Art Modell - Modell Did His Part To Lift Nfl Into Prominence - Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) The NFL became America's game under a collection of shrewd businessmen that included some of the biggest names in league history: Pete Rozelle, Vince Lombardi, Dan Rooney and arguably the most influential of all - Art Modell .

Modell's insight thrust the struggling league into the public eye and onto the country's television screens on Sundays and Monday night.

Modell, who helped transform the NFL into America's pre-eminent sport, died Thursday. He was 87.

''His legacy is spectacular,'' St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. ''When things like this happen, it takes you back historically to where you . actually have a sense of appreciation for what he did and where we would be without him.''

Modell spent 43 years as an NFL owner, overseeing the Browns from 1961 until he moved the team to Baltimore in 1996. Modell served as league president from 1967-69, helped finalize the first collective bargaining agreement with the players in 1968 and was the point man for the NFL's lucrative contracts with television networks.

''The game of football lost one of its all-time greats,'' Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford Sr. said. ''Art's contributions to the NFL during his five decades in the game are immeasurable. I believe that Art did as much as any owner to help make the NFL what it is today. Art was a pioneer, a visionary and a selfless owner who always saw the big picture and did the right thing.

''Our game would not be what it is today if it weren't for Art Modell .''

Long before his Baltimore Ravens won the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2001, Modell teamed with Lombardi, Rozelle and others to lay the foundation for the league's success.

'' Art Modell was a most influential member of Commissioner Rozelle's 'Kitchen Cabinet' for many years, along with Dan Rooney and the late Tex Schramm,'' said Joe Browne, the longest-tenured player in the league's front office. ''Ironically, Art is the only member of that group who is not enshrined in Canton. Hopefully, the Hall of Fame media selectors will rectify that oversight in the near future - not as an emotional reaction to Art's death, but as a rightful reflection of his longtime contributions to the NFL.''

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell praised Modell's work within the league as it was gaining momentum a half century ago.

''Art Modell's leadership was an important part of the NFL's success during the league's explosive growth during the 1960s and beyond,'' Goodell said in a statement. ''Art was a visionary who understood the critical role that mass viewing of NFL games on broadcast television could play in growing the NFL.''

Modell's reputation took a hit from which it would never recover when he pulled the Browns out of town following a round of secret negotiations with Baltimore city officials. The move was made not because of poor attendance in Cleveland, but because Baltimore provided him with a better business opportunity.

His perceived abandonment of Cleveland is the main reason why Modell died without gaining entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

When the Colts left Baltimore for Indianapolis in 1984, Baltimore went 12 years pining for another team. After the Browns left, Cleveland got an expansion team, a new stadium and retained its team colors and history, thanks in no small part of Modell.

But from the day he left to the day he died, Modell never got much love from Cleveland.