levy the death penalty and force

him to sell the Browns. How else could they polish their tarnished image and remove that crusty egg goo?

somethin about the guy just makes me see red.

@miktoxic said:

Dude put down the wednesday night beer.

@dick-mellon said:

we've always known yinz is a douchebag steeler nutsack sucking faggot.

so take your bullshit somewhere else pillowbiter, sword-swallower, butt pirate ben gay dick sucking flamer.

no matter what the out come of haslam with the browns (believe me his wife has enough money in her name to keep him afloat that the gov can't touch) i betcha we spank your sorry asses this year and you and the squeelers will be finally be proven to be the frauds that you are and have been......BITCH!

oh BTW nice pic of james harrison today sprayed all over espn with his acupunture needles in his back. BUT did you notice his ass spread wide open upon his own doing?

you guys have now overcome the bengals as the embarrassment of our division.

@dick-mellon said:

Haslam isn't a "Steeler fan" he bought a interest in the team and became a Steeler fan because he owned a part of the Steelers. I would also have to think that the Steelers thoroughly checked out his financials and his company before allowing him to buy an interest. I think the only way the guy has to sell is if he just gets SWAMPED by lawsuits and is forced to sell the team and even then I sincerely doubt that occurs.

Please don't shed any tears for Haslam.

Haslam is your new Art Modell, or possibly even worse.

Haslam promised you suckers that he won't move the team.

Yinz ate it up when Art Modell told you the same thing.

Haslam is a Steelers fan from out-of-state.

He is no friend of yurs, nor a friend of da Browns.

Haslam buying the Browns is worse than if I bought the Browns, coz I would at least tell yinz the truth that I'm moving the hell outta the rustbelt ASAP!