The Browns will give some type of appropriate recognition to the passing of Art Modell during the pregame of Sunday's opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "We're trying strike the right balance,'' Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said today. "We want to show respect and dignity for Modell's family, the community and the fans.'' The NFL has asked all home teams this weekend to commemorate Modell's passing in some way. Gulkis did not specify whether it would be a moment of silence or something else, but the Browns are trying to be respectful of their fans who are still angry at Modell for moving the team to Baltimore in 1996. Source: The Redzone
It's not like he wanted to leave, it was either sell the team or leave and he loved his team. He didn't run out in the middle of the night like another team did. I like the idea that the Browns management is doing something.
I'm pretty sure they just couldn't call it a "moment of silence" because it won't be silent. If I remember correctly, the Cavs got a new arena, the Indians got a new field, and he got a middle finger. It sucks he moved the team, mostly because it created Ravens fans.
I just think the Browns should be allowed to skip it and move past it as peacefully as possible. Although I mention that I don't respect him, he also doesn't deserve a bunch of posthumous disrespect, which is what is going to keep happening the longer the issue is drawn out. It'd be one thing if the club had managed to have any measure of success since it happened, but their future even now remains uncertain at best. It's like pouring salt in a wound that's still raw even after so long, it's not surprising some people haven't handled it well and that's not likely to change Sunday when they do this.
