Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown boycotts Browns’ ring of honor ceremony

Brown celebrate past with ring of honor

CLEVELAND — The Browns are celebrating their glorious past without their greatest player.

Hall of Famer Jim Brown is not attending the unveiling of the team’s ring of honor, names that will be permanently displayed inside Browns Stadium. Brown has decided to boycott the event because of his rift with team president Mike Holmgren.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell attended Cleveland’s home opener against Kansas City, flying in on Sunday after appearing Saturday at a Congressional Black Caucus with Brown in Washington.

Goodell said he spoke with Brown about his decision not to attend the ceremony, where the franchise’s 16 Hall of Fame members will be inducted as the ring’s initial class. Goodell said he was disappointed the 74-year-old Brown decided to skip the event.

“But he’ll always be important to the Browns and to the NFL,” he said. “He’s one of the greatest players to ever play the game. We spoke about it and we spoke about a lot of things. He can speak for himself. We had a good conversation. He’s a good man.”