Columbus is "an important piece of the puzzle" for the Cleveland Browns, and if the latest rumblings are true, the Browns are on a verge of another business foray into Franklin County.
The Browns are looking to move their August training camp from team facilities in Berea. Franklin County's Ohio Dominican, along with Ohio Wesleyan and the University of Akron, were some of the places considered, and ultimately it looks like Columbus officials believe they've wrapped it up for central Ohio.
From Lori Kurtzman and Holly Zachariah of The Columbus Dispatch:
The Browns are exploring a new home away from their current facilities in Berea, and the Columbus group offered financial incentives of an undisclosed amount to entice Browns owner Jimmy Haslam their way. It’s likely the city and county would support the Browns’ new facilities, if needed.
Two sources at City Hall said the group left the Sunday meeting thinking it was “a matter of when, not if” the team announces its relocation to Columbus.
Mayor Mike Coleman, who was part of the group and is an "ardent" Bengals supporter, even wore Browns regalia to Cleveland to make the pitch before last Sunday's Bengals-Browns "contest."
The Browns, naturally, are denying an "early decision" has been made.
