he emotional release of Peyton Manning by the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday
wasn't close to how Bernie Kosar left the Cleveland Browns many years ago.
It was the complete opposite.
Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how Manning's departure was a complete contrast to Nov. 8, 1993, when Bill Belichick, cut Bernie Kosar because of what Belichick said were Kosar's "diminishing skills."
Belichick turned Kosar, already a hero in the eyes of Browns fans, into a martyr that day. Headlines in newspapers the next morning were as big and bold as "Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor," and that is no exaggeration.
Two hours before Belichick and Browns owner Art Modell met with the media, they met with Kosar to deliver the news. Cutting Kosar was Belichick's idea, but Modell backed it 100 percent.
The departure of Kosar began early that season when stories of Kosar and Belichick disagreeing on offense in the 2 1/2 years Kosar played for Belichick were legendary, but Belichick said that is not why he benched and then cut Kosar.
"I've even heard I sat Bernie because I don't like him," Belichick said a week or so later in a Sports Illustrated story. "Anyone who thinks I'd do all this work and then sit some guy because I don't like him — that's insane. All the decisions I made are for what I feel gives us the best opportunity to win."
http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2012/03/cleveland_1.html
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