Jim Brown getting a Statue by the Cleveland Browns. Here's who else deserves a statue.

The Cleveland Browns have recently announced that they will erect a statue of Jim Brown. This is fitting for the man who is possibly the greatest player in the history of the NFL.

With that said, here are five other Cleveland Browns who also deserve a statue:

PAUL BROWN

"The Father of Modern Football" is certainly the game's greatest innovator. He also deserves to have the NFL's Coach of the Year Award named after him. You can also learn more about him on a previous Blog of mine.

OTTO GRAHAM

"Automatic Otto" should be in every Greatest Quarterback of all Time Debate. Only QB in the history of Pro Football to lead his team to 10 Straight League Championship Games: Four in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and Six in the NFL. The modern NFL Equivalent of this would be making it to Six Straight Super Bowls.

LOU GROZA

One of the most beloved Browns of all time. Played both Offensive Tackle and Placekicker. Even if he played only one of those positions, he still would have been recognized as an All-Pro. He is also the only Browns Player to be a member of all 4 NFL World Championship Teams and all 4 AAFC Championship Teams

BILL WILLIS

Willis helped integrate the Ohio State when Paul Brown (then the Ohio State Head Coach.) brought him into the program in 1941, helping the Buckeyes win their first National Championship in 1942. He was later among those who helped integrate Pro Football in 1946.

MARION MOTLEY

Before Jim Brown, there was Marion Motley. A bruising, hard physical runner at fullback who was a nightmare to tackle. Along with Willis, helped integrate the sport of Pro Football in 1946 when the Browns came into existence in the AAFC.

Paul Brown is FINALLY Getting his due from the NFL (...and why he is the most important figure in the history of American Football.)

Tonight (November 6, 2015) The NFL Network will FINALLY give Paul Brown his due as The Father of Modern Football. (Interesting how this is being shown on the 20th Anniversary of Art Modell announcing his move to Baltimore.)

For way too long, Paul Brown has been ignored by NFL Historians for any number of reasons. Here are the reasons in my opinion why:

• The "If it happened before the Super Bowl Era, it doesn't count" Mentality that the NFL has managed to brainwash much of the media and fans into believing. A Level of Brainwashing that Mao, Lenin, Stalin and Goebbels would be proud of.
• It has to do with the two pro teams that Brown is affiliated with: The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals
• There was a lot of resentment by both The (1950's) NFL Establishment because of his immediate success in the NFL after coming over from the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) which was seen as an inferior league by the NFL, and the AFL Establishment because Brown saw starting The Bengals as his way of rejoining the NFL as he saw that they would eventually either merge with the NFL or have an NFL/AFL working agreement like in Major League Baseball.

It's true that Lombardi, Walsh, Landry and Shula are all Legends and True Hall of Famers, but many Football Historians and knowledgeable fans consider to be the Father of Modern Pro Football. Here are the reasons why:

HE HELPED DESEGREGATE PRO FOOTBALL

Brown wasn't the only person to help in this, but was a Major Part of it. When The Rams moved to Los Angeles from Cleveland, the City of Los Angeles stipulated that The NFL must desegregate. The Browns began in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946 and many of the teams there signed African-American Players from the beginning. Paul Brown signed many and played them. He also Desegregated The Ohio State Football Program when he was named Head Coach in 1941

HIS COACHING TREE IS EXTENSIVE

Many men that Coached and/or Played for Brown became notable Hall of Fame Head Coaches themselves:

WEEB EWBANK: Coached under Brown in Cleveland (1949-1953). They were teammates at Miami University in Ohio. Coached the Baltimore Colts to the 1958 and 1959 NFL World Championship then coached the New York Jets to the 1968 AFL Championship and Super Bowl III (Becoming the first AFL Team to do that.)

DON SHULA: Played for Brown (Cornerback) in Cleveland (1951-1952). Played for Ewbank in Baltimore (1953-1956) Became Head Coach of The Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins. Won Super Bowls VII and VIII as Dolphins Head Coach and Holds the record for both Regular Season Wins (328) and Super Bowl Appearances as Head Coach (6)

CHUCK NOLL: Played for Brown (Guard) in Cleveland (1953-1959). Became Head Coach of The Pittsburgh Steelers where he led them to four Super Bowl Titles (IX-X-XIII-XIV)

BILL WALSH: Coached for Brown in Cincinnati (1968-1975) where he took Brown's Offense and adjusted it for QB Virgil Carter. This variation became the basis for "The West Coast Offense". Coached the 49ers to three Super Bowl Titles (XVI-XIX-XXIII) and developed his own successful coaching tree.

ARA PARSEGHIAN: Played for Brown (Halfback/Defensive Back) in Cleveland (1948-1949). Became a Hall of Fame College Head Coach at Miami (Ohio), Northwestern and Notre Dame. Won two National Championships at Notre Dame (1966, 1973)

Other notable Coaches that played for and/or coached under Brown are Lou Saban, Bud Grant and Blanton Collier.

PAUL BROWN WAS AN INNOVATOR

AHEAD OF HIS TIME

There's a reason why many regard Paul Brown as "The Father of Modern Pro Football. Aside from the reasons stated above, Browns was a true innovator who came up with the following:

THE FACEMASK: This was thought of by Brown after Otto Graham took a vicious hit in a 1953 Game vs. The 49ers which resulted in needing 15 stitches to his chin area. The first mask was clear plastic but then Brown got together with an engineer with Riddell to invent the modern facemask. (There were College Players before this who wore face masks and other forms of facial protection which were crude in comparison to the modern mask.) He also was the first pro coach to require all of his players to wear them.

