Cleveland Browns Jim Brown: Is he still relevant?

Jim Brown is one of the greatest players to ever dawn a Browns Jersey. Not only was he a great running back for Cleveland, but he was arguably one of the best NFL running backs of all time. But as the years have gone by Jim Brown has become a little less like a football legend and a little more like the grumpy old man still starving for the spot light.

Jim Brown appears to have an axe to grind. He has been relentless in his comments about the Browns 3rd overall draft pick running back Trent Richardson. He has not hidden what I would characterize as his disappointment with Mike Holmgren and the current state of the Browns organization, but now that dissatisfaction has extended to the young rookie running back.

”I think the kid is a good working back, and if you’ve got everything else around him he can play his role,” Brown said on ESPN Cleveland. “But when it comes to outstanding, I don’t see anything outstanding about him. It’s not said in a cruel manner. He’s very efficient, and that’s what you want.”

These are just the continuation of comments that Brown has made about the Browns selection of Richardson on day one of the NFL draft. These comments have upset the team’s fan-base that to this day worships him. But I feel that these comments are less about Richardson and more about Holmgren’s handling of the organization. It was clear from the beginning of Holmgren’s rein as team President that he was not comfortable with Brown in the organization.

I respect Jim Brown, not only for his contribution to the game as a player and as a legend, but I also respect Brown for the things he did in a society that during those days, did not want to change. Brown is a figure that should be respected as a Cleveland Brown, as an NFL legend, and as a man. But in regards to his recent comments and thoughts on Richardson, I feel he should listen to himself and what he said back in August of 2010 while on “The Score 1260” in Syracuse, N.Y.

“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.”

That sounds like good advice Jim.

What do you think?

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