If we owned an all-sports network that had a prime spot on every cable system and enough cash to pilfer the rights to the BCS games from FOX, we’d amend the crawl at the bottom of the screen to say this:  “Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com confirms Internet report that Browns G.M. Phil Savage sent nasty e-mail to fan.”

Here’s how it happened.

Earlier this morning, I sent A.J. Daulerio of Deadspin an e-mail telling him that we’d be posting an item regarding the opinion of a league insider that it would be out of character for Savage to tell a disgruntled fan (or anyone) “f–k you.” I gave Daulerio a head’s up because I didn’t want him to think we doubted the accuracy of the Deadspin report.  (Yes, there is honor among bloggers.  Well, a little.) 

In response, Daulerio forwarded the e-mail chain.  As it turns out, the “fan” was a guy from WXDX in Pittsburgh. 

Since we hear from Tim Benz of WXDX from time to time (and we’ve appeared on Mark Madden’s show on a few occasions), I decided I’d drop Benz a line to confirm it.  And while searching for Benz’s e-mail address, I discovered that he’d sent me the Savage e-mail chain on Tuesday, and that for reasons unbeknownst (I still love that freaking word) to me I didn’t act on it.

So, basically, we’re far less inclined at this point to conclude that the whole thing was a ruse. 

It’ll be interesting to see what Savage says about the situation if/when he’s confronted with it.