When rumors began Thursday the Browns might be for sale, the team quickly released a statement.

"The Browns are not for sale."

For Browns fans, that's great news. Unfortunately, the statement did not come from owner Randy Lerner. Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis' name was associated with the quote.

How difficult would it have been for Lerner to tell the team's public relations department to apply his name to that quote? We're probably talking a conversation that would have taken a few minutes.

Having that statement coming from the owner of the team would have had a much greater affect, but what the public was given was a head-scratcher. Am I over reacting? Maybe.

One thing is for sure: If I owned an NFL team and a rumor was circulating the team might be up for sale, and the rumor wasn't true, the public would hear it from ME and no one else.

- Mark Podolski | @mpodo