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The NFL said Monday that an independent review found “no evidence” to substantiate claims by former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson that the team deliberately lost games in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Jackson was fired by Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam eight games into the 2018 season with an overall record of 3-36-1 in two years.
In February, Jackson indicated in a series of posts on social media that the team was paying him bonuses that encouraged him to lose and that he was set up to fail. Jackson later mitigated these allegations.
The NFL, which announced after a 60-day review, independent investigators led by former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Mary Jo White, “ruled that none of the allegations could be substantiated.”
The league said Jackson initially agreed to meet with investigators, but ultimately did not. However, investigators had access to public statements and records he had previously made, as well as his testimony in a previous arbitration case.
The NFL also said Jimmy Haslam was interviewed, as were other current and former members of the organization. The Browns also provided documents to help investigators.
“We appreciate the independent investigation led by Mary Jo White and the Debevoise team, which brings to light these allegations that Hue Jackson publicly withdrew shortly after they were made, and which we have always known to be categorically false. “Browns said in a statement. . “As we have said before, we welcomed this study because the integrity of our game is something that should not be taken lightly and an independent review was essential to reach a conclusion on this matter.”
Jackson is now the coach at Grambling State.
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