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The Browns named James Voos, M.D., as their new lead physician last week. He also were serve as the head of the University Hospitals sports medicine program.

(Courtesy of University Hospitals)

BEREA, Ohio – A former NFL team doctor writes the Browns are overstating the pro football experience of their new lead physician and the club might be prioritizing sponsorship money over healthcare.

David Chao, writing for the National Football Post, examined the Browns' hiring of James Voos, M.D. in his Monday column. He took issue with a team press release touting "the orthopedic surgeon entering his sixth year in the NFL." He also observed Voos has not yet obtained an Ohio state medical license even as the Browns began voluntary workouts a week ago.

The Browns confirmed to cleveland.com that Voos, whose appointment was announced last week, is awaiting his Ohio license.

Chao, who spent 17 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, is complimentary of Voos and believes him to be a good hire. But he states the club’s reported $30 million partnership with University Hospitals, publicized in January, might have been prioritized over player care.

“The Browns shouldn’t try to fool their fans by overstating the years and actual experience of their medical staff,” Chao writes. “In the end, the Browns will have a quality medical team. However, in this NFL era of health and safety, healthcare should not be the second priority to sponsorship money.”

The Browns, who ended a 40-year partnership with Cleveland Clinic in January, shot back at the report in a one-sentence response to cleveland.com.

"We see absolutely no reason to comment on a column filled with inaccuracies and false accusations," the Browns spokesman wrote.

Chao dealt with his share of controversy during his time with the Chargers . He become a target of the NFL Players Association over malpractice and medical licensing issues. A San Diego Union-Tribune story reported Chao ultimately was exonerated in 2013. He subsequently resigned to spend more time with his family and because of back problems.

In his column, Chao wrote a majority of league teams have medical partnerships, and the Browns are not the “only team to let sponsorship dollars influence healthcare and the medical staff.”

A medical sponsorship agreement and player care are independent of each other and the league is involved in both processes.

According to the Browns’ release, Voos worked for the New York Giants from 2009-10 and the Kansas City Chiefs from 2011-13. Chao noted Voos’ time with the Giants was during his training as a resident and fellow and that the NFL Physicians Society and team website never listed him as a team physician or assistant team physician.

The Giants, however, confirmed to the cleveland.com that Voos served as an assistant team physician.

Chao spotlights a passage in the Browns’ release which states Voos, “has dedicated more than 10 years to aiding athletes at the professional, college and high-school levels.”

“The Browns appear to count time spent in training to become an orthopedic surgeon in this figure,” Chao writes. “He finished all of his training in 2010.”

Barring any obstacles, Voos should have his Ohio license in time for the start of training camp in late July. A State Medical Board of Ohio spokesman told the Plain Dealer that on average it takes 90 days to get a license, assuming vetting produces no red flags. The process can be expedited for a $1,000 fee and completed in probably seven to 10 days.

The Browns have other doctors on their medical staff to treat players in the meantime. Chao also praised the experience of Browns medical trainer Joe Sheehan, who will "lead a quality medical department in the head team physician's absence."

The story marks the second time in six weeks the Browns have been the lead item of Chao's "Monday Morning MD" column. Last month, he noted the Browns were the first team in his 19 years of NFL Scouting Combine experience that didn't have a lead physician in place for the event.

(Plain Dealer medical reporter Brie Zeltner contributed to this report.)