Modell Strongly Lashes Back at Critics of Team’s Move

Art Modell says he was taken for granted by the city of Cleveland, so he took his football team to Baltimore.

“Fact No. 1: [The city of Cleveland] never made an offer to me until two days after the Baltimore announcement,” Modell said.

“Fact No. 2: Had they offered me one-half what they gave [NFL commissioner] Paul Tagliabue and the NFL for the next owner of the Cleveland Browns, I’d still be in Cleveland. They never spoke to me about a new stadium.”

Modell made the comments during an interview on ESPN.

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Threatened with losing one week’s salary, Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver Andre Hastings ended his 23-day holdout and reported to training camp.

Until Friday, Hastings refused to sign the Steelers’ one-year tender offer of $361,000 and wanted a multiyear contract.

But, using the NFL collective bargaining contract as leverage, the Steelers threatened to deactivate him for the season opener and dock him one week’s pay if he didn’t report by today.