COACHES IN THE PRESS BOX AND FULL TIME ASSISTANT COACHES: Brown came up with the idea of placing Assistant Coaches in the Press Box to watch the game and send down plays by phone. Paul Brown began this when he was at Ohio State. He also was the first to make being an assistant coach a full time job at the Pro Level.

PRACTICE SQUADS: Brown came up with this idea of reserve players that practice with the team during the week but do not dress on game day but may be put on the active roster if needed. Originally, this was nicknamed "Taxi Squad" as these players were technically employees of Mickey McBride's (Original Browns Owner) Yellow Cab Franchise in Cleveland. (According to Terry Pluto, the players on the Taxi Squad never really worked as Cab Drivers,) This was soon adopted by all NFL Teams in a different way in terms of procedure, but the "Taxi Squad" name stuck for many years.

SENDING IN PLAYS FROM THE SIDELINE: Brown came up with this idea. Back then, Brown would rotate Guards during the game, sending them in with the play he wanted called by the Offense. They were nicknamed "Messenger Guards". One of whom was Chuck Noll who later became Head Coach of The Steelers.

RADIO REVCIEVER EARPIECE IN THE QUARTERBACK'S HELMET: According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Website; two Ohio Based Inventors named John Campbell and George Sarles came up with the concept of placing a Radio in the Quarterback's Helmet so that plays could be directly sent to him from the sideline. Paul Brown loved the idea and experimented with it during the 1956 Preseason. Here is the full story from the Pro Football Hall of Fame Website. http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=2080

THE DRAW PLAY: This was actually invented by accident. According to Terry Pluto from his book; "Things I've Learned from watching The Browns" In an AAFC Game, Otto Graham tripped as he was dropping back to pass. As he fell down, he handed the ball to Marion Motley who made a long run out of it as the Defense was prepared for a pass and not a run. From this, Paul Brown designed the Draw Play and it became an effective weapon in his Offense.

PLAYER NOTEBOOKS, GAME FILM & INTELLIGENCE TESTS: These are no doubt from Paul Brown's Academic Background. (He had a Masters Degree in Education from Ohio State.) He felt that players remember plays better if they draw the plays themselves in a notebook. This was his "Classroom" Approach to football. He also was the first to use film of the opponent to study their tendencies. Now common practice with Video and Digital Equipment. He was also the first to use Intelligence Tests as a Scouting Tool.

THE 40-YARD DASH: According to Terry Pluto from his book; "Things I've Learned from watching The Browns" Dante Lavelli said Brown actually first used this at Ohio State as a way to determine who would be on Special Teams as he wanted his fastest players for coverage. This of course, evolved into a Scouting Tool.

THE GREEN BAY PACKERS MAY NEVER HAVE HIRED VINCE LOMBARDI IF IT WEREN'T FOR PAUL BROWN.

Yet again from Terry Pluto in his book; "Things I've Learned from watching The Browns", Brown and Lombardi were friends. When the Packers were looking for a new Head Coach after the 1958 Season, Brown called The Packers to recommend they hire Lombardi. Brown told The Packers that Lombardi was the best Assistant Coach in The NFL. (At the time, Lombardi was The New York Giants Offensive Coordinator and The Giants won the 1958 NFL Championship.) As they say, The Rest is History.

HAD HE COME BACK TO OHIO STATE (AS HE INTENDED TO.), IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT WOODY HAYES NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN OHIO STATE'S HEAD COACH.

After the 1943 Season, Brown was Drafted into The Navy. He was assigned to be The Head Coach of The Great Lakes Naval Station Football Team in Chicago and Ohio State considered him Head Coach in absentia. Just after this happened, Chicago Tribune Sports Writer Arch Ward came up with the idea of a second Pro Football League which was to start play after WWII. This became The All-America Football Conference, two of their teams still exist today in the NFL: The Browns and The 49ers.

Brown accepted a Very Generous Offer to become Head Coach, GM and a piece of the team from Arthur "Mickey" McBride who was the original Browns Owner and Arch Ward. (Ward was a Chicago Tribune Sportswriter who came up with the Major League Baseball All Star Game, Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament, College All Star Game and the AAFC.) Had he come back to Ohio State, there is little doubt that The Buckeyes would have been a very successful program under Brown. (Brown did coach The Buckeyes to the National Championship in 1942.) By The Way, can you picture The History of Ohio State Football WITHOUT Woody Hayes? (Who was hired in 1951 by Ohio State.) Of course you can't.

Without Woody, you may never had Bo Schembechler, Lou Holtz and Earle Bruce (all of whom were assistants under Woody at one time.) From Bo; you get LSU Head Coach Les Miles and current Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. Earle himself has an impressive and underrated coaching tree. Urban Meyer, Jim Tressell, Nick Saban, Mark Dantonio and Pete Carroll are among those who were assistants under Earle Bruce at one time.

See how the ripple effect works.

Plus remember this: Three NFL Teams wouldn't even exist if it weren't for Paul Brown (...and Art Modell, but don't get me started.) The Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.

