NEW ORLEANS -- Browns fans can rest easy tonight.
Former Browns owner Art Modell, whose move of the Browns to Baltimore after the 1995 season has overshadowed his accomplishments, was bypassed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame today in his second time as a finalist.
Modell, who died Sept. 6 at the age of 87, failed to make the first cut from 15 to 10 for the second time. He was also a finalist in 2002.
The other four that failed to make the first cut were former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, linebacker/defensive end Kevin Greene, receiver Tim Brown, and guard Will Shields.
The 2013 class consists of Bill Parcells, Warren Sapp, Cris Carter, Larry Allen, Jonathan Ogden, Curley Culp and Dave Robinson.
The debate over Modell was the second longest, behind Parcells, which last almost an hour. This year's selection meeting was the longest ever, eight hours and 20 minutes.
"Art Modell was the most polarizing figure on the ballot,'' said Boston Herald columnist Ron Borges, who did not vote for Modell. "You were pretty much one way or the other.''
At least five voters spoke out against Modell, but "none of it was mean-spirited,'' according to Len Pasquarelli.
"Voters raised a lot of good questions regarding things such as the stadium just to get the facts straight,'' said Borges.
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