What does the Pilot/Flying J settlement mean to the Browns?

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam signed off on a settlement agreement with the federal government to pay a 92 million dollar fine. It has been broadly reported that this issue is now closed. That is not the case.

In the 40+ page agreement, the fed reserves the right to continue to prosecute individuals that were involved in the withholding of rebates to customers. That does not mean that Haslam will be indicted. It simply means that the fed does not have enough evidence at this point to indite him or any of the other top officials. By reserving the right to continue to prosecute, there is still a chance that additional indictments may come but it is less likely.

One thing that can not be overlooked is the party politics of this investigation. Where Jimmy’s brother not the Republican Governor of Tennessee, there would have been a much less public investigation of the crime. Make no mistake about it—the company did violate federal law. But the fed did all it could to be as public as possible about the crime.

Bottom line—Every Browns fan should buy their fuel at Flying J or Pilot because the team owner needs the money to pay the fed.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

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Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He editshttps://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work athttp://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows onhttps://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ and the live show Mondays at 6 PM Eastern time on.

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