Cleveland Browns suspend OL coach Andy Moeller

Sep 21, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns helmet on the field before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns suspended offensive line coach Andy Moeller on Monday, according to the team’s website.

According to ESPN, Moeller is being investigated for allegedly assaulting a female guest at his home, sources familiar with the situation said Monday. A woman called Berea police over the weekend, alleging Moeller had assaulted her, the sources said. The woman was a guest of Moeller’s from Maryland.

The Browns released the following statement about the suspension:

"“Browns offensive line coach Andy Moeller has been suspended indefinitely by the team effective immediately. Over the weekend, Andy was involved in an incident, involving allegations that we take very seriously. We have followed our internal protocol, determining that right now it is best for the team and for Andy to take time away from the organization to focus on his personal matters. We are going to respect the process of investigation on this personal matter and will have no further comment at this time.”"

It has been quite the holiday weekend for Cleveland’s No. 1 team, from the controversial decision to award Terrelle Pryor a roster spot; to trading Terrance West, the team’s leading rusher from a year ago, for a conditional draft pick; signing free agent quarterback Austin Davis; to seeing general manager Ray Farmer begin his four-game suspension.

And we are still six days away from the club playing an actual game!

In Moeller’s absence, assistant offensive line coach George DeLeone is expected to take over what is probably the most important position group on the Browns. (Pro Football Focus has the line ranked as the league’s third best.)

Offensive linemen Joe Thomas and John Greco addressed the suspension briefly after practice.

“Obviously, disappointed that he is suspended,” Thomas said. “I guess we are just going to take a wait and see approach. At this point, nobody really knows what is going on. He was here this morning. He told us that he is dealing with some personal things and might be gone for a while. That is all we heard.”

“It kind of came as a shock to us, as it did to you guys,” Greco said. “Moving forward, we are fortunate enough to have two sets of eyes with (assistant offensive line) coach (George) DeLeone in our room. My understanding is that he is going to take over as the head guy, and I think we are going to get (senior offensive assistant) coach (Kurt) Roper to help us out, which will be nice. We will be in good hands with those guys.

“Everything we have done this camp and the preseason is just going to carry over into the season. It is different each week with game plans and the specific game plans, but we will be able to do that with the coaches we have in there now and the players that we have. We will be able to keep going forward.”

More from Dawg Pound Daily

Moeller joined head coach Mike Pettine‘s staff in February of 2014 after working as Baltimore’s line coach from 2008 to 2013. He was let go by the Ravens after the 2013 season when coach John Harbaugh elevated Juan Castillo’s title to offensive line coach.

In 2011, Moeller was suspended for two games and fined $47,000 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, stemming from a driving while impaired arrest in 2010. That was Moeller’s third alcohol arrest in a four-year span, and it prompted Baltiore owner Steve Bisciotti to say that the coach was down to his final strike, according to an article in The Baltimore Sun.

Prior to joining the Browns had 22 total years of experience coaching offensive linemen. Before working in Baltimore he was a college coach, spending six years as the offensive line coach at Army, three years at Missouri and seven years with the University of Michigan, where his father, Gary, was head coach.

Next: Browns sign QB Austin Davis

Home/Browns News