Cleveland Sportswriter Grossi Glad Ravens' GM Newsome Doesn't Have HoF Vote

by Bruce Raffel on May 23, 2011 3:00 PM EDT

BALTIMORE MD - OCTOBER 24: Art Modell previous owner of of the Baltimore Ravens comes onto the field for halftime celebrations of the ten year Super Bowl anniversary team during the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24 2010 in Baltimore Maryland. The Bills lead the Ravens at the half 24-20. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

Former owner of the Baltimore Ravens Art Modell clearly belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Had Modell never moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1996, he would have been elected many years ago, but ever since he left for the east coast, he's been vilified as a criminal and the voters, led by Cleveland Plain Dealer sportswriter, Tony Grossi, has made it a life-long passion to rally others to vote against Modell's induction.

This is absolutely a travesty of epic proportions in the NFL, considering all that Modell has done for the league and with his age and physical ailments, it would be a shame for him not be around to receive the honor he so richly deserves. The campaign that Grossi has waged over the years is an embarrassment not only to Grossi, but to those who are influenced for such nonsense, with so much good in the NFL over the years attributable to the efforts of Art Modell.

There is no other way to view it, regardless of whether you are a fan of the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and even the old Baltimore Colts. Art Modell belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for what he did for the NFL, not Cleveland or Baltimore.

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Grossi is a disgrace. Sportswriters are supposed to be objective, yet he’s nothing short of a fan sitting behind a typewriter.

by JoshuaStein on May 23, 2011 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

I remember Bruce posted a story about Art Modell and the HOF on DBN and it was immediately removed.

I think most Cleveland fans know Modell did what he had to do and it’s wrong to keep him out, but they just can’t get over it. I think in a weird, sick way they resent the Ravens for being so successful while they continue to be the most snake-bit franchise (and city) in the country.

by BAL_Hawk on May 23, 2011 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

So why did Art Modell move to baltimore? I do think he needs to be in the hall of fame

and I think its wrong that some cleveland fans dont want to see him in hall of fame but hopefully he will make it

by jazz20 on May 23, 2011 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

He moved to Baltimore because the city of Cleveland refused to build the football team a new stadium. They instead vested that money into the baseball team for Jacobs Field.

"No disrespect to Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara, but I just think I have better cover skills. They get tested a lot, and that’s for a reason. The other team sees something in their game that they want to attack, and me playing in the same league as Prince, we played the same teams and they didn’t attack me the same. So why does that happen?" - CB Jimmy Smith

by Mr MaLoR on May 23, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

And a new arena for the Cavs and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

by JoshuaStein on May 23, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

oh wow then he had every right to leave cleveland

by jazz20 on May 24, 2011 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

He was pissed that the city was building a stadium for the Indians. His company owned/operated the stadium and he was going to be losing the $$$ he sucked away from the baseball games. he was offered a new stadium to be built along with the baseball/basketball arena. he didnt want that because he wouldnt get to own that. The city voters approved a 175 million bond that would have upgraded the old municipal, but Art went for your bribes.

Quit acting like you dont know. The Browns fans arent pissed at baltimore or Ravens fans, they are pissed at Modell for moving a team that had sold out games year after year, even if the team sucked. He shit all over them, so now we shit all over him. He was worse than the Irsey’s, the colts didnt have the attendance or fan base the Browns did. He gets what he deserves, NO HOF and no managing ownership of the franchise in Baltimore. Be happy you have an owner that doesnt suck and actually cares for his team and city.

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." - Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns.

by J. W. on May 24, 2011 5:34 AM EDT up reply actions

That’s complete and total bullshit. Irsay took the colors, team name and history with him to Indy. Modell left all of that with Cleveland. Plus, Modell has done more for the history of football than that drunk Irsay ever did. The comparisons aren’t even close.

by JoshuaStein on May 24, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

NO THE CITY OF CLEVELAND FOUGHT TO KEEP THE FRANCHISE NAME

Funny how all you Ravens fans hate Indy the way us browns fans hate baltimore, however you had no problem taking a team from us and then want to sit and say whats the big deal, Get over your issues with Indy before trying to tell browns fans to stop hating model. Sounds to me like the pot calling the kettle black!

by xspixels on May 24, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

The city of Balimore fought to keep the Colts’ history also!! No pot is calling any kettle black. You have your crummy team back, so enjoy yourself.

by JoshuaStein on May 24, 2011 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

well, then your city had shitty lawyers. we had a franchise that before Modell was one of the best in the history of the game. Art screwed all that up and eventually we got to be competative again, and then he screwed us again. The owners should be required by the league to have X amount of dollars set aside for NFL teams only (ie – an esgrow account), to ensure there is enough to keep the team up. If that rule was in place prior to 95 – Art would have been forced to sell. He sucks as a businessman and thats why we got the shaft.

Like I said earlier be happy your new owner is a good one

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." - Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns.

by J. W. on May 25, 2011 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

See I don't believe this statement

they are pissed at Modell for moving a team that had sold out games year after year, even if the team sucked.

You guys can’t pack a stadium now, so whats the difference?

And we didnt bribe anyone. We offered a deal which included a new stadium within a certain time. If Modell was so interested in owning everything, then why would he leave at all to compete in a decent baseball community (at the time) over here? Lets face it, no one really knows the full story on why Modell left.

He has stated it was over a new stadium. There could very well be other reasons that people just decided were best to stay private.

by Mstevens_Design on May 24, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

You also can't compare the Colts leaving and the Browns leaving

You guys got a new team immediately while we had to wait for YEARS upon YEARS with other cities getting expansion teams. If it weren’t for Modell leaving, we probably still wouldn’t have a team.

I think you guys are more pissed at the fact you think you deserve our Superbowl in 2000. Instead, you have been stuck with a crappy owner and a crappy “new” stadium.

by Mstevens_Design on May 24, 2011 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I had heard an interview with Modell

in which he stated that water was routinely falling on the staff’s paperwork because the stadium was in shambles. Modell at least did it in the classiest way possible, and still has been very respectful towards Cleveland for what it allowed him to do.

I think the biggest issue for me, is that Modell moving the team is always brought up in games, in highlight shows, drafts, etc. Yet you very very rarely hear anyone mention the Colts leaving Baltimore. Now, there is a significant amount of time inbetween those 2 things, but it has been a long ass time since we’ve had the Ravens.

People need to get over it just like we need to get over the Colts leaving. It has happened, its in the past and the people involved aren’t around the franchises anymore. Now lets get Modell in the HOF and just end it all here.

by Mstevens_Design on May 23, 2011 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

The Irsey’s still own the Colts.

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." - Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns.

by J. W. on May 24, 2011 5:35 AM EDT up reply actions

True

But you can’t blame the kids for what the father did. That isn’t fair to do.

by Mstevens_Design on May 24, 2011 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Grossi is an IDIOT!!! If Cleveland had built a stadium for Modell like they did for the “new” Browns he’d have stayed in Cleveland. The guy’s brain dead.

by JP19901 on May 23, 2011 6:38 PM EDT reply actions