Open Letter to a Baltimore Sun Columnist

It is one of the ironies of life that the same nice old man could spend his golden years being villified in one provincial medium-sized metropolis and lionized in another, but Art Modell didn't have much time for irony. 

Modell died Thursday at the age of 87, no doubt still saddened that the city of Cleveland never forgave him for moving his football team to Baltimore, but never one to spend much time looking back. His unspoken motto was "Forward" long before it was the catchword for one of the current presidential campaigns, and football fans — even those who still curse his name on the shores of Lake Erie — owe him greatly for the important role he played in the phenomenal growth and success of the National Football League.

 ~Peter Schmuck, Baltimore Sun

Art Modell should go into the hall of fame one day, but only as a contributor and NOT as an owner.  He is responsible for the creation of two expansion teams (Cincinnati and Cleveland and  I think the AFC North should be renamed the AFC Modell) and numerous new stadiums around the league.  He single-handedly negotiated the landmark TV deals and was the one who came up with the idea to share money equally among the teams. 

When it came to owning a team, Art was dreadful.  He inherited a championship caliber team that was run by Paul Brown and found a way to force him out in 2 years. He inspired Paul Brown to form his own team, which he did.   He won an NFL championship with Paul Brown's players and lead assistant.  He traded Paul Warfield for Ernie Davis, even though Jim Brown was still around. Unfortunately Davis never saw the field.  Art was instrumental in hastening Jim Brown's retirement at age 30. Art also traded another future HOF player, Bobby Mitchell, for Mike Phipps.  

Cleveland Municipal Stadium had a capacity of around 80,000 and routinely filled it while Modell was around.  The parking money was his as well.  Along with all the TV money that he helped bring in, how did the amazing team owner find a way to squander all of it?  I think that Mr. Modell is given credit for many things as a member of the league, but hall of fame owner is not one of them.  He took advantage of the unique situation created when the Irsay's skipped town and all of the money that was amassing to find a replacement team and kept other teams from moving to Baltimore (the Rams) so he could bail himself out of a financial mess that he created.  

I would think that the Baltimore market would be able to relate better to the situation, especially since the Irsay's did the same thing.  I don't know how Bob Irsay's death was reporting in Baltimore, but I'm sure you'll claim to take the moral high ground.  I wish the Modell family well and I respect the fact that he brought great things to the league from the perch of team owner.  He just could not help himself in his role as owner as it relates to the running of his own team.  Just to be clear, he should be in the hall of fame for his contributions to the league. Period.    

Regards.

A Clevelander

Art Modell is Dead

Cleveland has been in mourning for 16 years when football died in this town.  The accused, Art Modell, has now died as well.  He may not have been guilty of any crime per se, just one against humanity.  He took something great and legendary and drove it out of town in financial ruins.  Modell took over the Cleveland Browns at their apex, and made numerous blunders, financial and football related.

Art was just a man, but one who could not recognize that he was in over his head.  Art and a few partners purchased the Browns in 1961 for around $4,000,000 even though he only had about $20,000 to his name. He had no other income than the team itself.  He had no other business experience.

I am not privy to the specific financial situation of the team for the 34 years that Art owned the team in Cleveland, but I do know that Cleveland Municipal Stadium could hold about 80,000 people.  The place was usually near capacity which is saying something.  The TV revenue for NFL games are divided equally among the teams (Modell helped negotiate the deals) and it is a substantial amount.  Art used to work in advertising prior to buying the team so I expect that he was able to sell plenty of ad space in the stadium.

I just wonder how Modell found a way to royally screw up the ownership of the team in a league that has so many built in financial advantages.  The money part should be the easier part of the business compared to the product on the field.  Yet, Modell inherited an exemplary team constructed by legendary coach Paul Brown and fouled it up.

Paul Brown was fired two years after Art took over.  Jim Brown, the greatest player in league history, decided to retire because Art wanted him in training camp on time.  Jim Brown was in Europe filming the Dirty Dozen and after filming was pushed back due to weather and other issues, he decided to retire.  The greatest player in league and team history retired, because Art gave him an ultimatum.

Art's Worst Decisions

1. Moving the team to Baltimore
2. Firing Paul Brown
3. Trading Paul Warfield, future HOF WR, for a draft pick used to select QB Mike Phipps.  Phipps was a major bust, while Warfield has a bust of himself in the Hall of Fame.
4. Trading Bobby Mitchell, future HOF RB/WR for a draft pick used to select RB Ernie Davis.  Davis never played a down as he tragically passed away from leukemia.  Note: Davis would have been a back up on the team due to the presence of Jim Brown who would have been the starter on any team he played for.
5. Signing Andre Rison is a free agent in 1995 even though Modell did not have any money to sign him and needed to take a loan out from a local bank for $5,000,000 to cover the signing.

I am sad that I feel like I need to point everything he did wrong.  He was involved with numerous charities and with the community.  I only see where he ruined such a good team and took it away.  I honestly feel like he was the worst owner in NFL history.  I never met the man and do not want to have hatred for him any longer. 

 I just want to point out the facts as I see them.  I want his record to show that he was incompetent as an NFL owner, he wracked up a mountain of debt, and yet he was able to keep owning the team and move it to Baltimore and have the new city clean up his mess.  It is sad that I have had to care about all of this.  It's just a team.  

Rest in peace, Art Modell.  It is not me who should judge the deeds of your life.  My words are more for my benefit than anyone else right now.  I am getting all of this off of my chest because I do not want to carry it around anymore.  Quoth the Raven, Nevermore.