Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, who was known for at times saying more than he should have said about the affairs of the team during his time as a member of the Browns’ senior management, has been curiously quiet in the wake of his departure. Now, amid reports that he won’t be showing up for the September 19 ceremony during which Brown and 15 others will enter the franchise’s new Ring of Honor, Brown continues to take the high road -- while nevertheless making his point loudly and clearly.
Asked whether he’ll indeed skip the ceremony, Brown told a Syracuse radio station (via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer), “I’m a very sensitive person. I do like to be respected. I’m very loyal. I like it to be a two-way street.”
It’s obvious that Brown has strong feelings regarding his departure from the front office; for now, he’s keeping them to himself. “I’ve been very quiet about the situation in Cleveland,” Brown said. “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.”
Perhaps he should have added another word to his explanation: Yet. As we suggested back in June, when Brown first commented on the circumstances surrounding the end of his employment with the team, Brown realizes that there’s power in the possibility that he’ll open up what he called at the time “Pandora’s box.” Once that card is played, the power that comes with the ability to play it forever disappears.
So Brown will continue, at least for now, to keep to himself whatever resides in Pandora’s box. We’ve got a feeling that, eventually, he’ll lift the lid. Until then, the powers-that-be will be walking on eggshells, throwing verbal bouquets at Brown in the hopes that he won’t unload with both barrels.