In some accounts there is confusion over the history of the Cleveland Browns. This is due to the unusual and unprecedented actions taken by the city of Cleveland and the National Football League following the relocation of the team to Baltimore, Maryland in 1995. The deal made between these two parties stipulated that the team name, colors, and history of the franchise were to remain in Cleveland. For that reason, past records and Football Hall of Fame players are attributed to the Cleveland Browns and not to the Baltimore Ravens. See the Franchise History entry below for full details of the move.
In either event, the Browns were extremely successful in the early part of their existence, dominating the All America Football Conference, winning all four of its championships including with a landmark 1948 season in which they went unbeaten and untied - 24 years before the 'first' perfect team, the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Upon being merged into the older National Football League, the Browns proceeded to resume their position among pro football's best teams, winning 4 NFL championsips during the 1950's.
In 1995 bastard owner Art Modell announced he was moving the team to Baltimore. The announcement was met with tremendous resistance from the fans of the Browns, and in 1996 the NFL announced that the team name, colors, and heritage were to remain the rights of Cleveland. The Browns franchise was temporarily 'suspended,' while that bastard Modell was awarded a new franchise, named the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns would return in 1999 under owner Alfred Lerner[?] and head coach Chris Palmer[?].
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