NFL: No plans to ask Browns owner Jimmy Haslam to step down

Browns owner Jimmy Haslem (right) is expected to make a statement to media. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The NFL says it has "no such plans" to ask Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam to step aside and remove himself from operational control of the team while the Federal Bureau of Investigation looks into his company's alleged fraud scheme, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Haslam’s Pilot Flying J travel center company is accused of participating in a fraud scheme for "many years" to keep millions of dollars owed to customers in gas rebates. The FBI says that Haslam knew about the illegal scheme.

Haslam is scheduled to make a statement to the media today at 4 p.m.., but will not take questions.

More from the Plain Dealer:

Haslam was at the Browns facility as planned on Thursday for draft preparations, but did not meet with the media. He’s expected to be here all next week for the draft, which is Thursday through Saturday. "Browns operations are the same as they’ve always been, will be the same," Banner said. "As he (Haslam) expressed, he’s very confident that this will take some time, but it will work out and that they’ve done nothing wrong. ‘’

Browns CEO Joe Banner, in a predraft press conference on Thursday, said it’s business as usual for the club.