Cleveland Browns

Front office divide? Rift reportedly growing between Browns' Farmer, Pettine

Published Jul. 21, 2015 2:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

Is it possible that time hasn't healed all wounds between Browns general manager Ray Farmer and his head coach Mike Pettine?

According to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland, the rift between the two may be growing. While the initial damage was done by Farmer's role in Textgate, Grossi traces the recently announced departure of Dr. Jamil Northcutt, the team's director of player engagement, to a potential power struggle between Farmer and Pettine. The Browns called it a mutual parting of ways, but Grossi believes there is more to it.

Northcutt, hired 15 months ago after working with Farmer in Kansas City, served as the GM's confidante, but also became a thorn in Pettine's side, according to Grossi. Not only was Northcutt a recipient of Farmer's in-game text messages last season, Northcutt apparently overstepped his bounds with the coaching staff.

He reportedly confronted defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil after the team's embarrassing 23-7 loss to the Houston Texans, and also had words with offensive line coach Andy Moeller regarding the playing time, or lack therof, of backup Vinston Painter after center Alex Mack was loss to a season-ending broken leg.

There could be other reasons why Northcutt is leaving the team. Last year's rookie class including Johnny Manziel, Justin Gilbert and Terrance West, struggled dramatically to get acquainted in the NFL. Plus you can't forget that Josh Gordon boarded a private jet to Las Vegas after the end of the season unaware that having a drink would get him suspended yet again -- wouldn't exactly call that engaged. While it might be unfair to point fingers at Northcutt for the players' immaturity, their failings couldn't have helped his case.

Ultimately Grossi believes Pettine and Farmer -- who is suspended for the first four games of the season for Textgate -- will work out their differences since neither has established a strong enough track record to win a power struggle over the other. In a sense, they both need each other to avoid owner Jimmy Haslam's itchy trigger finger.