Tony Grossi, Who Lost His Cleveland Browns Beat Over a Tweet, Has Left the Plain-Dealer [UPDATE]

All, Media Gossip/Musings, Twitter Jason McIntyre March 7th. 2012, 3:47pm

Remember Tony Grossi? The former Cleveland Browns beat-writer for the Plain-Dealer?

In January, he was booted from the beat after accidentally ripping the owner of the Browns in a tweet (“He’s a pathetic figure, the most irrelevant billionaire in the world”) that was supposed to be a direct message. Grossi admitted it was a terrible mistake and apologized profusely. But was that enough?

Six weeks later, and Grossi has left the newspaper. Interestingly, the word “retire” is not in the tweet, which leads one to believe perhaps this the departure wasn’t his decision. Could he be going to another paper? Maybe. Could he have been pushed out? Who knows.

It’s pretty safe to assume this isn’t the last we’ve heard about Grossi.

[UPDATE: That didn't take long. A reader notes that Grossi is going into radio, specifically ESPNCleveland (850 AM). Apparently, Grossi will cover the Browns for the radio station.]

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45 Responses to “Tony Grossi, Who Lost His Cleveland Browns Beat Over a Tweet, Has Left the Plain-Dealer [UPDATE]”

1
Irvin Pankey Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 3:52 PM
It’s pretty safe to assume this isn’t the last we’ve heard about Grossi.
Thank god. I’d hate for this to be the last we hear about a guy no one could possibly give a shit about.
2
spencer096 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 3:52 PM
addition by subtraction.
3
ms621 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 3:53 PM
It’s pretty safe to assume this isn’t the last we’ve heard about Grossi.
Sort of like episode three of season 1 of Archer was not supposed to be the last we’d hear from Conway Stern (which isn’t his real name)?
Because he hasn’t been back since.
4
KC Resident Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 3:57 PM
That dude in the picture looks like an evil German villain from a Bond film that has yet to be made.
5
starkweather Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 3:57 PM
Interestingly, the word “retire” is not in the tweet, which leads one to believe perhaps this the departure wasn’t his decision.
That is fascinating
6
H.E. Pennypacker Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 3:59 PM
never heard of him. he looks like a smug asshole though.
7
spencer096 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:01 PM
never heard of him. he looks like a smug asshole though.
that’s randy lerner, but your character assessment was spot on regardless.
8
mmonast Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:04 PM
Grossi admitted it was a terrible mistake and apologized profusely. But was that enough?
Interesting question since this post is about him losing his job
9
ms621 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Six weeks later, and Grossi has left the newspaper. Interestingly, the word “retire” is not in the tweet, which leads one to believe perhaps this the departure wasn’t his decision. Could he be going to another paper? Maybe. Could he have been pushed out? Who knows.
Is this your way of saying that you didn’t feel like attempting to contact Grossi to get a “no comment”?
10
molemaninthemorning Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:06 PM
Any relation to Josie?
11
spencer096 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:07 PM
Any relation to Josie?
must be steely dan week here at the big lead.
12
H.E. Pennypacker Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:07 PM
Who knows.

