49ers’ uncharacteristic penalties prove costly in loss to Browns

CLEVELAND — Veteran safety Tashaun Gipson looked as if he tried to avoid the kind of hit on a defenseless receiver that draws an unnecessary roughness penalty. However, Gipson still was flagged for the fourth-quarter penalty on what proved to be one of the key plays of the game. An incomplete pass would have led to the Cleveland Browns facing a fourth-and-10 situation with less than three minutes remaining. The 49ers had a one-point lead at the time. Instead, the Browns were awarded 15 yards for Gipson's unnecessary roughness against wide receiver Elijah Moore. The Browns went on for a nine-play 63-yard drive to kick the winning field goal in a 19-17 upset victory over the 49ers on Sunday. "My view was his intent wasn't at all to do that," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said of Gipson. "It looked like the receiver was coming in there, jumping, too, and it looked like they touched helmets from where I was. "It didn't look that violent. I'll see when I watch the film." Even if it was not a hit to the helmet, it still can be a penalty, according to NFL rules. A player, such as Gipson, is prohibited from forcibly hitting a defenseless player in the head or neck area with a helmet,...