You will find that the huge majority of Browns fans think that the deal we got should be the standard for any future franchise move, and indeed should have been applied to the Houston situation and retroactively to the Baltimore situation.
It also should be noted that Baltimore would likely have beaten out Jacksonville for the 1993 expansion team if not for the efforts of art modell, who clearly was trying to keep that option open for himself.
Since the modell has been flushed out of the current organization, you’ll find that we have much more of a continuing issue with that family than the city and fans of Baltimore, with the exception of those fans who continue to defend the modells (still a significant minority).
-Eric
St Louis would have gotten it before Baltimore, and they did get a team before Baltimore (in '95, from L.A.) playing in the old Busch stadium for 2 years.
As for Modell, he's out of ownership and 84 yrs old and spends most of his time in Florida these days. Theres no Modell dynasty in Baltimore (unlike Irsay in Indianapolis), and they have no presence on the society circuit, as far as I can tell.
Irsay screwed Baltimore and Modell screwed Cleveland, but you didnt have to wait 11 years to get another team, and you kept your name. Nobody should be complaining, as far as I see it.
“It also should be noted that Baltimore would likely have beaten out Jacksonville for the 1993 expansion team if not for the efforts of art modell, who clearly was trying to keep that option open for himself.”
Actually, if not for the efforts of Redskins JACK KENT COOKE, and Paul Tagliabue.
Similar to the earlier efforts by Redskins bigot GEORGE MARSHALL to keep the original Colts from coming to Baltimore. We are, after all, 30 min from DC.