At Modell Family’s Request, Browns Cancel Plans To Honor Art Modell

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With a fine spot of fact-finding and storytelling, Josh Kirkendall of SB Nation’s Cincy Jungle breaks down the relationship between Modell and then-head coach and general manager Paul Brown. Modell eventually fired Brown due to extreme differences in opinion, and after his contract expired (he continued to be paid his salary), he got back into the football fray.

Due to the AFL needing a new team as part of the NFL-AFL merger, Cincinnati and Brown were awarded the franchise. As the piece notes, there will always be differing feelings when it comes to Modell, who was equal parts rabid fan and shrewd businessman. Browns fans may feel some resentment, but there’s no doubting the effect that Modell has had on the entire landscape of the NFL, including the birth of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Interestingly enough, Modell himself seemed to be hurt by his own decision to move the team from Cleveland, as seen in this tweet from Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot.

Chris Pokorny of Browns blog Dawgs By Nature offered his condolences on Modell’s passing, but the enduring legacy of Modell in Cleveland (or not in Cleveland) managed to factor in as well:

Talk about Modell with Ravens fans at Baltimore Beatdown, and with Browns fans at Dawgs by Nature.