Acknowledgements:

Terry Pluto: (Please Visit his website: http://terrypluto.com )

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Wikipedia

The Browns did the RIGHT THING by limiting the National Media Access at the Rookie Minicamp

Rookie Minicamp is over (The OTA's are starting.) and the National Media is still probably throwing a Hissy Fit that the Cleveland Browns decided to limit their access. BEST DECISION THEY COULD HAVE MADE! It was a no win situation for the Browns anyway. Don't allow the National Media in (...or Limiting their time.) and they whine about how they were restricted. Let the National Media have their way, then they would criticize the Browns for allowing a Circus to happen when in fact, it's the National Media that would bring the Circus.

Memo to the National Media: Let Johnny get to know his future teammates, coaches,
team facility, etc. before bringing your Circus to Town.

Considering that this is a New Coaching Staff, Rookies trying to make a good impression, etc. This is the only sane decision that the Browns could have made. A Media Circus that a player like Johnny Manziel attracts would have been an unwelcome distraction, not to mention that it also would have been unfair to the other Draft Picks and Rookie Free Agent Signees. Of course, they need to learn the Playbook, get to know the Coaches, learn their way around the Browns Facility (...and around the Cleveland Area.) etc.

But all that didn't matter to much of the National Sports Media who just wanted to show The Circus they would have created and they have their collective panties in a bunch that they didn't get to do this. (I won't mention the sports network who is the most guilty of this, but their name has four letters in it.) The Browns are allowing them access this Wednesday.

Fortunately, there are some members of the National Sports Media who are actually sane and agree with what the Browns did. One of these is Pat Kirwan of CBS Sports.com. Here is his Article from May 18 where he praises the Browns for this.

Don't Forget Larry Doby

This Week in Major League Baseball, it was Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, marking the 67th Anniversary of Jackie breaking the Color Barrier in Major League Baseball when he made his debut with The Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.


What he did is not only one of the most historic moments in sports, but in history. The Racism, Hatred, etc that he faced has been documented. However, there is another man who also made his Major League debut that same season but in the American League with The Cleveland Indians and faced the same problems that Jackie did but is now forgotten for the most part. His name was Larry Doby. Doby is important because it made it possible that Jackie Robinson was not the last.


You have to remember, there was no Interleague Baseball in the 1940's so Doby faced what Robinson did but in a lot of Stadiums that Robinson never played in. Doby made his Major League debut on July 5, 1947 after being signed from the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues. Just because Doby was the second man, does not mean that what he faced was any less than what Robinson did, nor are his contributions.


I believe that The Indians should have a Larry Doby Weekend honoring him in July every season.


Here are links where you can learn more about Larry Doby.
Wikipedia - Baseball Hall of Fame - Baseball-Reference.com

If I could redesign The Cleveland Browns Uniform (A Video I made for YouTube.)

I'll let the video do the talking...

The Five People you always see during March Madness

It's the time of the year where College Basketball ends up getting as much betting action (Legal and Otherwise.) as The Super Bowl does. I'm sure you have your bracket filled out and will try to get out of work this Thursday and Friday so you can watch. It's also this time of year that in the workplace or if you go to a bar, you will inevitably run into at least one (or maybe all...) of these types of people while watching the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament. So here are the five types of people you will see this time of year:
 
1. THE STAT GEEK GUY: He's the Numbers Cruncher with a few dozen spreadsheets filled with every type of Basketball Statistic you can think of (...along with a few you probably never thought of.) and tries to use this Pseudo-Science to fill out his bracket.
 
2. THE MULTI-BRACKET GUY: He's the guy who fills out at least 37 brackets in order to try to win money in betting pools and online contests by ESPN, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, etc. and ends up losing with all of them.
 
3. THE OFFICE POOL COMMISSIONER GUY: He's the guy who acts as if he's running one of the Vegas Books when it's just one of the local pools with a $20 Entry Fee.
 
4. THE "I CALLED THAT UPSET" GUY:  You always see at least one of these guys at the local sports bar. Everyone in the place is watching a 15-Seed pull the upset against a 2-Seed that nobody saw coming EXCEPT THE GUY IN THE BACK AND HE WON'T SHUT UP ABOUT IT FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. Okay, we get it. How is the rest of your bracket, pal?!?!
 
5. THE "I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BASKETBALL" PERSON: Where all the others are "Guys" because it is mostly males who do this, with this one, it's accurate to use "Person" since you find this a lot with both Genders. These are the people who wouldn't know a Rebound from a Rubber Band and use all kinds of ridiculous reasons to make their picks when filling out a bracket: Team Colors, Team Nickname. The Head Coach is Good Looking, whatever and yet, these are the people that end up winning whatever betting pool they end up joining.

Why American/Canadian Style Football would never work in the Olympics

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated in his "State of The NFL" Speech before The Super Bowl that Football would be an Olympic Sport by 2020. He obviously didn't think this through. Here are four reasons why it would never work as an Olympic Sport:

 

1. The Timing is bad.

The Winter Games usually take place in February, just after the season. No Pro, College or High School Player would want to play then, and I'm sure that Coaches, etc. wouldn't be too crazy about this either. The Summer Games? You can forget that too. They take place anywhere between July and September which would interfere with Training Camp or the start of the Season.

 

2. Football is a Game that is normally played once a Week.

Olympic Games span two weeks, at the most there could only be three games for a team: The Opening Round, The Semi-Final and The Medal Round. They would have to be played only on the Weekends.

