The team fired Legendary Cleveland Browns QB and weekend Browns analyst Bernie Kosar on Sunday morning before his weekly appearance on the Browns pregame radio show.
Kosar informed Browns fans of the firing on Twitter and many were highly upset at the news.
Steelers GameDay yet once again I was informed by the Browns that my services are no longer desired or needed. I will not be doing todays radio program.I am shocked & disappointed 😢Brown & Orange is my life 🏈 #UMatter https://t.co/a834Gs3FSU @BernieKosarShow Go #Browns
— Bernie Kosar (@BernieKosarQB) January 8, 2023
The Browns then responded with a statement of their own:
“Earlier this week, we notified Bernie that per league policy, we were required to remove him from our pregame radio coverage for the season finale after he violated the NFL gambling policy by placing a bet on an NFL game,” the team said. “We understand what Bernie means to this community and our history, but as team contracted personnel hired to provide content on our media platforms, [his] bet was a violation of NFL rules, and we must adhere to all NFL policy.”
The firing resulted from Kosar’s bet on his Bernie Kosar Show w/Hanford Dixon, where he wagered $19000 on the Browns win their season finale over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Proceeds were supposed to go to charity but the rules are clear and the Browns had no choice but to part ways with the Browns legend.
What does the NFL gambling policy say?
The NFL policy on gambling prohibits NFL Personnel from betting on “any NFL game, practice or another event” in any capacity, which includes bets on “game outcome, statistics, score, the performance of any individual participant, or any other kind of ‘proposition bet’ on which wagering is offered.”
Section 2.2 further states that any “full-time, part-time personnel including League office employees, club employees, players, owners, athletic trainers, game officials security personnel, game-day stadium personnel, and other staff, consultants and temporary contract workers” is prohibited from gambling on any sport.
