Browns issue warning to Bernie Kosar about harsh on-air comments

Bernie Kosar was given a reprimand Sunday by the Cleveland Browns after he used harsh words to describe players and a coach of the St. Louis Rams during a television broadcast of an exhibition game Thurdsay night.

Rams Coach Jeff Fisher, a former NFL defensive back, went on the record Saturday with reporters to say he had “lost a lot of respect” for Kosar, a former NFL quarterback who provides analysis for WKYC Channel 3 in Cleveland.

Kosar called Rams receivers “horrible” after some dropped passes and repeatedly criticized backup quarterback Kellen Clemens, saying he “can’t stand to watch him play.” After play-by-play man Jim Donovan asked Kosar, “What if some of the parents are watching?” Kosar replied, “I’d be embarrassed.”

Cleveland won, 27-19.

Joe Banner, Browns chief executive, released the following statement Sunday:

“We don’t condone the personal and unprofessional approach that Bernie took with some of his comments during the broadcast Thursday night. We’ve spoken to Bernie, he understands that, and we would expect the situation is resolved moving forward. We’ve also reached out to the Rams organization and have shared those same sentiments.

Fisher told reporters he felt bad for “a first-class organization” like the Browns, “that they had someone doing their broadcast feel the need to speak that way about players, specifically on our team and coaches for that matter. ...

“To be honest with you, I lost a lot of respect for him. It’s highly unlikely he knew anything about our football team, but felt the need to make those comments. I don’t think they were justified.”

The Browns also reported Sunday that Kosar had called Fisher to apologize, which had to be an awkward conversation because Fisher had alluded to Kosar’s troubles with pain killers, marriage and finances on Sunday by saying, “Bernie’s got some issues, they’re well documented.”

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