Written by Jeff Rich

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It was reported by multiple sources (WEWS and WKYC) that former Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell is very ill in a Baltimore hospital.  It has been reported that his vital organs are failing.  Family members, including his sons, John and David are by the 87-year old's side in what appear to be his final hours.

His wife, Pat (Breslin) Modell perished last October at the age of 80.  The two had been married since 1969, eight years after Art purchased the Browns in 1961.  Of course, it is not news to Cleveland that Modell ceased to own the Cleveland Browns in that capacity in 1995, when the franchise was re-located to Baltimore as a team with no history that was known as the Ravens.  He would own that team, until completing the sale of the Baltimore Ravens in 2004.  Though he owned the Browns through 17 playoff appearances, they only won a single NFL Championship under his charge.  It's been reported that his Baltimore franchise had some moderate success as well.

Modell, whose namesake is the very same of the New York based sporting goods chain, worked in marketing and PR in New York prior to purchasing the Browns for $4 million in 1961, staking less than 10% of his own money to make the purchase.  Though he basically created Thanksgiving Day and Monday Night Football, Modell is not recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Controversy, which ranged from firing Paul Brown in 1963 to contract disputes that drove star players (including Jim Brown) out of town, and of course, The Move tarnishes any legacy of goodwill that Modell may have had in Cleveland.

The inevitable news that follows this story promises not to yield a lot of grief from the die-hard Browns fans, many of whom consider the move to be the worst thing to happen to them, or at least their city.