 

3. American & Canadian Style Football isn't played in a lot of other Countries.

Seriously, name an NFL, CFL, Arena or even College Player that is a Citizen of a Country other than the United States or Canada? YOU CAN'T. This isn't Baseball, Basketball, Ice Hockey or Soccer. It is played as a Club Sport in some countries, and that is very few. I doubt there would be more that six countries and even that in my opinion is stretching it.

 

4. American and Canadian Football are different in terms of Field Dimensions and Scoring.

There would be a debate on what style to play. American Pro? American College? American High School? Canadian Pro? Canadian College? Canadian High School? The American Rules would likely be adopted which would force Canadians to play a style that they're not used to.

 

My guess is that Goodell based it on two things:

 

1. The Regular Season Game in London always attracts a big crowd. OF COURSE IT DOES. Over there, it's seen by Brits and Europeans the same way that Americans would attend a Soccer Game featuring well known International Clubs like Manchester United and FC Barcelona. IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

 

2. NFL Europe had good attendance. Well, there was a reason that most of the teams were based in Germany. All the US Military Based in Germany who obviously saw it as a little piece of home.

 

I haven't heard anymore about this. Maybe Goodell realized that it just wouldn't work. (...at least I hope so.)

Jimmy Haslam firing Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi isn't Dysfunction, It's the realization of Dysfunction

Since returning in '99, the Browns have been so bad that even when they cut out a couple of cancers like Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi, it's STILL seen as Dysfunction when in reality, it's the realization that there is Dysfunction and they were the source of it.



Mike Lombardi (Left) and Joe Banner were the Cause of the Dysfunction under the Haslam
Ownership. Anyone with common sense should be happy that these two have been
run out of town. Photo courtesy of ESPN Cleveland
Browns Fans kept hearing stories about how bad it was there. I personally heard from friends of mine in the Philadelphia Area nothing but bad things about Banner when he worked for the Eagles. Lombardi was never a popular hire with Browns Fans because of his previous tenure in Cleveland when he worked under Bill Belichick and seen by many Cleveland Area Observers as a Back-Stabbing Snake. It got so bad that there were executives with other teams that simply refused to do business with the Browns and potential Head Coaching Candidates would walk out of meetings because they were disgusted with Banner. It got to the point where Banner and Lombardi turned on each other. After Haslam fired Banner and Lombardi, the NFL Team Executives who wouldn't do business with The Browns came out (Anonymously.) and stated that they will again do business with the Browns now that they are gone.


Ray Farmer has taken over as the new General Manager. Farmer is highly thought of around NFL Circles.


The Following are various articles written about the firing of Banner and Lombardi:

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam on having to part ways with Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi: "I underestimated this"



written by Mary Kay Cabot (Cleveland.com/Plain Dealer) on 2/11/2014



Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi ended on bad terms with each other, and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam wiped out both written by Mary Kay Cabot on 2/13/2014



Cleveland Browns and NFL Links: Peter King explains why Jimmy Haslam made changes written by Branson Wright


(Cleveland.com/Plain Dealer) on 2/13/2014. Includes a link to the Sports Illustrated "MMQB" Article written by Peter King


Transcript from news conference with new Browns GM Ray Farmer
by Nate Ulrich (Ohio.com/Akron Beacon-Journal) on 2/11/2014



New Cleveland Browns General Manager Ray Farmer. Let's hope that he is the right man for the job.
Photo courtesy of Ohio.com/Akron Beacon-Journal via AP

In Honor of The 50th Anniversary of The Beatles' first appearence on the Ed Sullivan Show... My Ten Favorite Beatles Songs

Tonight (February 9.) Marks the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles' First Appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. In honor of this, here are my Ten Favorite Beatles Songs (...by the way, it's not easy narrowing it down to just ten.) Oh, I was NOT named after George Harrison


10. Across The Universe



9. Penny Lane



8. Yesterday (By The Way, That was my Mom's Favorite. She used to sing it sometimes.)



7. I Am The Walrus


6. Nowhere Man



5. A Day in the Life



4. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With A Little Help From My Friends



3. Hello Goodbye



2. Help!



1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

The Browns can't find a Head Coach. The REAL Problem is Banner and Lombardi

So, The two men that were on the top of my list to be the new Browns Head Coach: Ken Wisenhunt and Mike Zimmer both either rejected the Browns or Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi were too damn stupid to either think of talking to them. When will Jimmy Haslam realize that it's Banner and Lombardi are the problem?




Banner and Lombardi (ESPECIALLY Banner.) are a couple of Egomaniacs who think they know more about football than they actually do. Chudzinski was in a situation that even Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi and Bill Walsh couldn't have won games in.
 


Recently in a previous blog, I called for the NFL to take the team away from Jimmy Haslam http://thejamsessionbyjamdawg.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-nfl-needs-to-take-cleveland-browns.html (Considering the Federal Investigation of his company: Pilot/Flying J. they still may have to.) but if Haslam comes to the realization that Banner and Lombardi ARE the Problem, I may retract that statement.




The Browns are losing support within the state that it once ruled. Here is an eye opening article from the (Cleveland) Plain Dealer and in their website; Cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/01/browns_battleground_how_can_th.html


God Help Us All!

If I could redesign the Cleveland Browns Uniform

The Browns are considering a uniform change. Too bad the lawyers get in the way and you have to be legally solicited by someone (In this case, The Browns, the NFL or Nike.) just to show someone something. I'll bet that this will be better than anything they will come up with. (I used the Nike Combat Uni Template for this.)

