Modell family asks Browns not to honor late former team owner

First, they weren't going to do anything, then the league essentially forced them to do something. Now, it appears that the Cleveland Browns will not honor former team owner Art Modell before Sunday's home game and regular season opener against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

But this time, the reason has nothing to do with either the team or the league. According to multiple media reports, members of the Modell family asked the Browns on Saturday to strike any memorial or even mention of the late NFL team owner, who passed away Thursday at the age of 87.

Team spokesman Neal Gulkis told NBC Sports' ProFootballTalk.com that the Browns will honor the Modell family wishes and not mention the late team patriarch.

Modell owned the Browns from 1961-95 before moving the franchise to Baltimore, which created deep wounds in the Cleveland community that remain to this day. However, while no official acknowledgement is planned, don't be surprised if some Browns fans start their own memorial to Modell, good or bad, before the game, perhaps by yelling or signs or the like.