CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns will have to do without general manager Ray Farmer for the first four games of the season and they've been fined $250,000 by the NFL, but they won't lose one of their 10 draft picks as a result of "Text-gate.''

Originally, the NFL contemplated docking the Browns a mid-round pick -- most likely a fourth-rounder -- for Farmer's impermissible texting during games, a source told Northeast Ohio Media Group. But it gave the NFL a break on that front, possibly because the texts to coaches were opinions and not designed to give the team a competitive advantage, and the fact that Farmer acted alone.

The NFL came down harder on the Falcons for pumping crowd noise into the Georgia Dome, fining them $350,000, docking them a fifth-round pick in 2016 and suspending club President Rich McKay from the competition committee from April 1st through at least June 30th.

Text-gate lead investigator Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, said in a statement that Farmer used a cell phone on multiple occasions during games, which is in violation of the league's policy on the use of electronic devices. A source told Northeast Ohio Media Group that he texted coaches during at least four games.

The suspension without pay will start on midnight of the Sunday before the Browns' first regular-season game and will end immediately after the Browns' fourth regular season game, meaning Farmer can be involved in the final roster decisions at the end of August. However, he will absent for the many key acquisitions that take place in the first month of the season, and he will miss a key month of the trading period, which ends in late October. chances to make trades before the deadline in October. the be gone for much additions to the roster that take place a lot of the additions

During the suspension, Farmer, who broke the rules in his rookie year as Browns' GM, can't be involved in any club matters and is not permitted at the Browns' offices, practice facility, or games. Some of the texts went to former Browns quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains, who was not fined by the NFL.

"There was no evidence in the NFL's review that Browns ownership or any other team executives had knowledge of the prohibited conduct,'' Vincent said in the statement. "Once the violation was discovered, Browns management implemented new processes to ensure future compliance. We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation the Browns organization extended during our inquiry.''

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who vowed last month to stand by Farmer, said in a statement that the Browns' will grow from the ordeal.

"We accept the league's ruling,'' Haslam said. "Ray made a mistake and takes full responsibility for his role in violating the policy. It is critical that we make better decisions. Ray has tremendous integrity and I know has great remorse for what occurred. We are all committed to learning from this and making the Browns a stronger and better organization.''

During Farmer's absence, his top personnel lieutenants Bill Kuharich, Executive Chief of Staff, Morocco Brown, Vice President of Player Personnel, will most likely handle all personnel matters. Kuharich was a long-time personnel executive with the Chiefs, and Brown spent seven seasons as assistant director of pro personnel with the Bears.

"I respect the league's decision and understand that there are consequences for my actions,'' Farmer said in a statement. "Accountability is integral to what we are trying to build and as a leader I need to set the right example. I made a mistake and apologize to Jimmy Haslam, Mike Pettine, our entire organization and our fans for the ramifications. Learning is a big part of who I am and I will certainly be better from this situation."

At the NFL Annual Meeting last week, Farmer braced himself for the sanctions he knew were coming soon.

"I know I did something wrong and I answered to that and again at the end of the day every trial I face or every circumstance that's not positive or whatever, it'll make me better,'' he said. "I saw this at a buddy's office. He had a saying on a little rock. It said that 'thunderstorms come in everybody's direction. Those that really get it learn to dance in the rain.' So that's one of the things I've kind of taken away from it. Even though it's not a positive, it's not something I'm proud of, it's not a badge or something I'm wearing, but I'm definitely trying to take the positive out of it.''

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said during the closing press conference at the annual meeting that the NFL would take the matter seriously.

"It affects the integrity of the game,'' he said. "All 32 teams need to be operating under the same rules. I think our clubs expect that and our fans expect that. So any violation of that is treated seriously.''

He noted that the fact the texts did not give the Browns a competitive advantage was a factor.

"There are of course mitigating factors that you have to consider,'' he said. "But the violation of the rule and the integrity of the rule is not necessarily whether you got an advantage or not. It's the fact that you broke the rule. We don't want people breaking the rules. There are 32 clubs who are going to be operating under the same rules.''

Browns coach Mike Pettine defended Farmer at the AFC coaches breakfast last week, saying he understands the feeling behind it.

