Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown refuted a report that said some of Cleveland's coaches believed he intentionally "sabotaged" the trade for AJ McCarron, calling it "wholly untrue" during a press conference Monday, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN.
Brown asserted the idea that the front office would nix the move "doesn't make any sense," arguing the actual problem was that the Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to the parameters of the trade too late in the process.
Cleveland reportedly agreed to send a second- and third-round pick to the Bengals for McCarron, but a supposed miscommunication between the teams led to the Browns failing to send the league the required paperwork before the trade deadline.
Asked about the reported disconnect between the coaching staff and the front office, Brown said, "In these moments there is a lot of adversity. We have to stay united," according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
The Browns come off their bye week still seeking their first win of the season.