 

To see this in the Original Size, Click Here

 

Browns Fans as a group tend to be very conservative when it comes to the uniform. You will get dirty looks from Browns Fans if you suggest that the helmet needs a logo. As you can see, I'm using elements of the Classic Browns Uniform and brought back the Two Color Drop Shadow Numbers that the Browns used in 1946. (Their first year of existence.)

 

Yes, I have been trying to get Legally Solicited to show these.


EDIT: Here is the ONLY Change I would make to the Browns Helmet.

Five Actors who were robbed at the Oscars

Tonight is the 85th Academy Awards. Of course, there have been instances where the winner is announced and you're left saying WHAT THE HELL? and other instances where a deserving Actor, Actress and Director aren't even nominated.
I will now list the five actors (two of whom are mentioned TWICE) who were either robbed of the Oscar or even were robbed of being nominated for one.

Harvey Korman as Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles (1974).
While Blazing Saddles did recieve four Academy Award Nominations (Madeline Kahn for Best Supporting Actress, Film Editing, Music and Original Song.) Korman was shut out. Ironic since the most famous line by Korman actually uses a reference to Best Supporting Actor. (Click Here to see this.) He was brilliant in this movie.

Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993).
Many Actors have portrayed Doc Holliday, including Cesar Romero, Victor Mature, Kirk Douglas, Jason Robards and both Quaid Brothers but many consider Val Kilmer's version to be the most badass. In my opinion, he was the most interesting character in the movie which by the way is my favorite Western of the last 30 years. Tombstone did not recieve one single nomination in any of the major catagories.

Edward Norton as Aaron Stampler in Primal Fear (1996).
At least Norton was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar (as well as all the other Major Best Supporting Actor Awards.) for this. He lost to Cuba Gooding, Jr. for his role in Jerry Maguire. Many people consider this one of the worst Miscarriages of Justice in Oscars History. The Aaron Stampler Character is far more interesting than Gooding's Character, Rod Tidwell. If you've seen Primal Fear, then you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, RENT IT and be sure to watch it until the end.

Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991).
Tombstone wasn't the first time that Kilmer was robbed out of even being nominated for an Oscar. Many agree that he pulled off one of the most accurate portrayals of a Music Icon. I consider it right up there with Jamie Foxx's accurate portrayal of Ray Charles.

 

Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan Jessup in A Few Good Men (1992).
Nicholson was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, but was also up against Al Pacino (Glengary Glen Ross) and Gene Hackman (Unforgiven, he won it that year.) so this was as strong a competition as you could find in Oscars History. This was a classic case of a Supporting Character absolutely stealing the movie as Nicholson did here.

 

Edward Norton as Derek Vinyard in American History X (1998).

Like Val Kilmer, Norton shows up on this list again. This time as an Ex Neo-Nazi named Derek Vinyard. He goes to prison for Voluntary Manslaughter but then changes his beliefs over time and then after his release, tries to keep his younger brother Danny (Edward Furlong) from going down the same path and making the same mistakes that he did. (As you can see, Norton obviously hit the weights so he could look like a scary Neo-Nazi.) Norton was up against Nick Nolte (Affliction), Sir Ian McKellen (Gods and Monsters) and Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan) but the Best Actor Oscar went to Roberto Benigni for playing Guido Orefice in Life Is Beautiful.

 

Who are yours?

Four Pre-Super Bowl Era Hall of Famers that should be in everyGreatest-of-All-Time Debate

Yes, we have all heard and/or participated in "Greatest of All Time" discussions when it comes to Pro Football. However, with the "If it happened before The Super Bowl Era" Mentality that is all too prevalent in our society, Greats from the Pre-Super Bowl Era are rarely, if ever included in these discussions. The only Pre-Super Bowl Era Player that is in any of these debates on a regular basis in Jim Brown.

So with this in mind, here are 4 Pro Football Hall of Famers who should be in every "Greatest of All Time" debate.

1. Otto Graham: Quarterback - Cleveland Browns (1946-55)
Graham is the player that comes up the most by Historians and others when they point out how most "Greatest of All Time" lists leave out Pre-Super Bowl Era Players. Simply put, Otto dominated his Era (1946-55) by leading The Browns to ten straight trips to The League Championship Game, four in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from '46 to '49 and Six in the NFL from '50 to '55, Winning all four AAFC Championships and the NFL Championship in '50, '54 and '55. He compiled a 114-20 Record in his Ten Seasons. Even if you leave out the AAFC Years, his record is still impressive.

2. Paul Brown: Head Coach - Cleveland Browns (1946-62) Cincinnati Bengals (1968-75)
I personally consider Paul Brown to be the most important Coach in the Post WWII History of Football (Both Pro and College.) Click below and see why.
http://thejamsessionbyjamdawg.blogspot.com/2013/02/top-five-reasons-why-paul-brown-is-most.html

When you consider all the Championships he won, his innovations that are now common practice and all the men that played or coached under him that became Championship Coaches themselves, he has to be considered one of the builders of the game. The fact that all of his Championships came before the Super Bowl Era is the main reason why you rarely hear Paul Brown's Name in "Greatest Coach of All Time" debates. Recently, ESPN to honor Vince Lombardi's Birthday, put together their list of the greatest Pro Football Head Coaches of all time and list Paul Brown SIXTH on the list. A lot of people who know football history ripped ESPN in comments on their website saying how he's ranked too low. Most saying that he's no worse than No.2

3. Don Hutson: End - Green Bay Packers (1935-45)
He was listed as an End, but he was really the first modern Wide Receiver. At the time of his retirement, Hutson held just about every receiving record in the game, some of which he still holds. He also is credited with creating many pass routes used in the game today. When he was drafted out of Alabama in 1935, many people thought he wouldn't have much of a career because of his size (6'1" - 183 lbs.) but he had the speed and ability to avoid defenders on his way to long gains.

