Former Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell dead at 87. Art Modell will always be remembered for moving the Cleveland Browns out of Cleveland after the 1995 season and relocating them in Baltimore. Modell bought the Browns in the early 1960’s.  He was a former advertizing executive. He played a huge part in getting the tv contracts with the major networks that brought millions and millions of dollars to the league.

He was a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist 7 times but never was chosen. Had he not taken the Browns out of Cleveland no doubt he would have been honored. Canton, Ohio is just down the road from Cleveland. I can not imagine the scene had they enshrined the hated Modell into the Hall while he was living.

Modell claimed he was losing millions in Cleveland and needed a new stadium. I don’t know. I question that. Cleveland always supported the Browns. I think his leaving and taking the team to Baltimore was wrong. I figure they will put Modell into the Hall of Fame now that he’s gone, like baseball did with Walter O’Malley.