Is this your way of saying that you didn’t feel like attempting to contact Grossi to get a “no comment”?
Yep. That’s pretty funny.
13
sousedbergin Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:09 PM
I assume this is what everyone in Tennessee is like.
14
WCT Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:10 PM
That dude in the picture looks like an evil German villain from a Bond film that has yet to be made.
he is the evil villain that is destroying football in my home town
15
spencer096 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:12 PM
I assume this is what everyone in Tennessee is like.
this is the greatest thing ive ever seen.
16
Babar 2.0 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:13 PM
The situation was untenable, and still remains somewhat fluid.
17
Jim Harbaugh Scramble Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:13 PM
I was not aware that a photograph of Randy Lerner existed.
18
cursedcleveland.com Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:14 PM
I’ll pass on this one.
19
Wally's World Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:14 PM
he is the evil villain that is destroying football in my home town
+1
/A very, very, very large 1
20
sousedbergin Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:14 PM
I assume this is what everyone in Tennessee is like.
this is the greatest thing ive ever seen.
That smellhound looks like it was shot out of a cannon.
21
Jim Harbaugh Scramble Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:15 PM
It’s pretty safe to assume this isn’t the last we’ve heard about Grossi.
I can draw my own conclusions, thank you very much.
22
Nada Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Maybe there’s a spot open at Washington City Paper on the Guy Who Pokes Dan Snyder on a Regular Basis beat.
23
Babar 2.0 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:16 PM
that’s randy lerner, but your character assessment was spot on regardless.
Is he Ben Roethlisberger’s dad?
24
Nada Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:16 PM
ANd no, that’s not what I meant by “Pokes”
25
ms621 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:18 PM
I assume this is what everyone in Tennessee is like.
Fantastic. Just absolutely fantastic. The battery causing him to fall into the water was the best.
26
Nada Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:19 PM
That photo of Lerner looks a lot like John Fox the day Elways tells him that Tebow has been traded.
27
Mantis Toboggan Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Any relation to Josie?
Julia Gulia’s twin sister?
28
HuskerDawg Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:20 PM
I assume this is what everyone in Tennessee is like.
Awesome.
29
Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:20 PM
Has That’s Setoguchi been done as a parody name? Or can we only mock the living…
30
MP Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:23 PM
he is the evil villain that is destroying football in my home town
+1
31
molemaninthemorning Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Julia Gulia’s twin sister?
Nice work.
32
scripty Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:28 PM
Look for him on a Browns daily show on SportsTime Ohio or Fox Sports Ohio that has 4th-world production value. Or ESPN8, the Ocho.
/nobody makes Grossi bleed his own blood.
33
mizerle06 is mcintyred of all the trollin' Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:31 PM
In the Tennessee video, is that Bill Dance? Can’t see the video.
Also, re name parodies:
Spencer09stix
Huskerinbred
WideWorldofSpots
mrs621
34
Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Yeah it’s Bill Dance.
35
starkweather Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:36 PM
[UPDATE: That didn't take long. A reader notes that Grossi is going into radio, specifically ESPNCleveland (850 AM). Apparently, Grossi will cover the Browns for the radio station.]
And that’s the last we’ll hear of him
36
mizerle06 is mcintyred of all the trollin' Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:36 PM
Bill Dance = Legend.
37
Irvin Pankey Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:36 PM
[UPDATE: That didn't take long. A reader notes that Grossi is going into radio, specifically ESPNCleveland (850 AM). Apparently, Grossi will cover the Browns for the radio station.]
If the asshole reader had just told this to TBL before he published the post, you could’ve saved him an edit.
38
H.E. Pennypacker Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:38 PM
Could he be going to another paper? Maybe. Could he have been pushed out? Who knows.
[UPDATE: That didn't take long. A reader notes that Grossi is going into radio, specifically ESPNCleveland (850 AM). Apparently, Grossi will cover the Browns for the radio station.]
Well then. I guess we all know now. Don’t we?
39
ms621 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:49 PM
[UPDATE: That didn't take long. A reader notes that Grossi is going into radio, specifically ESPNCleveland (850 AM). Apparently, Grossi will cover the Browns for the radio station.]
So reporting is done these days by throwing out a half-assed post and waiting for a commenter to fill in the gaps? I like your business plan.
40
Chief Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:51 PM
So reporting is done these days by throwing out a half-assed post and waiting for a commenter to fill in the gaps? I like your business plan.
Hey, he’s traveling.
41
Ty_Webb 1.0 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:51 PM
[UPDATE: That didn't take long. A reader notes that Grossi is going into radio, specifically ESPNCleveland (850 AM). Apparently, Grossi will cover the Browns for the radio station.]
Well then. I guess we all know now. Don’t we?
This.
So glad I don’t have to go into the start of the Tournament with this weighing oh so heavily on my mind….
42
starkweather Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:51 PM
The next generation of Barry Janoff’s will be 100% crowd-sourced, ms
43
mmonast Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:53 PM
UPDATE: That didn’t take long. A reader notes that Grossi is going into radio, specifically ESPNCleveland (850 AM). Apparently, Grossi will cover the Browns for the radio station
Cleveland’s worst browns beat reporter to join clevelad’s worst sorts radio station…a match maid in heaven
44
Ty_Webb 1.0 Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:55 PM
The next generation of Barry Janoff’s
Do.Not.Want.
45
Chief Says:
March 7th, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Cleveland’s worst browns beat reporter to join clevelad’s worst sorts radio station…a match maid in heaven
It’s not even 5pm, are you drunk?