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Jim Brown To Browns: 'I Will Not Participate In Your Ring Of Honor'

All 16 members of the Browns Ring of Fame Class of 2010 are already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

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Jim Brown Keeps Talking; Won't Attend Ceremony

Jim Brown is not going to attend the Cleveland Browns Ring of Fame ceremony. That’s what he keeps saying, anyway.

In a letter Brown sent to both Mike Holmgren of the Browns and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Brown spoke of the meeting the two men had when Holmgren first took over the Browns, and how the Browns’ legend feels like the agreement he had with the team had been violated.

When you called me for a meeting in your office, there was no conversation about that agreement, no conversation about my duties, no conversation about what I felt, no conversation about my relationship with the players, no conversation about my relationship with the coaches, no conversation about my relationship with the head coach, and no conversation about my community work. Ultimately there was no conversation about anything that I felt was related to my job.

Your ultimatum to me was that you would offer me the opportunity of being that of the greeter, that of a mascot, that of a person that would represent special events by his physical presence, and for those things, I would receive a salary of $100,000. All of those things that you offered me would be controlled by you.

After that 10 minute meeting, I went to my office with a feeling that I was just fired by the Cleveland Browns, because in my mind, there would be no way on this earth that you would expect me to go against everything that I’ve ever stood for in my whole life.

Brown then re-iterated the fact that he had no intention of coming to the Ring of Honor ceremony on September 19th.

But in my conclusion, I’ve never danced in the end zone, I always gave the ball to the referee, so you should know I don’t dance. Also Mike, I don’t hang out on the Westside of town. I’m an Eastside guy. I play my golf at Highland Golf Course. I don’t go to the Hall of Fame ceremonies, except on occasions, like when Gene Hickerson was inducted, and I felt very proud to be with Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly in showing our respect for his great contribution, and for helping us become great players. I don’t have any trophies in my home on display. I don’t claim to be the best at anything, and I emphatically do not need validation from any man, so I will not participate in your Ring of Honor.

It truly is sad that the Browns seemingly cannot have a relationship with one of their all-time greats, even if Jim Brown is difficult to work with.

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Jim Brown Wants Respect To Be 'Two-Way Street'

Jim Brown has yet to commit to attending the Browns Ring of Fame ceremony in September. Last week, Brown mentioned that while he has tried to move some things around, his schedule will not allow him to make th trip to Cleveland. Many think it has something to do with Mike Holmgren removing Brown from the team’s payroll when he was hired to run the Browns this off-season. Whatever it is, the relationship between the Browns and their greatest player is cool at best.

Speaking on a Syracuse radio station earlier today, Brown confirmed he felt disrespected by the Browns.

I’m a very sensitive person. I do like to be respected. I’m very loyal. I like it to be a two-way street. I’ve been very quiet about the situation in Cleveland. Sometimes when you comment on things, all you do is create problems. The last thing I want to do is create problems for anyone or disrupt the team or ownership or the plans of other people.

Brown went on to say that he has a ‘dignity and character’ that he needs to protect, that he has no need to comment on ‘where I go, why I go, why I don’t go’.

Earlier today, Mike Holmgren addressed the situation surrounding Brown’s appearance, saying he ‘trusts’ that Brown will attend the ceremony. he also said that while Brown’s responsibilities have changed, he still wants Brown to be a part of the Browns family.

Let’s face it. Jim Brown loves attention, he craves it. He uses it to gain publicity for issues he is championing. Jim Brown will be at the Ring of Fame ceremony because it is in Jim Brown’s best interest to be there – but only after touring various media outlets first.

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Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.