"I just think if you talk to a lot of GMs, that those three to four hours are among the most frustrating,'' he said. "There's going to be questions, just like 'why are we doing this?' Fortunately Ray owns it and he chose that way as his outlet, but we get the opportunity to talk each week and we have our post-game audit and those questions get raised as well and we're not going to agree on everything 100%. But from a philosophy standpoint, we are very much on the same page. Just like any other GM-head coach, it's not going to match perfectly. You're constantly in the process of educating each other. But we both feel like we're very much on the same page and we're moving forward to make this team better.''

Haslam, during a meeting with Browns reporters at the annual meetings, continued to stand behind his now second-year GM.

"We, myself, the organization, Ray have accepted responsibility and whatever the penalty is we'll accept it and move on,'' he said. "I've encouraged Ray, 'Listen, whatever it is, it is. Don't worry about it. Go ahead right now figuring out how we can put the best draft together we can.' And I think he's done a good job of that."

The timing of the suspension will enable Farmer to prepare for the NFL draft without interruption and will his full complement of picks. The Browns draft 10 picks are as follows: 1st round (12 and 19 from Buffalo); 2nd (43); 3rd (77); 4th (111, 115 from Buffalo); 5th (147); 6th (189, 202 from Baltimore); 7th (229).

If the Browns has lost a fourth-rounder, it could've been costly. Some recent Browns' fourth-rounders include former Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron, receiver Travis Benjamin, and cornerback Pierre Desir, who will challenge for significant playing time this season.

Northeast Ohio Media Group first reported that the texting took place in a Jan. 6 story outlining some of the reasons that former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan wanted out of his contract. Sources said the texts contained opinions on Shanahan's playcalling and use of personnel, among other things.

At the NFL combine, Farmer apologized profusely for breaking the rules.

"I would like to first extend an apology to the Cleveland Brown fans,'' Farmer said. "So that everybody hears it from my mouth, it was me. To that degree I have apologized to the people in the building, coach (Mike) Pettine, Jimmy Haslam, the rest of the football staff and everybody that was involved from our side, as far as football-wise.''

Despite Farmer's rookie mistake, Haslam fully supported his new GM, one who was thrust into the role prematurely after Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi were fired.

"Ray Farmer knows and has (said to the Browns) he made a mistake in sending those texts,'' Haslam said Feb. 11. "Ray feels terrible about it. Ray's a guy who has utmost integrity. I think it is important for you all to know that Ray has the organization's and my full support and despite the fact that he made a mistake here it does not affect his standing with the Browns.

"He is totally focused on doing whatever we are going to do in free agency and more importantly getting the organization ready for the draft. He's had his entire scouring team in this week and they are solely focused on getting ready for the draft."

Haslam said he doesn't know exactly what was in the texts, but stressed, "I don't think Ray intended to gain any unfair advantage and he's learned from his mistakes."

Haslam said the texts haven't diminished his opinion of Farmer, who acquired key players in the offseason such as receiver Andrew Hawkins, safety Donte Whitner, and linebacker Karlos Dansby, and secured a second first-round pick in the draft.

"I think you have to look at the individual's body of work and we're comfortable with Ray's body of work,'' he said. "Very comfortable. Ray's smart. He works hard. I think he understands football. He's been in football all his life. He relates extremely well to players. He knows it not only from a personnel standpoint but how a game should be managed.

"He's an exceptional human being. As bad as I hate this (text situation) for the organization, I hate it more for Ray Farmer. I can tell you it eats him up every day. I'm very comfortable with the job he's doing."

Pettine admitted at the combine that he wasn't 'thrilled' about the texting scandal and that it took him some time to trust Farmer again after he became aware of the texts.

"I would say that (the trust) had to rebuild,'' said Pettine. "I understood the root cause of it. Ray is very competitive. He's a former player and has his opinions that he voices. He made a mistake in trying to share them. It wasn't one of those where we're cursing at each other. There was no blindsiding. It was all very much out in the open, and he and I met like men and looked each other in the eye and moved on from it.''

Farmer acknowledged during the combine that Textgate had been difficult on him.

"Anytime you make mistakes it's humbling,'' he said. "My wife's reading a book called 'The Power of a Praying Wife' and her comments to me were that, 'greatness is not the absence of flaws, (it's) the ability to overcome them.' I feel that's what it's about. For me to get really where I want to go, I'm not going to be perfect. I'm going to make mistakes and I'm going to learn from it.''

Farmer stressed that he acted alone in sending the texts and wasn't urged by anyone to do it.

"This was solely me,'' he said. "This was a decision that I made and I'm owning that mistake.''

Unfortunately for the Browns, they also have to pay the price in the form of the hefty fine and no GM for the first month of the season.