Browns scrap plans to honor Art Modell

[SurvivorMatt]

Worried about how the fans would react, the Browns have scrapped plans to honor Art Moddell prior to Sunday's opener vs the Eagles in Cleveland at the request of David Moddell, Art's stepson. Moddell moved the original Browns to Baltimore in 1996 where they became the Ravens.

[BengaliJack]

They should have done something for the guy.... shame.

[Nately120]

Browns fans don't seem like very happy/positive people, so I think this is a good move.

[Ron Mexico]

The Browns should not honor Art Modell. My sympathies go out to the Modell family, but once he moved the Browns he sealed his fate with that city. I would have been surprised if they had actually done something big to honor him.

[BengaliJack]

I wonder if the family was counting the loot before he even got cold.

[jmccracky]

Originally Posted by Johnny Cupcakes

The Browns should not honor Art Modell. My sympathies go out to the Modell family, but once he moved the Browns he sealed his fate with that city. I would have been surprised if they had actually done something big to honor him.

I agree. I cannot blame Browns fans for their venom towards Art Modell. Having said that, I am glad the Ravens honored him. Modell did a lot for football as we know it. He helped bring Monday Night Football. I respect Art Modell and his contributions to the NFL. He was also a "players" owner. All of them loved the man.

I am with the Browns fans when it comes to the hurt he bestowed upon their fans. Modell did a lot of great things for the NFL. But who knows how good the Browns would be if he would have kept the team in Cleveland. Their fans are great. They deserved a better fate. BUT Modell deserves credit for the accomplishments he has helped make for the NFL.

I hope that makes sense. My mommie is a Browns fan. So I have to look at the situation differently.

[Millz]

Good for the Browns. Imagine if Mike B. moved the Bengals, and it took years before Cincy got another team. Think Cincy fans would honor him? Nope.

[jjenn300]

I didn't think honoring Modell was going to be a good idea. It would have been ugly, I'm sure.

[Sabretooth]

This was at the request of the modell family, that he not have ceremonies in cleveland.

[duke0476]

Originally Posted by BengaliJack

I wonder if the family was counting the loot before he even got cold.

I don't think Modell had as much money as people think. Although he did much for football, he was a horrible businessman which is why he had to move the team to begin with a eventually had to sell the Ravens. I know at one point with the Browns he had to take out a personal loan to pay a player his signing bonus. A horrible land deal in Strongsville where he wanted to build a stadium all art the same time the city is building a new baseball and basketball venue. He had no choice but to either move or sell the team and Baltimore offered him a great deal.

[BengalsRocker]

I think it should have been the NFL's responsibility to it's fans to not let what happened in Cleveland. Do not try to compare this to other businesses... because it is not. It is a monopoly. You could try to take your team and make another league. That would be failure though.

The NFL should have persuaded Modell to either sell the team himself or purchase the team from him to be sold(which could have netted them a profit as well). The only reason I am saying this, is the attendance for Browns games has not wavered. It was wrong. He was wrong. The NFL was wrong.

Now on the other hand, a city like Houston should have not been rewarded another team. Like the Marlins in baseball they could not get anyone to go to Oiler games even when they were winning. They had already lost the Texans in the past. Yes I know they are a successful franchise now but that is not my point.

I might get grilled for saying these things but it is what I believe.

A city and fanbase that regularly lets down it's team by not going to games or not showing support should not get another franchise. A city that has a strong fan base and is reflected in attendance should not be victims to bad business practices.

It should be the NFL's duty to not let things like this happen.