4. Sid Luckman: Quarterback - Chicago Bears (1939-1950)
Luckman was the first T-Formation Quarterback and after his career, taught other QB's how to play it. He led the Bears to Four NFL Championships (1940, '41, '43 and '46.) He led the NFL in Yards-Per-Attempt seven times, including five straight years between 1939 and 1943. Also in 1943, he threw 28 Touchdown Passes. An amazing number in itself but even more amazing when you consider that it was a 10 Game Schedule in '43.

Art Modell. What the media WON'T Tell you.

Art Modell has passed on and of course, a lot of The Media and The NFL is spinning it as if he was the greatest owner in the History of The NFL. (Now granted, some in the media are also bringing up his shortcomings and controversies.)

Now, you're about to hear the WHOLE Truth about him.

Yes, I am a Browns Fan, and this is A LOT more than just him moving the team to Baltimore.

This is a man who after purchasing the Browns in 1961:

1. Fired The Team's Namesake, Paul Brown after the 1962 Season. All Paul Brown did was Coach The Browns to Ten Straight League Championship Game Appearances between 1946 and 1955. Four in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1948, '47, '48 and 1949. (The 1948 Browns went Undefeated, 24 Years before The '72 Dolphins pulled it off.). Make it to Six Straight NFL Championship Games between 1950 and '55, winning it in 1950, '54 and 1955. (The Modern Version is making it to six straight Super Bowls.) and come up with many innovations that are now common practice in football.


2. Outside of listing them in the Official Record, Refused to acknowledge the Browns Past Championships won in the ways an owner can acknowledge them all because The Man he Fired, (Paul Brown) built and coached those teams. (...and none of them took place while HE owned the team.) Later, this policy was adopted by The NFL after the NFL/AFL Merger judging by the League's treatment of most things from the Pre-Super Bowl Era.


3. De-Emphasized the one NFL Championship he did win in Cleveland (1964) all to adhere to the NFL's Culture of "If it happened before The Super Bowl Era, It doesn't count." because he was a "Good Company Man" when it came to The NFL. (Translation: He cared more about The NFL than he did The Browns.)


4. Crippled the Browns with Bad Trades, Bad Drafts, Bad Decisions and Incompetent Meddling in General, and ran The Browns into the ground for years. Not to mention The Financial Blunder known as The Stadium Corporation.

You would swear that The Browns were always a sorry, moribund franchise from Day One, when in fact, they were at one time, THE Model Franchise of Pro Football. (...and a Top Franchise in all of Pro Sports.)

Their first decade of existence (1946-1955) can be categorized as a True Sports Dynasty. Of course, Modell screwed all that up denying generations of Browns Fans Championships that they could enjoy.

Memo to The Media and The NFL: This Weasel

doesn't deserve any praise and respect, just

condemnation. Him winning The Super Bowl in

Baltimore is proof of three things:

1. God does not care who wins ball games.

2. Karma is a Myth.

3. Sends a bad message that "Crime Does Pay".

So, how did an owner who is this incompetent and smarmy gain so much Political Power within The NFL?

1. Because they were of the same Generation, and the fact that he was The NFL Commissioner, Modell sidled up to Pete Rozelle and they remained friends until Rozelle's death in 1996. Yes, I know that any team owner needs to have some type of relationship with the League Commissioner.

2. Because of his business background, which was predominantly Television Production. (Along with Advertising and Public Relations.) He was The NFL's Lead Negotiator in the Television Contract Talks with The Networks. These Contracts reaped Hundreds of Millions, (...and eventually, Billions.) helping The NFL to become one of the most profitable businesses in The World.

If he were as good in running The Browns as he was negotiating The TV Contracts for the NFL, The Browns wouldn't have become a moribund, snake bitten laughingstock that they became under his watch. Maybe he wouldn't have moved to Baltimore and maybe have some Super Bowl Titles in Cleveland and not seen as a Pariah.

It's also amazing how he ran that Illegitimate Bastard of a Franchise known as The Ravens in a manner that is the complete opposite of the way he did  The Browns when it comes to On The Field. Off The Field, Same Crap, Different City. In spite of the fact that The State of Maryland paid for virtually everything and the NFL is very profitable, he STILL LOST MONEY so he had to sell most of the team to Daniel Biscotti. (Modell still owned 1% just to stay in.)

MODELL AND MONEY

When he bought the Browns in 1961, officially, he bought them for $4 Million (Around 29.2 Million in 2011 Dollars.) which was then a record. However, he only used $250,000 (Around 1.82 Million in 2011 Dollars.) of his own money while Borrowing $2.7 Million (Around 19.7 Million in 2011 Dollars) from The Bank and finding partners for the rest.

To finalize the Merger in 1970, three of the old school NFL Teams had to move to the newly formed AFC so that the AFC and NFC would each have 13 teams. After a lot of discussion, The Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns agreed to move to The AFC. The NFL makes it sound like they did this for the good of The League when in fact, The three Teams were paid $3 Million each to do so. (Around 16.8 Million in 2011 Dollars.) So much for the "Doing it for the good of the NFL" Propaganda.

