Off-season thoughts (Vol. XXXVI)

When the Pro Football Hall of Fame recently announced the names of 54 semifinalists for possible enshrinement in 2023 and Art Modell's name was among them, the expected hue and cry arose resoundingly around Browns Nation.

Numerous Browns fans, who will carry their utter hatred for the former Browns owner to their graves, believed his numerous failures in previous voting for the Hall eliminated any possibility for him to gain entrance.

Obviously not the case as the late Modell's name keeps appearing on a list of candidates. In reality, though, fans are wasting their time gnashing their teeth at the mere possibility. It is not going to happen. Repeating for emphasis -- it is not going to happen.

Modell's unconscionable move of the franchise to Baltimore in 1995 has been rewarded with so many HOF rejections by the voting media, I've lost count. And each time, Browns Nation exhaled a sigh of relief and subsequently rejoiced.

There are way too many roadblocks this time for Modell to hurdle in the Coach/Contributor category, which is handled by a 12-man committee. A separate 12-man Seniors committee takes care of nominations for long-retired players.

On July 27, these committees will advance 12 finalists for their respective groups for consideration to the Hall. On Aug. 16, the Seniors committee will meet and narrow the field to the final three men. A week later, the Coach-Contributor committee will meet and advance ONE person for consideration for the Class of 2023.

What are the odds Modell will make it to the final six, let alone the final one? His competition includes heavyweights like influential television pioneer Roone Arledge, coaches Marty Schottenheimer, Dan Reeves and Don Coryell, team owners Robert Kraft and Bud Adams and long-time game official Jim Tunney.

So just chill, remember those dates and watch Modell go down. Again.