U.S. Sen. George Voinovich's scathing comments regarding Art Modell and his move of the Browns to Baltimore stung the former owner Friday morning.

Modell opened up to WTAM's Mike Trivisonno Thursday in a radio interview that was two years in the making. Voinovich, R-Ohio, listened to the broadcast and called the show immediately after to refute Modell's charge that an official at the highest level of state government told him to take the team elsewhere.

In relating the story from more than 10 years ago, Modell didn't identify then-governor Voinovich, but slipped and referred to his wife, Janet. Modell claimed Voinovich said: ``I'm sitting here having breakfast with Janet. I know the people you're dealing with. You're not going to get a nickel from them.''

Reached at home Friday, Modell remembered telling the ``breakfast with Janet'' story and said, ``God is my judge, that's what happened that morning.''

A WEWS-TV excerpt aired Thursday night at 11 quoted Voinovich as saying: ``Modell was a liar then; he's a liar now. That's why he hasn't come back here. A lot of people who were his friends felt he wasn't honest with them.''

Modell sounded hurt by Voinovich's words.

``He used the word liar?'' Modell said.

``Nothing ever changes. Can't they tell the damn truth?''

A Voinovich aide said the senator had no further comment about Modell on Friday.

Some questioned the motives of Modell, 79, in going into ``areas I never did before'' with Trivisonno.

Modell was a finalist for selection into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and has made the final 25 each year since. The final 15 candidates for this year's class were announced last week.

Modell is more than 20 years away from receiving help from the hall's veterans committee, which likely can't consider Modell until 25 years after he retired from ownership of the Ravens. That occurred after the 2003 season.

Ravens senior vice president of public relations Kevin Byrne said Modell received a tape of a Trivisonno show two years ago in which the broadcaster chastised politicians for escaping the blame in the team's move. Modell called Trivisonno to thank him and agreed to an interview at a later date.

``He's been loyal to the Modells,'' Modell said of Trivisonno. ``I haven't had many friends the last 10 years. I could count my friends in Cleveland on one hand with my fist closed.''

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 IN case you missed the original story, here is what transpired and what was said...

Modell: 'I got no help from Cleveland'

Ex-Browns owner says community leaders lied to him

By the Associated Press

CLEVELAND | Sore feelings over Art Modell's move of the Cleveland Browns 10 years ago were renewed when he told a radio interviewer that community leaders reneged on an offer to provide financial help.

"I didn't want to go to Baltimore," Modell said Thursday evening in a telephone interview with WTAM. Community leaders had offered to help but "they lied to me," Modell said.

U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, a former Cleveland mayor who was Ohio governor when the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens, said it was Modell who hadn't been honest.

As a result, Voinovich told the station, the community doesn't feel it can trust Modell. "That's why he hasn't come back here," Voinovich said.

Modell said a leading politician suggested that he move the Browns because no financial help would be forthcoming.

Voinovich said he never advised Modell to move the team.

Modell, who has avoided Cleveland since moving the Browns, has said over the years that financial considerations and the deteriorating condition of Cleveland Municipal Stadium forced his surprise decision to move the team.

The city's threat of legal action against the National Football League ended when the NFL awarded the city an expansion Browns franchise that plays in a new stadium.

Modell said he understood at the time that moving the team would jeopardize his chance of election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

Voinovich called the station after hearing Modell's broadcast comments, Voinovich aide Marcie Ridgway said Friday.

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