Teams like the Bills and 49ers made headlines last week after pulling off blockbuster trades. The Browns, meanwhile, were in the spotlight for the deal they did not make. Despite verbally agreeing to acquire quarterback A.J. McCarron from the Bengals, the Browns failed to file the proper paperwork before the 4pm ET/3pm CT trade deadline.
Did the Browns intentionally scuttle the deal? On Monday afternoon, top executive Sashi Brown discussed the the would-be swap and much more (transcript via Nate Ulrich of the Akron-Beacon Journal):
On whether the paperwork mishap was deliberate:
It’s wholly untrue. I think we were all in there together, Hue, myself and a couple other staff members that work on these things at the time we were trying to get the trade done. So I’m not worried about that internally, externally. I can just put it to bed. That’s just not the case. Nothing we would ever do. To try to make up a trade to sabotage a trade just wouldn’t make any sense. 
This is just a matter of getting to a deal too late in the process. Both Cincinnati and us tried our damnedest to try to get the paperwork in at the last minute. We’re talking about minutes and seconds before the trade deadline ended. We were on the phone with the NFL at the time to try to make it happen. It did not happen. I do think Cincinnati in earnest tried. I know we did everything humanly possible to get it done. It just didn’t happen.
On whether the botched deal will result in his firing:
I don’t [worry about it costing me my job]. I think we’re in good communication with both Dee and Jimmy [Haslam] on these things, and they’re well apprised of what we’re doing and why and how things come together. I think they’ve seen our track record in terms of being able to perform and pull off some of the more creative deals in the league and a host of just simple, straightforward transactions, whether they’re in the season or on draft day. So I don’t [have that concern]. I think they understand that we’ve been as aggressive as any team trying to churn this roster and improve it.
On whether he has been assured of his return for 2018:
No, it wouldn’t be a conversation that I would have, either. I think the most important thing for us to do is really stay focused on our task at hand. We’ve got eight [games left] this year. Our [players] have been resilient and focused. I think you’d expect no less from the front office and the coaching staff, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.
Heres a theory Luck is no longer a franchise QB for a real football team in my opinion (too injury prone) cough RG3 2.0 trade him to the Browns. If you’re the colts why continue to pay someone who never plays? Cut your ties and fully rebuild, Browns have plenty of space and draft picks can send a couple second rounders maybe more for Luck
Couple 2nd round picks for Luck? Your not even sure when he is going to play again.
Yes I believe 2 2nds for Luck and hoping he’s able to start next season is wiser and smarter than a 2nd and 3rd for a career back up
I think Luck would refuse to come to Cleveland and get killed. The Reason Luck got hurt in the first place is the Ineptness of then GM Ryan Grigson to build a proper offensive line to protect him. Now Grigson is in Cleveland’s already inept front office with a Very Bad offensive line. The Browns after the Joe Thomas injury have no LT, No Center and No RT. Maybe they could trade Thomas straight up for Luck.
Was Sashi serious when he said “they’ve seen our track record “ ????
No reasonable explanation why this guy has this job with NO football background
Maybe he has pictures of Haslam?? These guys are the joke of the NFL
It won’t be bad forever.
I’ve been hearing that about the Browns for what seems like forever
It will have to be after Sashi is gone. He’s obviously no “boy wonder” GM and as Parcells used to say “you are what your record says you are “
Parcells also said if you want me to cook the dinner at least let me buy some of the Groceries. Bottom line Hue would have taken Deshaun Watson with the 12th pick and the Browns would be in a lot better shape for it.
Sashi does not pass the Eye test as a GM, knows nothing about Football and really has no one around him that does know anything about Football they have Baseball guy Depodesto, and Ryan Grigson who messed up the Colts so badly their Franchise QB is out for the year because of his ineptness. They draft solely on Potential over Production, and by who they can get if they trade down.
Complete Ineptness should not be Rewarded. Sashi Brown and the Front office are COMPLETELY INEPT!!!!!. In their Grading of Players, Haslem is an idiot for giving him Final Say on the Roster. They should have kept Taylor Gabriel. Sashi is CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They could have had Goff, Wentz, or Watson at QB I would have even taken Mahomes. Kizer obviously should have stayed in school just like Mitch Trubisky. The Bears have a couple wins which none Mitch really had anything to do with. The Browns had Trubisky one. Mahomes Two and Watson Three. Other botches by the Browns drafting Corey Coleman in the 1st place. When they could have had one of four players Wentz, Goff, Bosa or Elliott. I want to ask Sashi and the Browns management one thing Why do you not draft players from Ohio State, or draft players from the Area. Kareem Hunt, You need veterans on your team to help the young guys. Picking up J.C. Tretter who had started 10 games previously in the NFL. Pat Elflein would have been another good pick. Instead the Browns have Huge holes at LT, C and RT. Plus have no legitimate #1 Receiver. The Closest thing they have to that is RB Duke Johnson who should get moved to the Slot. Gary Barnidge would have been a Security blanket for a Browns QB. Right now they have none. Signing Britt was like signing Dwayne Bowe 2.0. Sashi has continued the pattern of ineptness since the Browns came back in 1999. But especially since Ray Farmer was the GM and mismanaged the team on all levels. Messing with the Coach, and the Assistant coaches on game day.
Seriously thou, a 2nd and a 3rd for McCarron? I think they dodged a bullet