The investigation into former Browns head coach Hue Jackson‘s allegations that Cleveland incentivized tanking during Jackson’s time as HC has concluded. In a statement released by the league, it was announced that the investigation — which was conducted by former U.S. Attorney and SEC Chair Mary Jo White, along with a team of lawyers from the Debevoise law firm — could not substantiate any of Jackson’s claims.
According to the statement, the investigation saw full cooperation from the Browns, including owner Jimmy Haslam and current and former members of the organization. Jackson himself originally agreed to meet with investigators but ultimately declined to do so.
Jackson, who has also claimed that the Browns set him up for failure by pitting him against an analytics-driven front office, accused the team of paying bonus money to him, current GM Andrew Berry, current chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, and former executive VP Sashi Brown to tank during the 2016-17 seasons.
“We were paid for it,” Jackson said in February. “You’re going to see it as losing, but the way the team was built there was no chance to win at a high level. My record that year [2016] was 1-15. There was a four-year plan that was crafted, and I have documentation that any coach would cringe if he saw it, because it talked things that had nothing to do with winning. Aggregate rankings, being the youngest team, having so many draft picks — none of those things lead to winning.”
After 2016’s 1-15 campaign that Jackson referenced, the Browns finished 0-16 the following year and started the 2018 season 2-5-1 before Jackson was fired. Under interim HC Gregg Williams, Cleveland finished 2018 on a 5-3 run, which the team was quick to point out when Jackson first levied his accusations.
So while Haslam is still dealing with the PR backlash of the Deshaun Watson acquisition and the uncertainty that continues to swirl around that matter, he has at least avoided the type of fallout that would have ensued had the league substantiated Jackson’s allegations.
Jackson, meanwhile, was recently hired to be Grambling State’s head coach.
they just sucked, that simple.
And Hue was a trash coach
and a race baiter
So Hue lied and will face zero consequences. It’s a shame how liars who falsify accusations never seem to face the consequences
He’s facing consequences, his career is over, his reputation which was already trash is now a burning trash fire, and he will go down as the worst coach in NFL history (I know there’s a few people in that Convo, but this whole debacle has put a cherry on top of it because at least those other horrible coaches had the guts to admit their shortcomings and didn’t try to blame the organization).
Hue made an accusation that he apparently believed to be true, and he was wrong. That’s not the same as lying. Regardless, his chances of getting another job in the NFL are about zero, so he likely cost himself some money even though he got the Grambling job.
Dog butt he didn’t show up for his recorded interview.
Thanks for the eloquent response of low-grade education, Biff. I was already aware of that.
Wrong. He didn’t just say he was set up for failure, he specifically made claims of being given bonuses for losses. There should be consequences for fraudulent claims.
There might be. And if there are and he’s found guilty I’ll be the first to condemn him. I’m not suggesting that Hue is telling the truth; I’m saying that he thinks he is because he’s deluded himself.
It’s not lying if you believe it!
It is lying if you claim you were given bonuses for losses and have nothing to substantiate such claims. He lost, an$ lost plenty, therefore there must be some evidence. Does he have any audio recordings or anything written? Does he have checks or wire transfers to support the bonuses being paid?He lied.
Worst coach ever seriously absolute trash and word has it he overstepped his bounds w birthing eligible staff
Another coverup by the NFL. It’s getting to be a regular thing under Goodell’s watch.
Your proof? Maybe you could have testified for Hue.
An independent investigation led by a well respected individual- its a cover up?
No one forced Hue to accept the position. Nor to cash there pay checks.
Sounds like a cry baby to me.
Paid for by the league is all you need to know. It sets up bias.
Who else would pay for it? The Browns – nope biased. The fans? Exactly who would enlist someone to investigate that wouldn’t be involved in some way? Not defending the shield, but be serious.
but why would it be in the leagues interest to cover this up?
makes no sense. it would be in the leagues interest to weed this out and fine the heck out of Haslam..
Hue seems like a decent enough guy, but with a blame complex. I can easily see him looking at his “evidence” as proof of Browns malfeasance, while almost everyone else looks at it as proof of nothing.
The most telling evidence that they were not tanking was that they fired Hue.
And then they started to win
Hue’s credibility is entirely gone now.
I was excited when the Browns hired him because at the time it was actually a really sensible hire, but the truth is that he just didn’t coach well. He didn’t have a great roster at all, but he never took accountability and always passed the blame on to someone else. Then for him to make these claims and pretty much hide afterward is kind of pathetic, actually.
Was this investigation done by an independent agency or was all paid by the NFL?
Hey numbnut he didn’t even show up for his interview
The release states that the investigation “could not substantiate any of Jackson’s claims”. It DOES NOT STATE that Jackson lied, NOR DOES IT STATE that the Browns’ didn’t have an environment that encouraged losing or that the team provided added financial incentives to members of management for meeting certain team benchmarks that WOULD NOT necessarily be conducive to the team’s on field success.
Did Jackson decline to meet with investigators because he lacked evidence to back up his assertions OR because he knew that no one else would come forward to jeopardize their careers by corroborating his accusations?
Does anybody REALLY BELIEVE that an organization would RAT on themselves on this Landmark Accusation by providing any evidence to investigators that “Tanking” was encouraged?
Any team records that would have supported “Tanking” in any way were destroyed or deleted and former/current members of the organization were provided with “incentives”, (either financial or the assurance of not being “BLACKLISTED” within the business) to BURY or conveniently FORGET ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING that would support the team as having encouraged “TANKING” !!
kinda seems like, no.
Amazing that nobody cares that Hie Jackson flat out lied. He’s a total f’ing clown.
Why would anyone even attempt to construct a 4 year plan in the NFL? There is just too much player and staff turnover to look that far ahead.
Maybe an independent investigator would be better suited than an NFL investigator…
And who employs that investigator or are they supposed to do it pro bono? So a former U.S. Attorney and a respected law firm are part of a conspiracy against a guy who claimed evidence but didn’t show up to present it. Hue is a narcissistic clown.