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You are here: Home / Daily News / ESPN Suspends Tony Grossi For Calling Baker Mayfield ‘(expletive) Midget’ On Hot Mic

ESPN Suspends Tony Grossi For Calling Baker Mayfield ‘(expletive) Midget’ On Hot Mic

By Jimmy Swartz February 25, 2020 @brownsnationcom

browns helmet
(Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

 

ESPN Cleveland Browns reporter Tony Grossi has a history of trouble with Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, but he crossed a line at the NFL combine Tuesday. 

Audio picked up from a hot microphone hit Twitter with Grossi discussing the quarterbacks that the Browns have (and will) missed out on.

He mentioned Joe Burrow, Carson Wentz, Deshaun Watson, and Patrick Mahomes.

When he referred to Mayfield, though, the ESPN Cleveland reporter said that the Browns were stuck with a “(expletive) midget.”

Shortly after, the video made rounds on twitter with many demanding an apology from Grossi and the station.  

#browns they just called baker a f*****g midget on espn cleveland when they thought the mics were off pic.twitter.com/iSh3scQRCt

— Liam (@leojokerhart) February 25, 2020

It did not appear that Grossi knew they were still recording when he made the comment.  

pic.twitter.com/oFvRfE2J6P

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) February 25, 2020

“We are aware of Tony Grossi’s statement about Baker Mayfield. The term Tony used is a derogatory slur to describe Little People. Good Karma Brands will not tolerate derogatory language that demeans others or groups of people,” ESPN Cleveland said in a statement, per WKYC. “We are addressing this mater with Tony directly, and while we normally do not comment on personnel matters, we do want to share that we have made the decision to immediately and indefinitely suspend Tony Grossi. In addition, we will pursue sensitivity and inclusion training for everyone on our content teams across our company.

“From Good Karma Grands, to our fans, our partners, the Browns and Baker Mayfield – we are sorry.”

 

Grossi later issued an apology on Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/NTEaCrkBjn

— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) February 25, 2020


 

Both Mayfield and Grossi have a history of not getting along. 

At an October press conference, Browns reporter Tony Grossi asked Mayfield about a stalled drive, when Mayfield replied, “Stop saying ‘but.’ I just told you the clock was running and we had a penalty.

You want to give them the ball back? No. You don’t play, you don’t know. That’s just plain and simple.”

“Was I happy with the drive? No, we didn’t score points,” Mayfield chirped. “That’s the dumbest question you could ask. What?”

Mayfield then appeared disgusted with Grossi and walked away toward his locker.

Baker Mayfield got into a heated moment with a reporter and walked out of his weekly press conference. #Browns pic.twitter.com/lSGxos3Ce8

— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) October 30, 2019

This latest incident will most likely not improve their relationship.  

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Filed Under: Daily NewsTagged With: Cleveland Browns

About Jimmy Swartz

Owner and Founder of BrownsNation.com. As a freelance sports journalist being born and raised in Ohio, I understand the Cleveland Browns fan base. Whether it was Red Right 88, The Drive, The Fumble, The Move, and whatever we're calling the post-1999 quarterback dilemma, Browns fans just want a winner. When I'm not plugging away in front of the computer, I'm probably watching sports or thinking about sports.

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