1: Fires Paul Brown
2: Get rids of African-American players who wanted better contracts
3: Induces Jim Brown to retire by fining him for being part of "Dirty Dozen".
4: Fires Bill Belichick as head coach. Th team tanked when Modell announced to team was being moved to Baltimore.
5: Of course, relocates to Baltimore.
No, just no. Not only no, but HELL NO!
Not a Browns fan per se, but what he did to Cleveland was horrible. There was never a question about fan support of the team and frankly never a question about some sort of stadium deal, but Modell was frankly a jerk about it so nobody wanted to work with him.
Then he blamed everybody but himself for his problems and moved.
6) Was such a curmudgeon and a demanding little swot that often bitterly divided politicians in Cleveland and the local business community were united in opposing Modell and his frequent whines and demands.
7) Ostensibly an ad man, he was horrible at marketing his team or himself. He relied solely on the fandom and goodwill built up during the Paul Brown years. And, of course, ruined all that with his shortsighted power grab.
8) Despite getting an equal share of TV revenue refused to spend money on the most basic of items like towels (see also: Bengals, Cincinnati). Was frequently being bailed out by fellow owners - some of whom felt sorry for him, others who didn’t want the league’s image to suffer.
9) Modell was infamous for sending out goon squads to local taverns that, in those days, relied on satellite dish reception of the home games or even TV signals from Detroit or Canada that could travel unimpeded over the waters of Lake Erie in technical violation of the blackout rule. Yes, he had a large stadium to fill to lift the blackout but that rule, it should be noted, that was merely an agreement between the NFL and broadcasters and certainly not part of statutes - which meant goons or cops had no business rousting bars.
That he is even being considered is a testament to the league’s high opinion of itself and particularly the owners’ old boy club.
“Look away, Cleveland: Art Modell is a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame”
This illustrates the demeaning of professional sports halls of fame. They put millionaire owners, jock sniffing sportswriters, and ambulance chasing lawyers on the hall of fame. The halls of fame should be restricted to outstanding players and coaches.
4: Fires Bill Belichick as head coach. Th team tanked when Modell announced to team was being moved to Baltimore.
~~~
(you forgot) Benches bernie kozar and trades him...
Why should team owners who never played the game or did anything significant on the field get enshrined???
Just like so many other award ceremonies, it’s nothing but insider ego-stroking, industry nepotism, and ginned up hype.
“He who must not be named”
Does anybody really give a damn about who gets or doesn’t get such a fake honor?
Almost make you think that the NFL is nothing about the fans . . .
He was in charge of their TV committee for years, and thus opened the floodgates to the avalanche of riches the league now enjoys. In that sense they owe him.
My understanding is, outside the tumult over the move, he was one of the greatest owners one could ask for.
Seems to me this is nothing but sour grapes keeping him out.
If IRSAY ever gets in, THAT would be a travesty. (Even his son says he was embarrassed by his SOB father with the REAL Colts).