Modell's biggest Financial Blunder was the "Stadium Corporation" which he formed in 1973. The Stadium had become a debt ridden liability to The City of Cleveland. In this deal, he would rent the stadium from the city for One Dollar a year and assume all operating and repair costs of the stadium and sublease the stadium to both The Browns and The Indians. (Making it where The Browns were essentially paying rent to themselves.)

Modell built Loges in the Stadium, but the Indians didn't see a penny of that money, and what profit Modell did get from them did not go towards offsetting The Stadium Debt. (...and those Loges were always used during Browns Games, which usually had great attendance at the Old Stadium.)

MOVING THE TEAM TO BALTIMORE. HOW LONG WAS HE REALLY PLANNING TO DO THIS? (...AND ALL THE DECEPTION ALONG THE WAY.)

One Myth that Modell Apologists love to tell is that Modell was never offered a piece of The Gateway Project which was formed around 1990. (The Project that led to the building of what is now Progressive Field, QuickenLoans Arena and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.)

Not true. He in fact was offered a piece of this (Which was to be a Domed Stadium.) but Modell instead asked the City for more money for the old Cleveland Stadium.

Around 1992 when The NFL expanded with The Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers, there were of course other cities bidding for an Expansion Team. Among them of course was Baltimore. Art Modell went out of his way in using his Political Power within The NFL to ruin it for The Baltimore Expansion Effort (The Team was to be known as "The Bombers".) and smugly stated "The NFL has no business being in Baltimore". Was he saving it for himself?

In the Browns Media Guides dating back to the early 90's, the mailing address for the Browns Backers Headquarters (Where people could apply to form an official Browns Backers Chapter.) is in MARYLAND.

With all that, Modell still managed to persuade The City of Berea Ohio (Home of Baldwin-Wallace College, where The Browns practiced for years.) to build a brand new practice and administrative complex at this time. (...and yet, they still didn't move the headquarters for the Browns Backers Clubs into the new building.)

HOW I FINALLY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT MODELL WAS PLANNING THE MOVE FOR YEARS.

This is the Logo I designed for what would have been The Cleveland
Browns' 50th Anniversary in the 1996 Season. Something that
Browns Fans never got to celebrate thanks to Art Modell.

Okay, you have the events with The Gateway Project, The Mailing Address of The Browns Backers being in Maryland, NFL Expansion and the building of the Facility in Berea OH, all while many believe that Modell was planning the move to Baltimore.

Well, what I am about to tell you really happened in February of 1995 (About Nine Months before Modell officially announced that he was moving the team to Baltimore.

In February of 1995, I went to a charity event in Strongsville OH hosted by Debby Belichick and "The Browns Wives". (Bill Belichick at the time being The Browns Head Coach.) This was attended by The Browns Front Office, Coaches and their Wives. Art Modell and his Wife were there briefly as well.

Me, being a bit of an artist, decided to create a logo for the 1996 Season as it was to be The Browns 50th Anniversary of coming into existence in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) along with The San Francisco 49ers who also began in the AAFC. Both The Browns and The 49ers went into The NFL in 1950.

So, the NFL does not recognize the AAFC and will not allow
a team that started there to Commemorate their beginning in
the AAFC? Really? Then explain this 49ers 50th
Anniversary Logo they wore on their jerseys in 1996.
(Courtesy of Sports Logos.net)

I showed the "Browns 50 Logo" (as I call it, and seen above.) to Kevin Byrne, who at the time, was Vice-President of Public Relations with the Browns. (and retained that position with the team when they moved to Baltimore.) Byrne told me that the NFL does not recognize the AAFC Years and wouldn't allow The Browns to commemorate this. I took Byrne at his word since The NFL does have a history of not recognizing certain aspects of Pro Football History that did not involve them.

Of course in October of 1995. Modell made The Announcement.

So The 1996 NFL Season comes around. I'm watching an Exhibition Game involving The 49ers and what do I see. A 50th Anniversary Patch on the 49ers Jerseys. (You can see that to the left and above this text.) The same 49ers who like The Browns, began life in the AAFC in 1946 and went to the NFL in 1950. This after being told by Kevin Byrne (Who is a Higher Up in the Browns/now Ravens Front Office.) that the NFL would not allow it.

This is what convinced me once and for all that Art Modell was planning the move for years and only certain high ranking members of the front office also knew he was planning to move the team.

I am also willing to sign a Legal Affidavit stating that what I have stated above is true.

The Irony is that Modell is a native of Brooklyn. Remember the Dodgers?

Now, I don't lay all the blame on Modell. But I do blame him for the overwhelming majority of this.

Some (ESPECIALLY Modell Apologists.) blame the local and state politicians in Ohio. I blame them a little, but nowhere near the level that others do.

I also put a big part of the blame on then NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Before Modell moved the team to Baltimore, Tagliabue stopped then Seattle Seahawks Owner Ken Behring from moving them to Los Angeles, forcing him to sell the team to Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen. This means that if he wanted to, he could have stopped Modell from moving the team and forcing him to sell them.

In my opinion, the reason why Tagliabue did not stop Modell is because Tagliabue wanted all the teams to build new stadiums and I think he was looking for that one excuse where he can say "This is what will happen if you don't have a new stadium." and the Browns were that excuse. Huge, Loyal Fan Base with a National Following, etc. So Tagliabue in my opinion was an enabler. Believe me, Tagliabue isn't highly thought of among Cleveland Fans.

