Art Modell owned the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens NFL franchise from 1961-2004 before selling a majority stake in the team to Steve Bisciotti. Since moving the Browns to Baltimore in 1996, Modell and his wife, Pat, have entrenched themselves in the community. They are active in many charitable causes, including Johns Hopkins Hospital and the House of Ruth. Modell was also a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and a semifinalist in 2004-07. The Babe Ruth/Sports Legends Museum will honor Modell, 82, with a celebration Oct. 23.
How difficult was it for you to watch last Sunday as the current Cleveland Browns defeated the Ravens, 27-13?
Sunday was not one of the better periods of my life. Cleveland played a better game on the field. Now it’s up to the coaches to find out why.
If you could place an NFL franchise in any city without a team, which one would you choose?
I’ve been a supporter of a team in Los Angeles for a long time and they should be considered for a team if the league expands. Although that doesn’t mean the NFL shouldn’t look at other teams that qualify.
If you could sign any player from the 1960s in their prime and place him on the Ravens right now, who would it be?
We were salivating at the thought of having Ernie Davis in the backfield with Jim Brown when we traded for him in 1962. But sadly, we never got to see that happen as he was diagnosed with leukemia and died before ever playing a game in the NFL.
