The story of when Paul Brown tried to buy the Philadelphia Eagles

When Artwork Modell acquired the Cleveland Browns in 1961, he was ecstatic that his new buy included whom he thought of the perfect head coach within the NFL: Paul Brown.

His acquisition of the Browns was additionally considered as shopping for the New York Yankees as a result of Cleveland was one of many best NFL golf equipment to ever play the sport and on the time was thought of a dynasty. The Browns had already gained seven professional soccer championships together with three within the NFL. At one time, that they had performed in 10 consecutive league championship video games.

Modell would grow to be the third possession group to manage the Browns. Underneath every regime, Coach Brown had free vary to do as he noticed slot in help of the franchise. He had a small possession proportion however acted like he was the only real proprietor in each facet. In any respect proprietor’s conferences, it was Coach Brown who appeared, mentioned league issues, made ideas, was positioned on numerous committees, and voted.

When Modell purchased the crew, he had totally different concepts. He envisioned Coach Brown teaching the membership and coping with gamers, whereas Modell would deal with promotions, league enterprise, and different crew issues. You understand, proprietor stuff. Coach Brown had by no means had an proprietor inform him what to do, or how you can do it. Now out of the blue, this man from New York breezes in and the whole lot modifications.

Over simply two years, the stress escalated between the 2 males. Coach Brown was very blunt with the proprietor and bucked his concepts which have been designed to remove his energy and freedom to make selections.

One month after the ultimate sport of the 1962 season, Modell requested Coach Brown to come back all the way down to the crew workplaces for a gathering. In that setting, Modell advised Coach Brown he was now not the top coach however would keep on as a Vice President.

Modell said, “Paul, I’m going to make a change. I’m going to go in a different direction. I hope you understand, I think we have to part company. I’m going to ask you to step down as coach and general manager, and you are to be reassigned.”1

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It simply so occurred that Modell had signed Coach Brown to an 8-year contract. With six years remaining, he wasn’t going wherever. The VP place was one that everybody – together with Coach Brown – questioned as to what his job duties would grow to be or his usefulness can be decided to the franchise since he was now not the boss however continued to obtain an $82,500-a-year wage, a particularly good-looking payday for a coach throughout this time.

The very last thing Coach Brown wished was to grow to be a figurehead. In spite of everything, he was the perfect coach within the NFL – simply, and not using a crew to teach any longer.

In an interview with the New York Instances, Coach Brown said, “I’m on the shelf now, a Vice President in charge of I-don’t-know-what.”2

He had managed each attribute of the Browns. If new workplace chairs have been wanted, it was Coach Brown who learn the pamphlets, studied what kind of wheels every had, researched the seating material for sturdiness, negotiated the worth of every chair, and licensed the acquisition order.

And that was simply an workplace chair a lot much less coping with participant contracts, proprietor’s conferences, the league itself, and the enterprise of soccer. This was simply an instance of how he had his finger on each facet of the franchise.

And now?

The Eagles have been owned by “The Happy Hundred.” This was a gaggle of 100 traders formally referred to as “Eagles Sports, Inc.” who had all put in $3,000 every to purchase the franchise in 1949 which ensured it remained in Philadelphia. The group was headed by trucking magnate James P. Clark and Frank McNamee, the regional director of the Struggle Property Administration.

Eagles halfback Steve Van Buren #15 scored the one landing within the 1948 NFL Championship Sport in a blizzard in opposition to the Chicago Cardinals

Photograph by Nate Nice/Getty Pictures

The crew gained the 1948 NFL Championship after which was put up on the market by proprietor Alexis Thompson who had said he had misplaced $32,000 within the title season.3

By 1963, there have been 65 of the unique Completely happy Hundred nonetheless dwelling. Clark, the principle investor, who now owned 20% of the crew, handed away. It was then that the Completely happy Hundred convened and determined to promote the franchise on April 19, 1963.

Regardless of the 65 stockholders, the truth was that the membership was run by just a few. And people weren’t capable of make good selections on draft picks and contract calls for. For the reason that American Soccer League started play in 1960, the youthful league had dominated the annual school draft, one thing the NFL underestimated their rivals on.

A majority of Eagles draft picks signed with the AFL which left the crew and not using a stable basis to construct on.

Their first choose within the 1960 draft, working again Ron Burton out of Northwestern, signed with the AFL Boston Patriots. Their third-round choice, OG Curt Merz, inked a contract with the AFL Dallas Texans as an alternative. Fullback Artwork Baker, their first-round choose in 1961 signed with the AFL Buffalo Payments. Second-round alternative Pat Holmes within the 1962 NFL draft select the AFL Houston Oilers as an alternative. It got here to a head in 1962 when solely seven of 20 draft picks signed with Philly.

