When Art “Shitface” Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore after the 1995 season, he wanted to take the team’s name and colors with him.
Keep in mind, the Browns were named after Paul Brown, the legendary coach who won seven championships in 17 seasons with Cleveland. In 1963, shortly after purchasing the Browns, Art Modell fired Paul Brown. The following year, Modell rode Paul Brown’s team to Cleveland’s last championship. Art Modell is the devil and I hope he dies yesterday.
But I digress …
In 1996, the City of Cleveland won a legal settlement which kept the Cleveland Browns’ name, colors, logos, and legacy in Cleveland. Three years later, the Browns were back.
But they never really came back.
The Browns’ lethargic, pathetic performance last week against the Packers summed up their last 10 years of futility. Fans and pundits call for the heads of Lerner, Kokinis, and Mangini, or argue that we should boycott the Browns. We could fire Mangini and Kokinis, but it would begin another rebuilding process. Lerner could sell the team, but who’s to say the new owner would be any better? And why should Browns fans boycott a team they love?
None of these solutions get us any closer to what Clevelanders really want: a competitive professional football team.
Cleveland fought hard for the Browns.
The new Browns franchise is unacceptable.
The City of Cleveland should take the name, colors, logos and legacy of the Cleveland Browns away from this franchise*.
This presents a series of complicated practical issues that I will attempt to mitigate:
The Browns would still be welcome to play their 2009 NFL schedule, though obviously not at Cleveland Browns Stadium. I hear Byer’s Field in Parma is available.
As far as the team’s names and colors, since this team represents the complete opposite of the Browns’ proud heritage, I suggest the following:
Meet the Snworb.
*The City of Cleveland would return the name, colors, logos, and legacy of the Cleveland Browns to the Snworb franchise following three consecutive winning seasons.
[...] Meet the Snworb — (The Kardiac Kid) The Browns’ lethargic, pathetic performance last week against the Packers summed up their last 10 years of futility. Fans and pundits call for the heads of Lerner, Kokinis, and Mangini, or argue that we should boycott the Browns. We could fire Mangini and Kokinis, but it would begin another rebuilding process. Lerner could sell the team, but who’s to say the new owner would be any better? And why should Browns fans boycott a team they love? [...]
[...] The name on the door has been stolen: “In 1996, the City of Cleveland won a legal settlement which kept the Cleveland Browns’ name, colors, logos, and legacy in Cleveland. Three years later, the Browns were back. But they never really came back. The Browns’ lethargic, pathetic performance last week against the Packers summed up their last 10 years of futility.” [Kardiac Kid] [...]
[...] Meet the Snworb — (The Kardiac Kid) The Browns’ lethargic, pathetic performance last week against the Packers summed up their last 10 years of futility. Fans and pundits call for the heads of Lerner, Kokinis, and Mangini, or argue that we should boycott the Browns. We could fire Mangini and Kokinis, but it would begin another rebuilding process. Lerner could sell the team, but who’s to say the new owner would be any better? And why should Browns fans boycott a team they love? [...]