A statue of Art Modell might as well stand next to him.
The two architects of the Browns deceitful relocation to Baltimore in 1996 remains a gaping would that has yet to heal, partially because of the success of the two-time Super Bowl champion Ravens, the Hall of Famers that franchise has enjoyed and the complete train wreck the “new” Browns have been.
Now the NFL is trying to backdoor Modell into the Pro Football Hall of Fame through its special centennial class for 2020.
Modell was a round of 15 finalist twice, where he was denied by selectors in voting that takes place annually prior to the Super Bowl.
This year the league appointed a blue-ribbon panel to select 10 seniors, three contributors, and two coaches to join the regular Hall of Fame class in celebration of the NFL’s 100th anniversary to circumvent the traditional selection process.
Modell not only is unworthy of such a distinguished honor reserved for the legends of the game, his resume is among the most ghastly and offensive in league history.
Modell fired the two greatest coaches in NFL history – Paul Brown and Bill Belichick.
Brown, who founded the Cleveland Browns in 1946 – the franchise bears his namesake – and was the most innovative and transcendent coach in professional football history, was fired by Modell in 1963. Brown won seven championships, including three NFL titles, with the Browns.
Belichick was canned in 1996 when Modell’s move to Baltimore was approved by the league. Belichick has won six Super Bowls as head coach of the Patriots.
In 1966 Modell chased arguably the greatest player of all time, Hall of Famer Jim Brown, into early retirement over a dispute involving Brown’s budding film career. Brown, who played just nine seasons and left in his prime, held the NFL’s all-time rushing title until 1984.
Modell’s most heinous crime came in 1995.
Modell denied rumors he was attempting to relocate the Browns while stadium negotiations continued with the city of Cleveland. Then in early November he announced in Baltimore the team would move into a brand-new taxpayer-funded stadium to be built for him.
The deal with Baltimore and the state of Maryland was orchestrated by Lerner, who had become one of Modell’s chief financiers when Modell’s financial fortunes began to go south in the early 90’s despite regular crowds of over 70,000 that often topped 78,000 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
Modell was bitter that Indians, his former tenant at Cleveland Stadium, and the Cavaliers opened a new ballpark and basketball arena on the south side of downtown Cleveland in 1994.
He wanted a new or renovated stadium for the Browns.
Modell moved the Browns less than a year after both Los Angeles teams – the Rams and Raiders bolted for St. Louis and Oakland respectively.
Since the original Browns became the Ravens, every team in the NFL has built a new stadium or significantly renovated their existing homes, the vast majority of which have been financed or subsidized publicly.
Protests from the city of Cleveland and Browns fans forced the NFL to award Cleveland a relocated or expansion franchise in 1999 in exchange for a new taxpayer-funded stadium to be built in time for the team’s return. The name, history and trademarks were all retained and preserved in trust by the league and Modell’s Ravens began anew in Baltimore.
The stadium and arena building boom that took place in the 90’s was triggered by Modell moving the Browns out of fear for cities losing their MLB, NBA or NHL franchises because if the Browns, the Cleveland Browns, could move, so could our team.
That is Modell’s true legacy.
The Rams moved back to Los Angeles. The Houston Oilers are now the Tennessee Titans while Houston now has the Texans. The Chargers play road games in L.A. and will be the Rams tenant in their new multi-billion-dollar stadium. And the Raiders are on the move again, this time to Las Vegas in 2020.
Modell laid the blueprint for the NFL to make billions, but despite exploding revenues and relocating his franchise, he was still forced to sell the Ravens because of financial trouble.
It is true Modell was instrumental in the creation of Monday Night Football. The Browns beat the Jets in the first telecast at Cleveland Stadium in 1970.
He also had the foresight to hire former Browns Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome as general manager of the Ravens making Newsome the first African American in league history to hold the position. Newsome built two Super Bowl championship teams and drafted 18 Pro Bowl players, including Hall of Famers Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis.
But Modell was a terrible owner. He was an even worse businessman.
Both should disqualify him from Hall of Fame consideration, yet the NFL wants to honor him.
Disgraceful.