Eagles’ administration was unable – or unwilling – to fork out cash for larger contracts and try and out-bid AFL golf equipment for younger, incoming expertise. So, after profitable solely three video games in 1962 plus Clark’s premature demise, it was determined {that a} sale of the franchise was finest.

Nevertheless, there have been three circumstances for the potential purchaser: 1) the worth have to be no less than $4 million, 2) the possible purchaser have to be acceptable and authorized by the NFL house owners, and three) the franchise should stay in Philadelphia.

Enter Paul Brown

Coach Brown’s title surfaced virtually instantly, though there have been experiences that six totally different prospects had inquired concerning the sale. One such group was reportedly Robert and Ted Kennedy.4

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The difficulty introduced up about Coach Brown was that he was nonetheless beneath contract with the Browns and must settle this matter in keeping with NFL bylaws an proprietor couldn’t possess a stake in a number of franchises. Nevertheless, the actual fact was clear: if the transaction went by means of, Paul Brown would grow to be the proprietor, normal supervisor, and head coach.5

Modell got here out publicly in an article by the Related Press that he would help Coach Brown and would “not stand in [Brown’s] way if he wants to buy the Eagles.” After all, for Modell, if Coach Brown was concerned with the possession of one other franchise, this may imply the elimination of his hefty annual contract. No different coach within the league was being paid that a lot.

NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle said that he was out there to help Modell and Coach Brown hammer out a contract decision if wanted and had a number of casual discussions with each males. The very last thing the NFL wished was for Coach Brown to go away the league fully. He had already been supplied a training job for $50,000 yearly with the Titans of New York6 within the upstart AFL. The NFL realized that Coach Brown was an asset they didn’t wish to see grow to be concerned elsewhere.

The league considered conserving Coach Brown within the combine can be an amazing service to skilled soccer as a result of he was one of many sport’s giants and his energetic presence would supply a daring, exclamatory stroke on the canvas.

If Coach Brown did take into account making a bid to buy the Eagles, that franchise was wholesome so far as their funds have been regardless of going 3-10-1. They set a franchise attendance report of 422,096 followers that season and offered out six of seven house video games. Simply two seasons earlier Philadelphia went 10-2-0 and gained the NFL Championship Sport making it two NFL titles for the franchise.

Throughout this season, that they had a complete revenue of just about $2 million which included $39,000 from regional tv income and $856,000 from house sport gate receipts. Salaries to trainers, scouts, and coaches have been about $100,000 whereas participant salaries exceeded $550,000. As well as, bonuses tallied simply over $50,000. The 2 years prior, the crew solely made a median of $250,000 a 12 months.

Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Pictures

McNamee said that he and Coach Brown had talked over the phone concerning the Eagles sale7 however no monetary points have been mentioned.

It was reported that the Completely happy Hundred had many feelers however solely two bids for the Eagles: one from Coach Brown for $4.5 million and the opposite from Herbert Barness, an actual property tycoon, for $4.5 million.8 This was sooner or later after the crew was introduced on the market. Barness advised the Eagles stockholders that being a neighborhood man he would make sure the franchise wouldn’t land within the fingers of “outsiders” – which means Coach Brown.

In a ballot carried out by season ticket holders through the Philadelphia Inquirer, about 52% objected to Coach Brown taking up the Eagles9 whereas 30% mentioned sure and the rest weren’t certain. The explanation given was that followers wished native administration within an outsider taking up regardless of Coach Brown’s monitor report as a profitable coach and supervisor. In addition they said that they had learn repeatedly that Coach Brown had some bother getting alongside along with his gamers.

In his common column, he penned, “The difficulty of house possession vs. ‘absentee’ or out-of-town possession will probably be mentioned as a result of native teams are mentioned to be bidding for the Eagles, too. Voices could also be raised in opposition to Brown on this foundation. Fears surfacing by this argument hijacking the crew are groundless, to say nothing of ridiculous.10

Service provider went on to state that Coach Brown had a report of success and stability. “One vote here for Paul Brown” he concluded his column.

Who purchased the Eagles?

Paul Brown was way more than simply one other good soccer coach. He was an organizational genius and an excellent choose of soccer flesh.

On Could 4, 1963, it was introduced within the Cleveland Plain-Seller that Coach Brown was now not eager about shopping for the Eagles.11

Photograph by Clifton Boutelle/Getty Pictures

Plain-Seller sports activities columnist Chuck Heaton wrote a narrative after listening to concerning the busted deal from a supply that he trusted. It didn’t give a motive why Coach Brown pulled out of the bidding for Philadelphia, solely that he had determined to stay because the VP of the Browns. Within the article, it famous that Coach Brown had lined up different traders however none have been recognized.

