Browns deny report that team is for sale

BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- A spokesman for the Cleveland Browns says the team is not for sale, refuting a report the NFL franchise might be on the market.

Neal Gulkis, the team's vice president of media relations, said Thursday that "the Browns are not for sale." Gulkis was responding to a report by Philadelphia radio personality Howard Eskin, who posted on his Twitter page that former Eagles president Joe Banner is putting together a group to buy the Buffalo Bills, and that the Browns and St. Louis Rams may also be for sale.

The Browns have been owned by the Lerner family since 1999. Randy Lerner, who also owns the Aston Villa soccer club in England, inherited the Browns in 2002 following the death of his father, Al.

Lerner was traveling and did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.