As the late Paul Harvey would say: "Now You Know THE REST of The Story."

Ten Best Pro Football Hall of Famers you maybe never heard of (Numbers 5 to 1.)

Because of the NFL's "If it happened before the Super Bowl Era, It Doesn't Count" Culture, there is a LOT of Pro Football History that the Casual Pro Football Fan simply does not know about. Great Players, Teams, Championship Games, Breaking The Color Barrier one year before Jackie Robinson made his debut with The Brooklyn Dodgers, etc. (I did discuss this briefly with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the Cleveland Browns Season Ticket Holder Teleconference. Would like to discuss changing this mentality with him some more.)

Part of this are Hall Of Fame Players who for the most part, are forgotten (Except in the Cities they played in and by the teams' fan bases.) and are not brought up when it comes to "The Greatest (Insert Position Here) of All Time" discussions.

So with this in mind, here is my list of The Ten Best Pro Football Hall of Famers you maybe never heard of. (Numbers 5 to 1.)

1. OTTO GRAHAM
Quarterback: Cleveland Browns 1946-49 (AAFC) 1950-55 (NFL)
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.

Whenever the Subject of "Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time" is discussed, Otto Graham is rarely, if ever brought up. This is simply because his entire career took place before The Super Bowl era, and even before The Sport really took off on Television. The Fact is, he SHOULD BE in the Discussion.

These Days, If any Quarterback leads his team to Six Straight Super Bowls, winning three of them, that Quarterback would be in the "Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time" discussion. Well, that hasn't happened yet in the Super Bowl Era. However, The Pre-Super Bowl Era equivalent of this DID happen in the early 1950's, and it was Otto Graham who pulled this off.

When The Cleveland Browns came into The NFL in 1950 from the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), They were already an established Championship team as they won all four AAFC Titles (In fact. The 1948 Browns were Undefeated.). Their first NFL Season in 1950, they opened up with the defending (1949) NFL Champions, Philadelphia Eagles and defeated them 35-10. They defeated The L.A. Rams 30-28 for the NFL Championship. The Browns with Graham at Quarterback went to Six Straight NFL Championships from 1950 to 1955 and winning three of those (1950, 1954 and 1955.)

If you include the AAFC Years from 1946 to 1949, Where The Browns won every single Title, (The NFL does not.) that would make TEN Straight Trips to the Championship Game, winning Seven of them. That is dominating an Era. Unfortunately, it's being ignored for the most part.

2. DON HUTSON
End: Green Bay Packers 1935-1945
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963

Hutson was The NFL's First "Super End". (An End back then for the most part is a Wide Receiver today. The term "Tight End" evolved around the 1950's.) Hutson also was a Safety and Placekicker. He was The Receiving Champion in Eight of his Eleven Seasons, Was All-NFL (Now, All-Pro) Nine of his Eleven Seasons, The NFL Scoring Leader Five Times and was The NFL MVP in 1941 and 1942. Was also part of Three NFL World Championship Teams (1936, 1939 and 1944.), Was named the All-Time End on the NFL's 50th Anniversary Team in 1969. At the time he retired after the 1945 Season, he held 18 NFL Records.

3. (SLINGIN') SAMMY BAUGH
Quarterback: Washington Redskins 1937-1952
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963

Another Quarterback that should be included in any and all "Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time" Discussions, it could be said that Baugh was The NFL's first "Gunslinger" Quarterback with his Arm Strength. He helped bring the Passing Game into The NFL.

He was also a Punter and Defensive Back. (Averaged 45.1 Yards Per Punt and had 31 Interceptions in his NFL Career.) In 1943, He pulled off the rare feat of leading The NFL in Passing, Punting and Interceptions. Was All-NFL Seven Times and was The NFL Passing Leader Six Times.

4. BRONISLAW (BRONKO) NAGURSKI
Fullback: Chicago Bears 1930-1937, 1943
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963

Nagurski was Pro Football's Original Power Running Back. Paving the way for the likes of Marion Motley, John Henry Johnson, Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Christian Okoye, Mike Alstott and Peyton Hillis. Running Backs who gave out punishment when they ran the ball. Nagurski was also a Linebacker. (Remember, this is back when players played on both sides of the ball.) He even filled in as an Offensive Tackle if there was an injury.

Nagurski was All-NFL Five Times. He also threw two touchdown passes (The second ended up as a lateral.) in the NFL's First Official World Championship Game in 1933 vs The New York Giants. He later came out of retirement for the 1943 Season (Due to the Player Shortage because of World War II.) and helped the Bears win The 1943 NFL Championship.

BOBBY LAYNE
Quarterback: Chicago Bears 1948, New York Bulldogs 1949, Detroit Lions 1950-1958, Pittsburgh Steelers 1958-1962
Indicted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967

A Quarterback with above average skills and statistics, Layne had all the Intangibles and then some when is came to success: Leadership, Determination, Competetiveness and Guts. Layne was one of the great clutch players in NFL History. Some of his Leadership even included leading his teammates in late night hard partying the night before a game. The partying never got in the way of winning.

His greatest Pro Seasons were with The Lions where they won the NFL Championship in 1953, 1954 and 1957. Layne was a Five Time Pro Bowl Selection in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956 and 1959.