Apparently, Coach Brown got here inside agonizing hours of creating a deal for the Eagles which might have granted him a grueling climb again into the NFL.

Any point out that Coach Brown may very well be employed by the Eagles in any capability was additionally eradicated. He had advised shut associates that he had no intention of getting in that scenario once more, which means most definitely any return to professional soccer can be in some extent of an possession capability.

For the report, Brown by no means went to Philadelphia throughout this time to fulfill with anybody from the Eagles.

He by no means toured Franklin Subject which he was very aware of throughout his time as head coach of the Browns having performed there annually. The final time Coach Brown stepped onto the grounds of this stadium was September 30, 1962, in Week 3 when the Eagles destroyed his Browns 35-7 in entrance of 60,671 patrons.

In the long run, the Eagles have been offered to Jerry Wolman for $5,505,500, a report sale for an NFL membership on the time. After all of the conversations about promoting the franchise to a neighborhood group, Wolman was a Washington DC contractor12 who constructed flats and workplace buildings.

The report said that the 36-year-old Wolman had agreed to maintain the crew in Philly. He outbid different teams from Backyard State Race Monitor proprietor Eugene Morl, Credit score Corp Govt Jack Wolgin, and Baltimore Dwelling Builders house owners James and Joseph Keelty. Wolman grew up two hours Northwest of Philly in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, and was an avid Eagles fan rising up.

After the sale, the remaining shares for the Completely happy Hundred have been paid $60,500 a share.

In 1969, Leonard Tose paid $16.155 million for the Eagles. The franchise was offered once more in 1985 to Norman Braman for $65 million and to Jeffrey Luri in 1994 for $185 million. Underneath Luri’s possession, Philadelphia has captured two Tremendous Bowls and has an estimated worth of $6.6 billion.13

The Eagles got here to life manner again in 1033 from the remnants of the Franklin Yellow Jackets simply when the Pennsylvania Blue Legal guidelines have been being amended to permit sports activities contests to compete on Sundays. The price of admission into the NFL was $3,500 paid by Lud Wray and Bert Bell, who would finally grow to be NFL commissioner from 1946-1959.

Photograph by Nate Nice/Getty Pictures

Starting in 1965, Coach Brown started to look into whether or not a professional soccer crew in both Seattle, New Orleans, Cincinnati, or Columbus, Ohio can be possible and determined Cincinnati was the higher metropolis as a result of it was bigger and already had the baseball Reds. After conferences with Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes, Mayor Walton Bachrach, plus 100 native businessmen, it was determined to pitch the AFL about inserting their subsequent enlargement membership in Cincinnati.

The NFL and AFL had already introduced plans to merge so when Coach Brown approached his good friend Rozelle, the NFL commissioner gave his blessing since a crew in Cincinnati would grow to be a part of the established league in three years anyway.

On September 26, 1967, Governor Rhodes had a press convention on the Sheraton Hotel14 to announce the AFL’s latest member: the Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Brown would grow to be the first proprietor, Basic Supervisor, and head coach. His new crew’s first sport can be the day after his sixtieth birthday.

Notes:

Michael MacCambridge, America’s Sport, Random Home, 2004

“Paul Brown: ‘I’m Vice President In Charge of Don’t-Know-What’”, New York Instances, January 11, 1963

“Eagles Sold to Syndicate Led by Clark,” Tuscaloosa Information, January 16, 1949

Bob O’Donnell, Professional Soccer Chronicle, Macmillan Books, 1990

Ralph Bernstein, “Eagles Sale Seen Soon To Paul Brown Syndicate,” The Morning Name, April 6, 1963

“Titans Are Trying To Sign Paul Brown,” Document-Journal, April 6, 1963

“Eagles Receive Half-Dozen Offers But Paul Brown Still No. 1 Man,” The Mercury, April 30, 1963

Russ Inexperienced, “Paul Brown Makes Bid For Philadelphia Eagles,” Hanford Sentinel, April 20, 1963

John Dell, “Majority in Fan Poll Opposes Eagles’ Sale to Brown,” The Philadelphia Inquiry, April 14, 1963

Larry Service provider, “A Solid Vote for Paul Brown,” Philadelphia Day by day Information, April 19, 1963

“Paul Brown Doesn’t Want to Buy Eagles, Paper Says,” Lexington Herald, Could 4, 1963

“D.C. Man Wins With ‘Upped’ Bid,” Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette, December 6, 1963

Forbes.com/groups/philadelphia-eagles

Michael Nyerges, “Bengals-Saints rarely meet, but share history,” The Enquirer, November 11, 2014