Former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar: Slurred speech cost me TV job

Bernie Kosar played for the Browns, Cowboys and Dolphins. (Jason Miller/Invision for Hard Rock Internat'l/AP Images)

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar says he has a speech problem due to concussions suffered during his 13-year NFL career, which led to him being removed as a color commentator for the team's preseason games.

The Browns announced Wednesday that Kosar is being replaced by former NFL player Solomon Wilcots for broadcasts, and the team said they are exploring other media roles for Kosar. Kosar played nine seasons in Cleveland and finished his career with 124 career touchdown passes.

“I was informed yesterday by the Cleveland Browns and WKYC that I have been replaced as a 2014 preseason game day color commentator,” Kosar said in a statement, via Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I believe that this decision stems from my slurred speech impairment, which is a direct result of the many concussions I received while playing in the NFL.”

Kosar says the situation is "unfortunate" and says working on the preseason games is "truly one of the remaining joys in my life."

“I would hope that WKYC would reconsider utilizing my in-game talents and overlook my concussion-induced impairment,” Kosar said.

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